Covenant of Peace
The phone rang and the excited voice said, "Did you hear what Olmert just said? He said he wants a covenant of peace!"

Although the TV was on and we were watching Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert addressing his nation Read about it here, we didn't catch those words. However, if Olmert used those words, the implications could be immense.

While in the background I heard some talking head expert on Fox News attempting to answer the reporter's queries about these breaking events and their possible relation to Bible prophecy, I was scanning the latest posts on our discussion board. Not only were others reporting the same news, a member of our board even posted a screen shot of Olmert on Fox News with these words written below him: "Olmert: We seek a covenant of peace."



Shortly after the Middle East crisis began I recall seeing a picture of the EU's Javier Solana at a news conference in the UK standing beside the British Foreign Minister. Soon to follow was the report about Solana's surprise visit to Lebanon Read about it here. Evidently, Solana was to immediately to return to Brussels to inform the EU heads as to the results of his trip.

In the mean time, British Prime Minister Tony Blair -- along with the UN's Kofi Annan -- was at the G-8 telling President Bush that it was necessary for the international community to send forces into the region of conflict Read about it here I And here. Bush, evidently, may be open to the idea.

Friends, this may be exactly what we students of Bible prophecy have been expecting. The way it looks, the stage may be set perfectly for the covenant with many foretold in the ancient book of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). For the first time that I'm aware of, the majority of the international community -- including many important Arab nations -- are on the side of Israel. One report from the G-8 even said French President Jacques Chirac was privately expressing his support for Israel's actions in Lebanon.

Added to all this, there is a seven-year period of interest fast approaching. Friends, it may be time for us students of prophecy to stop straining out gnats and seeing the camel before us.

Stay tuned!



The Wolf Coming
We got a job to do. We are to take the Gospel to the nations. Jesus is our Master and Teacher. He's the One who told us to "go." Jesus said:

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20 New American Standard Bible).

Soon we will be put to the test. Already the hirelings are fleeing (John 10:12-13). It's happening just like Jesus said. The wolf is coming and I'm afraid the sheep are unprepared.

As I write, the world's eyes are on the next scheduled meeting between the EU's Javier Solana and Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Read about it here. There is reason for the world's concern. At issue is war or peace. But, I'm beginning to think there may be something much more involved.

If you are a regular at FP, you are aware of some concerns besides war and peace. As we've been reporting, there is reason to believe the end-time prophecies of the Bible are beginning to be fulfilled. Up to this point our primary focus has been the events in the European Union. I awoke this morning with the understanding that FP's reporting may be entering another phase. You see, I stumbled on some information that, as far as Bible prophecy is concerned, may be as important as the Western European Union's Assembly Recommendation 666.

While all eyes are on the coming meeting between Solana and the Iranian negotiator, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is visiting the US Read about it here. What is Khatami doing besides condemning America's foreign policies? As strange as it sound, Khatami is going around speaking to America's Muslims about the evils of extremism, the need for tolerance and inter-religious dialogue. Khatami is reported to have said:

Muslims must forge a new identity that embraces the modern world, tolerates other religions and works toward peace.

I don't know about you, but when I hear that an Iranian political/religious leader is going around talking about religious tolerance, I wonder what's up. Well, here it is:

He was invited to the US by the UN's Alliance of Civilizations, of which he is a founding member. The alliance's high-level group, which will meet tomorrow and Wednesday, strives to foster cross-cultural understanding between Western and Islamic states Read about it here.

Evidently, not only is Iran's Khatami participating in the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AOC), he is a founding member. Friends, if the AOC is what I think it is, the road before us may soon become very difficult. You see, the ultimate goal of the AOC is to create a super religious authority within the UN -- just as I speculate in my book. And, the international community wants their religious authority in place by 2010 AOC pdf. In other words, we may now be witnessing the beginning of the rise of the second beasts -- the beast from the earth (Revelation 13: 11).

For us at FP, this is where things gets even more scary. The AOC was proposed by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodríguez Zapatero Read about it here. Zapatero, as you know, works closely with his fellow Spanish Socialist party member, the EU's High Representative Javier Solana. And, Spain will hold the EU's rotating presidency in 2010 -- when the AOC is to be up and running, and in the middle of the coming seven-year period. Evidently, the AOC may actually be Solana's 1995 Barcelona Process going global.

If you don't think this idea should concern you, take a look at today's news about the EU's new anti-terror measures. It seems, among other things, the EU is going to begin teaching Islamic preachers what it calls, "European values" Read about it here. I wonder what type of preachers could be next? Friends, I think I see the wolf coming.

Nevertheless, we have a job to do..

09-05-2006


Secretary General Zeid?
As mentioned yesterday, FP has entered another phase. Where as before our primary focus was the revival of the old Roman Empire in the form of the modern European Union (EU), now the Untied Nations (UN) and its Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) has become an area of concern.

Here's why: Bible prophecy tells us, in the end times, two beasts will rise -- one from the sea and one from the earth (Revelation chapter 13). In the O.T. book of Daniel we learn that a beast in prophecy represents both a king and a kingdom. But, not just any kingdom. A beast in God's eyes is a godless kingdom that rises over His little nation Israel. It is my view the EU may be the foretold first beast kingdom from the sea. And, the UN may the second beast kingdom from the earth. Since we've already done much reporting on the EU, today's commentary is on the UN.

Before I begin, you may be asking what's changed? If I've always believed the UN may become the second beast of prophecy, why am I only now turning my reporting in that direction? The reason is, before the AOC came along, I didn't feel I had enough factual support for my theory. Now, after learning the goals of this new Spain and Turkey sponsored UN initiative, I think I finally do. You see, the prophetic implications of the AOC are its religious elements. And, it is this religious element that I've been waiting for.

This brings us to today's news. It's reported Jordan's Ambassador to the UN, Prince Zeid al Hussein, has officially become a candidate to become the UN's next Secretary General Read about it here. I've been watching the list of candidates. So far Zeid's chances to win the post appear very good. Unlike the other candidates -- some of whom are really out there spiritually -- Zeid has solid, real world credentials. He is from the Asian group of nations, he is a Muslim, he is American educated, and, most importantly, he is held in high regard by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

Two things about Zeid attract my attention. First, Zeid was involved, at the highest level, in the creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Read about it here. And second, Zeid appears as concerned about the Jewish people as a lamb, but he speaks -- as far as Israel and God's land is concerned -- as a dragon. Regarding the holocaust Zeid says:

The Holocaust was a different genocide; a genocide where wickedness fell into union with human organization. It was a crime of the most colossal proportions.

But, regarding the land Zeid says:

Unfortunately, and by contrast, “never again” was also sometimes used as a form of moral justification for the implementation of some policies, the effect of which was the continued domination of one people by another Read about here.

In other words, unlike some extreme Islamic leaders, Zeid acknowledges that the holocaust happened. But, he feels it's being used as an excuse for Israel to occupy what he considers Palestinian land. From the standpoint of Bible prophecy, this type of talk is what's meant by having horns as a lamb, but speaking as a dragon (Revelation 12: 1-6, 13:11).

As I said before, a beast in prophecy is both a king and a kingdom. And, the Bible calls the head of the second beast kingdom the False Prophet. So, am I saying I believe Prince Zeid al Hussein is the False Prophet that's foretold in Revelation chapter 13? No, I'm not saying Zeid is the False Prophet. I'm only pointing out that, with its new AOC, the UN may soon become the second beast kingdom. And, if Zeid becomes the UN's next Secretary General, he talks the way the Bible says the False Prophet will talk. But, there are many others who talk that way too.

Stay tuned!



All Coming Together
If you read the news links posted yesterday you know that King Abdullah II of Jordan is very concerned that if a settlement in the Israeli/Palestinian dispute isn't found by 2007, it may be too late Read about it here. I recalled Abdullah making that statement before. That's when it dawned on me that Abdullah wasn't just pulling a date out of his hat. Evidently, Abdullah saw something on the horizon that could end the whole Middle East peace process. But, what was it that Abdullah was seeing? Now I think I may know. And, it may have profound implications for Bible prophecy.

The first time I heard that Abdullah had made such a statement was in March. But, when I looked at the old report, I found that Abdullah had set the time-line a little different. Back in March he said:

If it doesn't look like we're actually going to get the formation of a future peace process and a future for Israelis and Palestinians (by 2007-2008), then I think we're all in for a rough ride Read about it here.

This is what I think. Abdullah -- and the other moderate Arab leaders -- know that if a Middle East peace agreement isn't reached during the terms of British Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George Bush, it won't get done. The radical elements in the Middle East will have their door swung wide open. In fact, that may explain Blair's sudden trip to the Middle East Read about it here. I suspect that may also explain Blair's reluctance to set a date for his departure from Office. As you may know, Blair's own Labor party is trying to get rid of him.

The interesting thing about Blair's trip for us at FP is it's connection to the EU's Javier Solana. You see, the deal that Blair is pitching appears to be Solana's Read about it here. And, in the meantime, all eyes continue to be on Solana's negotiations with Iran Read about it here.

But, as interesting as this all is, the news that most caught my attention was the latest from the UN about the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) Read about it here. It doesn't look like the AOC is going away. We're all, sooner or later, going to have to deal with it. If you don't think it will ever effect you, take a look at what the Spanish government says is one of the goals of their AOC.



There is, however, something else that I would like to share about the AOC. The reason is it may answer a question we all have about why the international community might allow the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple. It seems that the AOC recognizes the importance of each culture having their own religious symbol. Not only that, it appears the AOC may even want its own symbol.



Friends, I truly believe it's all coming together. My first book was titled, Recommendation 666: The Rise of the Beast from the Sea. If I were to write a second book, I would title it, Alliance of Civilizations: The Rise of the Beast from the Earth.

Stay tuned!



The Religious Element
This morning I couldn't sleep and rose early. After my Bible time, I turned on the TV. The scene was one of the twin towers burning in New York City. Soon I realized the network I was watching was presenting a replay of the tragic events of five years ago today. The strange thing was, the same thing happened to me then. On September 11, 2001, I accidentally rose early California time to watch the news about the terrible attack on America's East Coast.

As my wife and I began watching together, the memories began coming back. My wife reminded me about my friend calling and saying, "Buddy, we're at war." And, it certainly turned out that my friend was right.

Later former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger appeared on Fox News. The basic question that Fox wanted answered was, since America's war against terror began, has the U.S. won any credibility from the muslim world? But, it was Kissinger's answer to another question that I found most interesting. He was asked if he thought America's new war would be long. Kissinger answered that it would. He said it would be a long battle, "because the battle has a religious element -- not on our side, but on theirs."

If you live in a fire area, you know you fight fire with fire. When the World Trade Center was attacked, the world's financial and political centers realized that they were attacked by religion. And, they also realized that it would take religion to fight religion. Thus, the UN's Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) was born.

Besides waking early -- as I did this day in 2001, there was something else about this morning that was strange. As I said before, I started my day with my Bible. For some reason, I read in Genesis about the city and tower of Babel. Let's take a look at the account.

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly." And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, "Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth" (Genesis 11:1-4 New American Standard Bible).

As I read this account, I couldn't help but think about the UN's AOC. If you recall, yesterday I pointed out how the AOC recognized the importance of symbols -- of the things that could unite them in their global alliance. And, what is it the AOC seeks to do? The AOC's founders want to build for themselves a global city (civilizations) and tower (religions) by which nothing will be impossible for them. But, before these builders get too excited about their project, they should read the rest of the account in Genesis. It continues:

The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. The Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city (Genesis 11: 5-8).

You see, there is a fatal flaw in the logic of the AOC's founders. Although it's true that you fight fire with fire, it can't be just any fire. It has to be the right fire in the right place. Otherwise, adding more fire will only make things worse. The truth is, it wasn't just religion that attacked the World Trade Center -- it was false religion. So, spreading more false religion -- as the AOC intends to do -- isn't going to be the solution. It will only make things worse. The events of 9/11 will be just the beginning of the world's sorrows.

But, besides the city and tower of Babel, do you know of what else the AOC reminds me? It reminds me of the time two thousand years ago that God sent His Only Son down to Earth. And, instead of the Earth welcoming Him, the Earth killed Him.

It won't happen again.



Dialogue of the Lambs
Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad believes -- as do many Islamic extremists -- that the Holocaust is a myth. In fact, I've read where he has actually hired Islamic scholars to help support his view. We may laugh at Ahmadinejad and his so-called "scholars." But, did you know that some of our own so-called "Christian" scholars are saying the same about the Inquisition?

I've often been asked why I was able to be so bold publicly expressing my views about what's going on in the European Union. The answer is I've never been as afraid of honest unbelievers as I am of the mislead religious. If you recall, it wasn't the beast the Apostle John saw that was drunk with the blood of the saints -- it was the woman who was riding the beast. John wrote:

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly (Revelation 17:1-6 New American Standard Bible).

Since John penned these words, God's persecuted have understandably spent a lot of time attempting to identify this woman with some particular time or event. But, what's interesting to me is how in these passages we find the past, present and future all in one vision. This woman is called Babylon, the mother of harlots. This takes us all the way back to ancient Babylon where it is said all the false systems of religion had their birth. We also know by history that the early Christians, those of John's day, suffered a great persecution at the hands of this woman. And, we also know by this vision that someday in the future this same bloody woman will be finally judged for her deeds. In other words, since this woman hasn't yet been judged, we know that her persecution of the saints isn't yet over.

This brings us to today's news. It's being reported that Pope Benedict XVI is calling for a "dialogue among cultures" Read about it here. Do those words sound familiar? If you recall, former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami has been traveling the United States promoting what he calls a, "dialogue among cultures." In fact, Khatami actually heads an organization called the International Center for Dialogue among Cultures Read about it here. You know? Something tells me Pope Benedict's choice of words may not be a coincidence.

Of course, as I've been reporting, Khatami is also involved with another project -- the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AOC). Khatami is a founding member and sits on the AOC's High Level Group. That's his primary reason for being in the United States in the first place. Evidently, Khastami attended a High Level Group meeting at the UN's headquarters in New York City.

As a Bible believing American, I'm a strong believer in what we widely call the separation of church and state. I was raised to fear that woman who rides the beast and her false prophets who have horns as a lamb, but speak as a beast. That's why it concerns me when I see our own religious leaders working to undermine the concept. But, in light of Bible prophecy, I guess it's to be expected. They're probably doing it for the same reason so many of our spiritual leaders are oblivious to the other fulfillments of prophecy. They just haven't been taught -- it's the fault of their education.

So, here we find what's said to be a "moderate" Islamic leader calling for a dialogue among cultures. And, he's taking his concept all the way to the top -- to the United Nations. If this isn't an example of a woman wanting to ride the beast, I don't know what is. Evidently, Pope Benedict still has his hands full just trying to get the attention of his immediate authority -- the European Union Read about it here.

Friends, we should all know where this so called "dialogue" is going. That's why I keep saying we need to be prepared. The woman who rides the beast will have one last fling. And, once again, the blood of the saints will stain the Earth. But, before that happens, the enemy will throw forth his biggest and best arguments and attempt to devour us with his demonic wisdom. He will tell us things like the Inquisition was a myth and we have nothing to fear. And, all the while he's telling us these things, we will see the prophecies coming true.

Such as this dialogue of the lambs.

09-13-2006


Alliance of Death

We have turned what Jesus said around. Friends, I fear it's not going to be the way we were taught. Earthquakes, wars and rumors of war are not the sign of our Lord's return -- they are just the birth pangs. The sign is the apostasy and the rise of the man of sin. Jesus said:

You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

Now comes the sign. We know because Jesus starts by saying "then." He says:

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved (Matthew 24:4-13 New American Standard Bible).

First Century Christians understood the sign of our Lord's return would be a great falling away and persecution of believers. That's why, later, the Apostle John wrote:

Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour (1 John 2:18).

Today, as in John's day, we're witnessing the rise of many antichrists. Yesterday, I actually heard a spokesman for an American Muslim organization say that Christian fundamentalists were responsible for the anger in the Arab streets. And, he said that moderates of all religions must unit against all fundamentalists.

Before you think that this was just one person's opinion, former Iranian president Mohammed Khatami apparently believes the same way. In fact, the International Herald Tribune reported that Khatami actually said that US president Bush and Iran's current president Ahmadinejad are "cut from the same cloth" Read about it here. And, before you think what Khatami thinks doesn't matter, Khatami is a founding member of the UN initiative sponsored by Spain and Turkey called the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC). The purpose of the AOC is, among other things, to fight religious fundamentalism See pdf here.

Every time I look at the initials of the Spanish initiative, AOC, I can't help thinking about another set of initials -- AOD. For us students of Bible prophecy, the initials AOD are for what Jesus called the "Abomination of Desolation." If you recall, after Jesus spoke of a time of falling away of believers and persecution, He said:

Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) Matthew 24:15).

So, when John said, "just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared", he was thinking about what Jesus said about the sign of a great persecution and what would follow -- the AOD.

Friends, although they call it the Alliance of Civilizations, it should be called the Alliance of Death. Why? Because, according to our Lord and Savior, it will lead to the AOD -- after which a great time distress and death for all civilizations will follow.

But, as they say, it's always the darkest before the dawn. For us believers, the AOD will also lead to the OGH -- Our Gathering to Him.

So, stay tuned!



Global Rec. 666
As the pieces came together I couldn't believe what I was seeing. It appears that Recommendation 666 may be going global!

I knew Javier Solana's possible connection to the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AOC). If you recall, the UN initiative was the idea of Solana's fellow Spanish Socialist Party member, Spain's Prime Minister, Jose Luis Zapatero. And, I also knew from my research that the AOC had signs of being Solana's 1995 Barcelona Process going global. But, I never dreamed that there was a Recommendation 666 connection. As I said before, Recommendation 666 may also be going global. In order to explain, let's first look at today's news.

Yesterday former president Bill Clinton's Global Initiative held a conference and one of the speakers was Javier Solana. And, it was something Solana said that opened my eyes.

Solana further said: The divide that persists in the world is more profound than we think, and we better be aware of that. It's not getting smaller, but growing. He also warned listeners that Muslims should not be provoked, even for the sake of free speech and open thought.

In other words, Solana believes the time for freedom of speech and thought is over. And, Solana also believes in creating a global police state through the use of the CIMIC concept he first introduced to the European Union when implementing his 10-nation Western European Union's (WEU) Assembly Recommendation 666. Solana said:

Noting that governments could take action to prevent the divide from growing further, Solana stressed that this might not be enough, and civil society elements should assume a role to establish ties between the civilizations Read it here.

Let's take another look at the WEU's Assembly Recommendation 666.

...

Below is a close-up of recommendation #12 that I underlined above -- the one that provides the EU's High Representative emergency powers. Notice that these powers extend to the EU's newly created civil crisis-management machinery.



Below we find this crisis-management machinery called Civil Military Cooperation, or CIMIC. As you see, Solana's Recommendation 666 introduced the concept to the European Union. The idea behind CIMIC is by linking civilian elements with military elements, a small military can greatly increases its power. And, this is one reason so few in America have recognized the full strength of what Solana is creating.



Let's take another look at what Solana said.



Friends, it appears that the UN's Alliance of Civilizations
may actually be Solana's Recommendation 666 going global.

Stay tuned!



AOC 2010
The more I learn about the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC), the more serious I feel the need for us to get the information out.

This morning I had an email waiting with more information. It turns out that the AOC is endorsed by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Since the US is a signatory to the OSCE, it makes the US "politically" bound to enforce the AOC's political/religious agenda when it becomes fully operational in 2010.

There has been some confusion on the wordage used for the the AOC's proposed starting date. So, let's take a look at page 46 of the document.
_________________________________________________________________________

1. Time frame: 2009- 2019, starting and ending on 21 September, the International Day of Peace. That launching date would give 12 months to prepare and promote a final proposal and to win political support from member states, in order to present the corresponding project of resolution to the General Assembly in its 62nd session (September 2007), with another 24 months for formal preparatory activities. The Decade would then overlap by only one year with the ongoing Decade for a Culture of Peace, and could learn from that experience AOC Report (pdf).
_________________________________________________________________________

The key to understanding the above words is knowing the term of the UN's Decade for a Culture of Peace (DCP), since the start of the AOC is to "overlap" the DCP by one year and allow an additional 12 months to prepare. It turns our the DCP is from 2001 to 2010 Read about it here. That means the AOC is to be fully operational in 2010. Evidently, the 2007 date is for presenting the necessary resolution to the Security Council.

This brings up another interesting question. Could this UN resolution set the stage politically for the resolving of that final issue -- the Temple Mount? If so, this could provide additional support to the possibility that 2007 could be the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. More on that later.

Researching the AOC is like falling into an ocean of information that you didn't know was there. That's why it's important for us students of prophecy to keep our feet firmly on the Rock of the written Word of God. If the AOC is what I think it is, very soon now those among us who don't know the Word of God intimately may be in danger of being swept away.

The Bible warns us that in the time of the end there will be a great falling away from the true Christian faith. And, over and over again we are told to hang on to it with all our strength. On our wall we have a picture that Linda and I bought at an antique store when we were first married. The frame someone made from sea shells and the picture is of a woman in a raging sea and clinging to a cross jutting from a rock.



The picture reminds me of the woman in Revelation chapter 12. You see, God's true people are the people of faith. It's always been that way, and it will always be that way. That's why, after reminding us what the message of our salvation is, Paul tells us to hang on to it. Paul says:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

And, here's the message of which we are to hang on.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also (1 Corinthian 15:1-8 New American Standard Bible).

Friends, it doesn't matter what the AOC may be bringing in 2010.

God wants us to stay tuned.



AOC 2007
I've often been asked if the 70th week of Daniel was to begin on January 1, 2007, how would we know. The reason people ask this question is because, as we've been reporting, on January 1, 2007, a covenant with many -- including Israel -- is to be confirmed for a seven-year period. My answer is always the same. The way we will know is if we see something happen regarding the the Jewish people, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. The angel Gabriel told the prophet Daniel:

Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress (Daniel 9:24-25 New American Standard Bible).

The above prophecy makes it clear that the 70 weeks are the period of time that God decreed for the Jewish people and their city. So, it stands to reason that the final week would also have something to do with the Jewish people and their city. And, since the beginning of the 70 week period began with a change in the political reality regarding Jerusalem, it stands to reason the final week may also begin the same way. And, as I said in my previous commentary, that may be exactly what we're seeing in the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AOC). Let me explain:

What I'm finding is the AOC is an attempt at bringing together many different important security arrangements and programs -- that of governments, NGOs and UN agencies -- into one vast program under one new super UN entity. Included in these security arraignments we find the EU's 1995 Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace and the Barcelona Process. As you know, the goal of the Euromed is to create a zone of peace and stability between the 25 EU member states and 10 Mediterranean nations -- including Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

The Euromed was negotiated in Barcelona Spain by the EU's Javier Solana. The AOC is also a Spanish sponsored initiative -- along with Turkey. The implications are obvious. What we're seeing -- as far as the Middle East peace process is concerned -- is a continuation of the process started in Spain at the Madrid Conference back in 1991. After the Madrid Conference came the Spain sponsored Euromed. After the Euromed came the Spaniard, Javier Solana's, European Neighborhood Policy and its following seven-year confirming instrument. And, now we have the Spain sponsored AOC.

Now we come to my main point. The AOC is to start in 2009 and be fully operational in 2010. In order to meet the 2009 starting date, a resolution must be presented to the UN Security Council in 2007 AOC report (pdf). Friends, is it possible that this UN resolution could be the start of the new political reality that will allow the Jewish people their last and final week as foretold in Daniel? In other words, as a king's decree was necessary to start the 70 weeks, could a UN resolution mark the beginning of the final week?

Let's take a look at what remains of Daniel's prophecy:

Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary and its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined.

We know this prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when Titus destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. But, what follows has never been fulfilled. The prophecy continues:

And he [the Antichrist] will make a firm [or confirm] covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:26-27).

Could the Euromed and the AOC be the covenant with many that the Bible refers to? Could the final week begin in 2007?

We soon shall see.



Developing
With breaking news we will sometimes see the word "developing." The reason, of course, is the reporter hasn't had time to digest the information enough to file a report. However, if you are a regular at FP, you know I do things different. Instead of waiting until I have everything together, I share the information even while I'm still forming my own understanding. And, naturally, sometimes I get things a bit wrong.

A member of our discussion board informed me that he read the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) document differently than I did. He said the 12 months to prepare started now, not as I was saying in 2009. So, the 2010 date that I referred to in my commentary wasn't there. My response to him was I thought he was the one reading it wrong. And, I repeated my reasons as said in my commentary. Let's take a look at what I said:

The key to understanding the above words is knowing the term of the UN's Decade for a Culture of Peace (DCP), since the start of the AOC is to "overlap" the DCP by one year and allow an additional 12 months to prepare. It turns our the DCP is from 2001 to 2010 Read about it here. That means the AOC is to be fully operational in 2010. Evidently, the 2007 date is for presenting the necessary resolution to the Security Council Commentary here.

But, wouldn't you know it? The poster didn't give up. This morning I found him saying the same thing. After I recovered from my frustration, I decide to take another careful look at the document and what he was saying. Surprise, surprise! He was right! I was the one who was wrong. Thanks to this member's persistence, I came to a better understand of the document. But, the funny thing is, it didn't change the two most important elements. To show what I mean, let's take another look at the wordage on page 46. But, this time I'll highlight them a little differently.
_________________________________________________________________________

1. Time frame: 2009- 2019, starting and ending on 21 September, the International Day of Peace. That launching date would give 12 months to prepare and promote a final proposal and to win political support from member states, in order to present the corresponding project of resolution to the General Assembly in its 62nd session (September 2007), with another 24 months for formal preparatory activities. The Decade would then overlap by only one year with the ongoing Decade for a Culture of Peace, and could learn from that experience AOC Report (pdf).
_________________________________________________________________________

As the poster correctly points out, the work on preparing a proposal for a UN resolution is already underway and is to be ready to present to the Security Council in 2007. And, if I have it right this time, the final resolution itself is to be approved by the member states in 2009 -- making the AOC's official launch date the same year. So, as I read it before, the AOC is still to be fully operational in 2010 -- the middle of the coming seven-year period.

This brings us to the document's other important element -- the year 2007. The document says this is when the AOC's resolution proposal will first be presented to the Security Council. As I explained yesterday, the year 2007 may be very significant. If you recall, this is the same year that the EU's European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) is to kick in. And, the purpose of the ENPI is to breathe new life, or confirm, Javier Solana's Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace for a period of seven-years.

Another issue we've been discussing is the so-called "CIMIC concept." Some are struggling with what it means and how I lifted CIMIC from Recommendation 666 and applied it to the AOC. In order to explain, I will have to start with the Club of Rome.

After discovering that Solana was a member of the Spanish chapter of the Club of Rome, I naturally did a little research into the activities of the organization. What I found is the Club of Rome is made up of former heads of state and other important international players who are seeking ways to establish what they call, "global governance." Unlike what so many are expecting, they're not attempting to create a world government. What the Club of Rome means by governance is -- by first establishing a new global ethic -- convincing existing governments, NGOs and other internationals institutions to willingly unite into a new world order. And, in the AOC, what we're seeing is the Club of Rome's dream of global governance finally coming true.

This brings us to Javier Solana and his Recommendation 666. If you have read my book, you may remember me saying that I suspected that Solana was including in his foreign policy for the EU the policies and agenda of the Club of Rome. The CIMIC concept that his Recommendation 666 introduced to the EU comes from the Club of Rome's play book -- the idea of combining both governmental elements of the 25 member states and civilian elements under one powerful EU agency. And, if you look at the AOC, that's exactly what it calls for too. The only difference is, instead of implementing the CIMIC concept into the EU, it's now being implemented into the UN on a global scale.

There is another thing about CIMIC that should concern us. Jesus tells us, in the time of the end, many will hate and betray each other (Matt. 24:10). Friends, that's what something like CIMIC and the AOC may ultimately do. You see, once the CIMIC concept is fully deployed in our cities and neighborhoods, there will be no place we can go without the watching eyes of the AOC's thought police.

Fortunately, it's still just developing.



AOC: Solana's Better World?
Today's commentary was slow coming because, as I said before, researching the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations has been like falling into an ocean of new information. And, if you recall, I also said it was more important now than ever for us students of Bible prophecy to keep our feet on the Rock of God's Word. Here's another reason why:

Whether we admit it or not, we all put our own spin on things. The only question is, who's spin is the closest to the truth. This is where the light of prophecy can come in. You see, the Apostle Peter tells us that the prophetic word is like a lamp shining in a dark place. In fact, Peter also says -- despite what some argue -- that we had better pay attention to it (2 Peter 1:19).

Yet, that's not all Peter says. He also tells us to be careful in our study of prophecy. Peter says:

But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God (2 Peter 1:20-21 New American Standard Bible).

What Peter is saying is what I've been saying. We need to keep our feet on the Rock of God's word. Have you ever heard someone say if the Holy Spirit doesn't move them, they move the Holy Spirit? I have. And, every time I hear it I think of Peter's words -- "no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will."

You see, as I was saying before, we all put our own spin on things. That's why we need to renew our minds according to God's word. That way, when we spin things, to the best of our ability we spin things according to God's word. Now, here is my spin on the Alliance of Civilizations (AOC).

If you have read my book, you may recall I mention Javier Solana's new security doctrine for the European Union, A Secure Europe In A Better World. Well, what I'm finding is that the AOC is actually Solana's security doctrine in action. Let's take a look at certain parts of Solana's strategy. Notice in particular what I have highlighted. What's in brackets I added.
_________________________________________________________________________

A Secure Europe In A Better World

II. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Building Security in our Neighbourhood

The Mediterranean area generally continues to undergo serious problems of economic stagnation, social unrest and unresolved conflicts. The European Union's interests require a continued
engagement with Mediterranean partners, through more effective economic, security and cultural
cooperation in the framework of the Barcelona Process. [The covenant with many?] A broader engagement with the Arab World should also be considered. [Reason for the AOC?]

AN INTERNATIONAL ORDER BASED ON EFFECTIVE MULTILATERALISM

In a world of global threats, global markets and global media, our security and prosperity
increasingly depend on an effective multilateral system. The development of a stronger
international society, well functioning international institutions and a rule-based international order
is our objective. We are committed to upholding and developing International Law. The fundamental framework for international relations is the United Nations Charter. The United Nations Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Strengthening the United Nations, equipping it
to fulfill its responsibilities and to act effectively, is a European priority. [Another reason for the AOC?]

See pdf here
_________________________________________________________________________

Last June the EU held its June summit. As I read the Council's conclusions, I noticed something interesting -- it was exactly as Solana suggested in his new doctrine. The EU's promoting of the so-called "dialogue between cultures" -- which is what led to the AOC -- is to be promoted through existing mechanisms. And, the first mechanism mentioned is the Barcelona Process. Next is the Anna Lindh Foundation that was later added to the Barcelona Process. Then comes the AOC. It was happening exactly according to Solana's security strategy. Solana said, "The European Union's interests require a continued engagement with Mediterranean partners, through more effective economic, security and cultural cooperation in the framework of the Barcelona Process." In other words, the AOC is another addition into the framework of Solana's 1995 Barcelona Process. And, it was also implementing his call for a new international order. So you can see what I mean, let's take a look at that part of the document.
________________________________________________________________________

15/16 JUNE 2006
PRESIDENCY CONCLUSIONS

The European Union will continue to actively promote the dialogue between cultures and civilizations through all existing mechanisms, including the Barcelona Process, the Anna Lindh Foundation and the Alliance of Civilizations. Particular emphasis will be given to the role that free media and civil society as well as their promotion can play in this regard.
_________________________________________________________________________

But, that's no all I found. Look at what follows.
_________________________________________________________________________

The European Council welcomes the meeting with leading representatives of churches and religious communities organized by the Presidency and the European Commission in Brussels on 30 May 2006.

The European Council welcomes the conclusion of the Inter-Institutional Agreement on the Financial Perspectives 2007-2013 providing the Union with the means to carry through its policies and stresses the importance of rapidly adopting the necessary legal instruments.
_________________________________________________________________________

Once again, we're seeing the inclusion of the religious element. And, once again we are seeing everything that's happening in the EU being fitted in to a seven-year time frame. For us here at FP, this naturally makes us think about the EU's new European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) that is due to start on January 1, 2007. Let's see what the document has to say regarding the ENP.
________________________________________________________________________

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The European Council reiterates the importance it attaches to the European Neighbourhood Policy as a means to strengthen cooperation with its neighbours and expand prosperity, stability and security beyond the borders of the European Union. The European Neighbourhood Policy seeks to support the political and economic reforms of neighbouring countries on the basis of partnership and building on shared values. The Union is determined to strengthen and further develop its Neighbourhood Policy, thus offering an increasingly close relationship and substantial support, as neighbouring countries fulfill their commitments to reform.

See pdf here
_________________________________________________________________________

Doesn't that word, "strengthen," sound a lot like "make strong," or, "confirm?" And, doesn't it look like the strengthening is for the EU's Barcelona Process, the ENP and AOC? Another thing to consider is the fact that the strengthening is to be for a period of seven-years beginning in 2007. If things go as planned in the UN, the AOC's war against fundamentalism should begin in full sometime around 2010. And, on top of everything else mentioned, the man behind all this is politically connected -- in two places -- to the number 666.

Or, is this all just my spin?



Talking Peace Planning War
If you want to know where we are in the history of God's people, read Psalms two. But, as we see by the words of King David, it's certainly not the first time. Many years later, in the N. T. book of Acts, we read:

Then they [Israel's political/religious leaders] called them in again [Peter and John] and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus [As those in possession of sole truth]. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard [The testimony of prophecy and Jesus]" (The words in brackets are mine).

Now we come to the word's of David.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen (Acts 4:18-28 New American Standard Bible).

Today, in the UN's Alliance of Civilizations (AOC), we once again find the kings of the earth gathering together and plotting against the Lord and against His Anointed One -- exactly as the Scripture foretells. On page 11 of the summation of the opening debate on the AOC, we find these prophetic words:

It was expressed that in both civilizations, the ideology of fear was fostered by extremists, Islamic as well as Christian, so that one of the main threats consisted not in Islam or Christianity, but in the dangers inherent to religious fundamentalism in general, which countering must be the main aim of an Alliance of Civilizations See pdf here.

So, who's idea is this anyway? For our answer let's look at the document's page one.

1. The Alliance of Civilizations initiative originated in a proposal made by the Spanish President of Government, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, during a speech at the 59th UN General Assembly on September 21, 2004.

It also says:

2. The proposal was taken up by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, in his address before the Arab League the following December, as well as in an intervention held together with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on March 9, 2005, in Madrid.

Here we find the person -- Miguel Morantinos -- who is just recently calling for another Madrid type conference to settle the Israeli/Palestinian dispute. Morantions was Javier Solana's personal representative to the Middle East and is now Spain's Foreign Minister. So, by being the person taking the AOC to the Arab League, it would appear that Morantinos is only doing what Solana called for in his new security doctrine. Solana suggests:

The European Union's interests require a continued engagement with Mediterranean partners, through more effective economic, security and cultural cooperation in the framework of the Barcelona Process. A broader engagement with the Arab World should also be considered See pdf here.

Now we come to something that my friend Constance Cumbey will find most fascinating. If you've had the privilege to hear Constance speak, you will find that she likes to mention Solana's yearly birthday presents that he usually gets in November. For example, Solana's Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace (Barcelona Treaty) was completed in November and, only a few days later in November, he was appointed the head of NATO. And, it was in November of 1999 that Solana was made the head of the 10-nation military alliance known as the Western European Union (WEU). Well, Constance, take a look at this:

The [UN] Secretary-General officially took over the initiative on July 14, and put in place a process to form a High Level Panel in order to convert this first impulse into a feasible and operative concept.

What's so important about July 14? July 14 is Solana's birthday. In other words, on Solana's birthday his new security doctrine for the EU, A Secure Europe In A Better World, was officially accepted for consideration by the UN. How's that for a birthday present Constance?

While we're on the subject of dates, recently I was made aware of another one. I received an email from someone informing me that the date the AOC resolution proposal is to be presented to the Security Council -- September 21, 2007, is the eve of the most solemn of all Jewish holidays -- Yom Kippur. You see, this day is also known as the Day of Atonement -- the day the Temple sacrifices for the nation's sins were once offered. Perhaps this date is not an accident. You see, besides waging a war against fundamentalism, the AOC seeks to bring a final solution to the sticky issue over who will control Old Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.

The Bible tells us, in the time of the end, the kings of the earth will once again gather together against the Lord and His Anointed One. In my opinion, that's what the UN's AOC is really all about. They may be talking peace, but they're planning war -- war against the people of God (Rev. 13:5). And, according to the prophecies of the Bible, this war won't be over until the power of the holy people has been shattered (Daniel 12:4-7). In order to understand fully what I mean, please carefully read the AOC's own documents -- especially this one See pdf here.

There was another email I wish to mention. This one I haven't had time yet to answer. Someone asked me a question that I feel is important. The question was, what will I do if it turns out that I've been wrong -- what will be my reaction? I think about that possibility all the time. At the beginning of my book, back when all of this first started, I said:

The events record in this book may, or may not, be actual fulfillment's of Bible prophecy. At the time of writing, it's too early to know for certain. However, even if it turns out that these fascinating events aren't the actual fulfillment's of prophecy that I think they are, you will see how major prophecies could be fulfilled in your day – in real time – and nobody would even notice them.

Friends, I still feel the same way.

Ok,.....All the articles above, are just from the month of september 2006 alone....but I believe that it is enough info to cause one to look in that direction to the student of bible prophecy.......I do want to point out that herb at this moment still believes that we are now in the tribulation period......and that he is post trib. Other than that,....He has very good info.......................................................................................................benny P.S.S. ....Read post 1168 in isaiah news update in the current events section.......It is bad to the bone!!!....OUR LORD IS COMING SOON!!!

. . . Iranian negotiator, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is visiting the US . . . As strange as it sound, Khatami is going around speaking to America's Muslims about the evils of extremism, the need for tolerance and inter-religious dialogue. Khatami is reported to have said:
Muslims must forge a new identity that embraces the modern world, tolerates other religions and works toward peace.
Months ago, who was the Iranian official that came to the floor of the US Senate and said the same thing.

In other words, we may now be witnessing the beginning of the rise of the second beasts -- the beast from the earth (Revelation 13: 11).

What was the first beast, the beast from the sea?

I agree that it might be the second beast of Rev. 13 but remember what the bible says about going to war.

Luk 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Luk 14:32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth ambassadors, and desireth conditions of peace.

This is the problem:


Opiates of the Iranian People
Despair Drives World's Highest Addiction Rate

By Karl Vick
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, September 23, 2005; Page A01

TEHRAN -- If he could afford it, Ali Nariman would drink beer, he says. But like most Iranians, he is poor, and so takes his solace in the form of a small gray ball of opium.

Swallowed whole for maximum absorption, the ball takes only half an hour to deliver the warm, surging relief that inhabitants of the Persian plateau have long associated with advanced age. For centuries in Iran, opium was regarded as a privilege of the elderly, a largely medicinal comfort for the pains and worries accumulated over a lifetime of work.

Nariman is 18. And like hundreds of thousands of Iranians turning to harder narcotics at younger ages, he regards drugs as the only alternative to work.

According to the U.N. World Drug Report for 2005, Iran has the highest proportion of opiate addicts in the world -- 2.8 percent of the population over age 15. Only two other countries -- Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan -- pass the 2 percent mark. With a population of about 70 million and some government agencies putting the number of regular users close to 4 million, Iran has no real competition as world leader in per capita addiction to opiates, including heroin.

The whole Region is flooded; it is stuffed with heroine and opium from the poppy cultivation. It is legal over there. That is why the terrorist ties the grnades around him and says goodbye and hello to the virgins he thinks he is going to meet.

EU summit on the European Constitution set for Madrid in January
By h.b.
Sat, 16 Dec 2006, 11:37
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Spanish Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, (left) with the Finnish President of the EU, Matti Vanhanen, in Brussels yesterday - Photo EFE


At the European Summit on Friday, Spain and Luxembourg announced a joint initiative to try to recover the idea of a European Constitution.

The announced a new EU summit between the 18 countries which have already ratified the document, to be held in Madrid on January 26.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, said that Spain’s joint peace initiative with Italy and France for the Middle East, had led to a motion passed by the European Council on the problem. He said the motion strengthens the hand of the EU representative, Javier Solana, and puts the road plan to peace back on track.

Zapatero also thanked the EU for imposing immigration measures which he said would have been unthinkable a year ago.

The 25 EU leaders also decided to only allow further growth of the community after institutional reform...............................................benny

Jan. 12, 2007 19:01 | Updated Jan. 12, 2007 19:22
Solana: It's time for action in Mideast
By MARION FISCHEL, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT


The Madrid + 15 Peace Conference concluded Friday with a decision to put the peace train back on track during the first half of 2007.

Spanish President Felipe Gonzalez attributed the failure of the Oslo Accords, which were reached before the PLO had recognized Israel, to the fact that the negotiations had moved from the private into the public domain before the agreements had become permanent.

He compared the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference to the present one, saying that in 1991, the language had been "tougher than the present language, the distance between the parties was greater and the hope for achieving a true and lasting peace was less." This time, he said, the language had been more direct and rational.

Gonzalez referred to the 2002 Arab League Initiative as "amazing," saying he could not believe that the international community had not recognized it as an irreversible step. He asked that the US play a part in the peace process without "too much involvement."

"The Arab-Israeli issue may or may not be the epicenter of the problem," said Gonzalez, "but if it is not solved we cannot advance to the other issues."

Gonzalez quoted [former executive chairman of UNMOVIC] Hans Blix as saying that "traditional methods are useless against the new international terrorism and arms proliferation."

"The use of force," said Gonzalez, produces more international terrorism, both present and potential.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana, who attended only part of the conference, said that "the moment of action has come."

"It is imperative to continue with a step-by-step approach. [UN Representative] Terje Roed-Larsen has said that the totality is 'too big,' so let us take the Israeli-Palestinian issue first," Solana continued.

Outlining the formula for a successful peace process, Solana, who defined himself as "a friend of Israel and of the Palestinians," said that the process would need to be "comprehensive," and include "outside monitoring."

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos called upon the international community to "intervene but not impose," adding that "It is not enough to concentrate on the Palestinian situation while the issues with Syria and Lebanon remain blocked."

Moratinos also called for the Arab world to be included in the Quartet, and for unconditional agreements to be reached.

After the conference, Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi told The Jerusalem Post that she was pleased and hopeful with the outcome of the conference.

"I think this is very significant. It is not just symbolic. There is commonality and an agreement on issues. But this is something that must be taken up and run with immediately," she said.

...................................benny

Benny,

Is your opening post "Covenant of Peace" (Dan 9:27) your comments, or those of Herb Peters?

this is going to be kinda out of the box thinking here but, I think I can identify the antichrist. It is not joviar of spain..though the anti will eventually hold his post.

here is what we know about the anti:he will be assyrian, become strong with a small amout of people first...all that is fact from the bible

my opinion; he will try to copy Jesus...he will be 30 when he starts his ministry....

I was doing a study on Revelation 18, looking at what items are exported from the city that is destroyed...i do not think it is America...i think those items are listed because they will really be exported, they are not symbols...

Get this; Dubai (the one that leads the uae, the one that owns our ports, the one that owns at least 9 of our military factories) exports/re exports everything on the list. Even slaves! chariots? about 60 billion worth of cars!!! i could go on and on do the research yourself and tell me why Im wrong. the main port of Dubai is building faster than any city in the world. they are building islands off the coast in the shape of the world map!!! they are big in horses too!

last week i would have ruled out Dubai beacuse I was looking for an assyrian (iran, iraq, syria). but a map on ancient assyria shows Dubai as the only part of Saudi that was part of the empire.

Daniel says the anti will conquer east, south and towards Israel...look at a map-east to india-south to omen, saudi (oil) and north west to israel...also says jordon will escape him...i have wondered why it says that...i think it is because it lays in his path to israel and guess what, a jordon princess has married into Dubai royalty, making them allies!!!

seven hills;7 members of the uae...

the prince of dubai will turn 26 this yr...in 2011 he will be 30...fits the 2012 calamity everyone talks about, Israel will be 63 yrs old in 2011 (7 yrs later it will be 70!)

his name is Sheikh rashid matkoum...a young stout looking chap

Dear Calvin,...Most of these posts are by herb peters,.....He is very smart,...I am a pre-trib believer,....Herb Peters is a post trib believer, But I do pay very close attention to what he posts,.....Sometimes I let people know that it was his original post,....then sometimes I am in a hurry, and do not............................................................benny


Dear Dundrewnoah,...At the Madrid talks yesterday,....There was a very high level Syrian official present at the meeting......I can't remember his name and the info has been archived......But that is interesting indeed...........................benny

Madrid: Fifteen Years Later......By Herb Peters
What follows is a speech given at the recent Madrid+15 Conference. If you read carefully, and if you understand the underlying political mechanisms and realities, you will find all the necessary elements in place for the beginning of Daniel's 70th week. And, you will hear it coming from someone other than me. In fact, you will actually hear it coming from a primary source.

What we have is a formally signed, legally binding covenant with many -- the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace (Euromed) -- that was established between the EU and Israel in November 20, 1995. Israel's Euromed Association Agreement entered into force on June 1, 2000, only four days before the 10-nation Western European Union's adoption of Recommendation 666.

Israel's European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action Plan was adopted in April 11, 2004. Although not legally binding, Israel's continuing cooperation to her ENP Action Plan is the basis for future continuing participation in all ENP benefits. As of January 1, 2007, the "New" ENP began and will span a seven-year period.

At the EU's December European Council, the EU's Javier Solana, the author of both the Euromed and the ENP, received his unofficial seat within the Commission to oversee the ENP. At the same summit, Solana was given his official EU mandate to carry the Middle East peace process foreword.

As of January 1, the New ENP has both greatly increased benefits for all participating Mediterranean partners. But, it also has substantially increased political requirements -- one of which is to make peace with fellow Euromed partners.

Included in this mix is the UN's new Alliance of Civilizations (AoC). The AoC provides the forum whereby the so-called "dialogue of cultures and civilizations" can be performed. If approved by the Security Council, the AoC will also provide a vehicle from where a religious war, exactly as the one foretold in Bible prophecy, can be -- as of 2010 -- effectively waged.

As you read the speech that follows, please consider all the things, since way back in February 2002, that I've been reporting and saying.

Herb
________________________________________________________________________
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy
The Middle East in the EU’s External Relations
“Madrid: Fifteen Years Later” conference
Madrid, 11 January 2007

Señor Vice Presidente,

Señor Secretario de Estado,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Quisiera en primer lugar agradecer al Vice Presidente Lamata su hospitalidad y su invitación a esta velada y al Secretario de Estado Bernardino su amable presentación. Es para mí un honor dirigirme a ustedes al final de este día de trabajo para todos.

I am certain you have had very fruitful working sessions today, with plenty of intellectual nourishment. And tonight’s physical nourishment promises to be equally enjoyable and enriching!

We have spent today discussing how we can create the conditions for a comprehensive regional settlement in the Middle East and I trust you have had very useful working sessions this afternoon.

The real question we need to ask is what do we think the Middle East will look like in ten years times? Either we will have made progress in solving the root causes of the region’s conflicts, in Lebanon, Israel and Palestine; or we will have failed, and the situation will look more hopeless than ever before.

If we fail, there will be more and more needless death on both sides and both communities will still be living with fear. The conflict will still be used as a beacon and excuse for extremism and terrorism across the globe.

But if we succeed – and we have to succeed- and are able to facilitate sustainable peace and stability in the region there could be two independent states of Israel and Palestine living side by side I would like to renew the commitment of the EU to a Middle East where the Palestinians are masters of their own destiny finally able to realise their own potential, and there is a lasting solution to Israel's legitimate security fears.

There’s no question which is the preferable scenario. The question of course is how we ensure it’s the scenario we see 10 years from now.

Although many events over the past years can easily lead to deeper pessimism, I am an optimist by nature and continue to believe that progress is possible.

As I said this morning, I firmly believe that the only way this could be achieved is through consensus and dialogue rather than violence. I described this morning the main elements that I consider necessary to be part of a global solution. I do not want to repeat myself and would not elaborate further now. Just allow me again to thank the Spanish authorities and civil society for their efforts to pull together this key international conference as part of reviving this process.

The EU is more of a global player than many Europeans imagine. Despite the setback of the constitutional treaty’s rejection in 2005 we have been gradually strengthening our foreign, security and defence policy to enable us to play a stronger role in dealing with crises and conflicts around the world. As a result we now have around 60,000 European peacekeepers serving across the globe. We are working actively to promote sustainable development and secure peace in Aceh, Afghanistan, Lebanon and around the world.

Clearly there is still room for improvement in our foreign policy-making. We have to find ways of improving our performance, in particular to address three cross-cutting issues which all relate to our discussions today.

1) The first is human security which encompasses both freedom from fear and freedom from want. Nowhere is the need to create freedom from fear and freedom from want more poignant than in the Palestinian Territories. The vicious cycle of poverty and violence has to be broken and we all have a contribution to make.

2) The second issue is the dialogue of cultures and civilizatons It is clear that one of the most important issues we are facing at the dawn of the 21st century is defeating the myth of a clash of civilisations. The plight of the Palestinian people is sadly often instrumentalised in support of political agendas. But the fact remains; it is one of the most emotive conflicts on earth. We would be doing humanity a great service in bringing it to a good end.

3) The third issue is climate change and energy security. An unstable climate will bring a huge additional strain on areas like the Middle East. In a region where five per cent of the world’s population already has to share only one per cent of the world’s water, climate change will mean there is even less water to go round.

And of course there will be huge ramifications for the region from global energy policy and oil prices.

Ladies and Gentlemen, although the EU is a global power with interests around the globe we pay particular attention to those countries closer to us. We believe that we need to create the conditions for peace also by working in promoting a favourable environment that integrates economic, social and political issues and shows the EU’s commitment to the people in the region.

Since 1995, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership has provided a wide framework for political, economic and social relations between EU Member States and partner countries in the Southern Mediterranean, based on democracy and human rights.

Despite the lack of progress in the political chapter, work done in the economic and social chapters should not be underestimated. The Euromed Partnership is still today the only regional grouping which brings together Israel with its neighbours. It stands as a testimony to the region’s desire to engage in dialogue and work together.

Last year we celebrated the tenth anniversary of the Barcelona Process I believe that Barcelona has made a difference to people’s lives in the region already. And it has permitted the EU to reinforce its strong links and solid relations with our Mediterranean Partners. At the time of the Tenth Anniversary, we set out an agenda for the next five years: a work programme with target dates for action and measures focusing in few critical areas: human rights and democracy, sustainable economic growth and reform, and education.

UNDP Arab Human Development reports have underlined the importance of education and of gender equality to the development of the region. I believe that Education is crucial to the future prosperity and well-being of these countries

In our economic relationship, the Euro-Med partnership has been very successful laying the foundations for free trade in industrial goods. The Barcelona declaration set the objective of a Free Trade Area accross the Mediterranean by 2010.

We have over the last year started negotiations on liberalisation of these key areas in the second half of this year. In services and establishment, the aim is to start with those partners willing to enter into such a regional agreement, and expand the group as others become ready to come on board. In agriculture we agree on a road map towards a high degree of liberalisation in all products, with only a few exceptions

To reap the full benefit of these proposals, the countries of the Mediterranean need to do more to expand South-South trade between themselves. Without this, our 2010 objective will remain unfulfilled.

Finally, the third core element of Barcelona is a reform agenda that brings your countries closer to the EU. The EU doesn’t believe in imposing reform, but we do want to do all we can to support the region’s own reforms quite simply because we believe that democracy, good governance, rule of law, and gender equality are essential for stability and prosperity. This has always been an objective of the Barcelona process and it is the cornerstone of the Neighbourhood Policy.

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) complements and builds upon the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. ENP is our policy for bringing the EU’s neighbours to its east and south closer to us, and so extending our prosperity, stability and security to others. Our Neighbourhood Policy can facilitate the countries coming much closer to the EU, participating freely in our internal market and building a free trade area. If the conditions are right there will be more freedom of movement for legal migrants, and more exchanges between our scholars, our businessmen, our young people and our tourists. Our peoples will have greater links with one another and the region will enter an era of prosperity unknown for long time.

Politically the region will open up, allowing people to take advantage of the new opportunities on offer and to express their views without fear of reprisals. There will be a greater acceptance of diverse opinions and religious practices as inter-religious tensions diminish.

I take advantage of the presence of the Vice President to stress the important role that European regions are meant to play in a successful ENP. The regions of both sides of the Mediterranean are the motors of the ENP; they need to work in partnership and from here I can only call on all of you to ensure that this channel is maximised as a means to promote closer ties from the citizens of both region.

I would also like to mention those Arab countries a little bit further away geographically but nevertheless very close also to our hearts and minds: the countries East of Jordan. The EU’s Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East aims at promoting a common zone of peace, prosperity and progress in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, including countries east of Jordan. We will not forget them and as I have said before and on many occasions I believe they are also called to play an important role in supporting peace efforts in the region.

There is an important player I would not wish to forget, I would like to make a call on civil society, so well represented here tonight and stress my believe on the important role that they can play in forging ties among people inside the region, between the region and Europe. I have always found their ideas refreshing and in a process like this new and creative solutions are always welcome. Please continue to work.

Ladies and gentlemen, to conclude I would like to return to the main issue under discussion at this conference: a long tern sustainable peace in the Middle East.

There have been some positive signs. We fully support the efforts in Palestine and Lebanon to find a compromise solution which includes all parties and very much hope both efforts will succeed. I hope the meeting on 23 December between PM Olmert and President Abbas can pave the way for renewed dialogue between the two sides.

Yet, I would like to call your attention to an interest coincidences, as today’s conference preparations were finalised and even today, the same day of the conference; we are hearing more and more voices in the region and in the International Community calling for the need to advance in the Roadmap and moving straight forward to the last stages of its implantation. There are indications that during her forthcoming visit to the region Sec Rice might be discussing the idea of a provisional Palestine state. I am not going to comment on what are for the time being just unofficial sources but I believe that the series of initiative that have been put on the table recently: the Spanish initiative (that I have supported from first moment), the Livni ideas, Peretz plan, US proposals...are a sign of realisation by all players that there is a need for action. And this is already welcome.

This region has tremendous potential, and with sustainable peace and a sufficient injection of resources from the international community, that potential could finally be realised.

As Kofi Annan put it, “We might like to think of the Arab-Israeli conflict as just one regional conflict among many. But it is not. No other conflict carries such a powerful symbolic and emotional charge among people far removed from the battlefield. As long as the Palestinians live under occupation, exposed to daily frustration and humiliation; and as long as Israelis are blown up in buses or in dance-halls: so long will passions everywhere be inflamed.”

Thank you.

(http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/07/7&format=
HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en)
_________________________________________________________________________

Are you ready? If not, Jesus still is.

It's up to you.

............................................benny

Getting It Done.............by herb peters
It's truly been said that if you want something done, give it to a busy man. That's because, for a busy man, there's nothing more frustrating than watching a job left undone.

And busy is the EU's Javier Solana. While other EU officials were soaking up benefits, Solana was busy carving a niche for their future king. So, it's not surprising that Solana would be the one to whom turned to get the Middle East peace process moving again.

And the EU leaders are not the only ones looking to Solana. What started as a foot in the door may have turned into a sale. If you recall, the Quartet was Solana's idea. The concept was, if the international community's major players -- the US, the EU, the UN and Russia -- would began singing together, a way to peace in the Middle East could be found.

The funny thing is, at the time the US led the Middle East peace process and the EU wasn't considered a significant player. But, like I said before, with the creation of the Quartet, Solana got the EU's foot in the door. Now, due to decisions taken at the EU's December European Council, it's Solana and the EU in the lead and the US is the one that's not the significant player Read about it here I And here.

And we're already seeing results. In secret talks held in Syria between a top Hamas leader and representatives of Fatah, serious progress may have been made regarding forming a coalition Palestinian government in Gaza -- a major step toward Solana's Middle East peace Read about it here.

Another necessary element, of course, is Solana getting the UN -- also a member of the Quartet -- and the UN's new Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, on board his new Middle East peace drive. And, according to Ban's recent press conference Read about it here, Solana has done this too.

Yes, there has been no one busier than the EU's Javier Solana.

And, Solana is getting it done.

...........................................benny

Israelnews.net

EU targets new start in Middle East peace process
12/01/2007 - 18:21:56

The European Union intends to go all out to try reactivate the Middle East peace process in the first six months of this year, the EU’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Friday, warning that it was crucial to do so before the United States enters its campaign period for the 2008 presidential elections.

“If in the first semester of 2007 we don’t get the process at least framed, I don’t say finished, but framed, I have my doubts that we will be able to do it before 2008,” Mr Solana said.

“We have to put the political process in motion,” he said at the end of a two-day conference in Madrid that aimed to revive optimism into stalled Middle East peace.

The conference, organised by private foundations, brought together diplomats, academics and politicians from Europe, the United States, Russia and Middle Eastern countries.

It was called to commemorate the 15th anniversary of landmark 1991 Madrid peace conference that brought Israelis and Arabs to the negotiating table for the first time.

The latest conference has been criticised by some given that none of the major players in the region sent senior representatives but Mr Solana said the important thing was to get people talking.

I think that it will happen in 007, what do you think?

De Facto Power:...............by herb peters
The advantage of de facto power is deniability. Where there's legal power, it's an easy paper trail to those responsible. But where there's de facto power, no such trail exists. The power, however, is just as real. And although legal power can be learned in school, de facto power is best learned in the streets.

This brings us to why I believe God's people are failing to see what's occurring. While they're waiting for the the legal framework for the coming Antichrist to appear, the de facto framework may already be here.

Former German president Roman Herzog is warning that Germany's democracy is threatened by the de facto power being exercised by Brussels. Herzog is reported saying, "EU policies suffer to an alarming degree from a lack of democracy and a de facto suspension of the separation of powers." He also says, " By far the biggest part of the current laws in Germany are agreed by the council of ministers [member states representation in Brussels] and not the German parliament" Read about it here.

As I've been reporting, the EU's true seat of power is the Council of Ministers. This is where the EU's 27 member states exercise their power over the Union. And, when their legal powers fail -- which is quite often, their de facto powers kick in.

For example, the EU member states have created a de facto, super Foreign Minister post for their High Representative, Javier Solana. When the EU's constitution failed -- and the legal route was no longer available -- the de facto route was taken. As of January 1, 2007, Solana has his de facto seat within the Commission -- from where he can oversee his New European Neighborhood Policy.

Solana's Middle East EU mandate, however, is not de facto -- it's legal. That was necessary in order for Solana to take the EU's new Middle East peace plan to the Quartet and the rest of the international community.

The EU's peace plan, among other things, calls for convening an international conference on the order of the 1991 Madrid Conference. This idea has been rejected by both Israel and the Bush Administration. Yet, on January 10-12, the so-called "Madrid+15 Conference" occurred. This meeting, referred to only as a reunion, brought together all the major international players from the old 1991 conference. Friends, no matter what they call it, I believe what we had was a de facto, international Middle East peace conference. Even though the conference was said to be unofficial, is was just as real.

Today's news is about Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's trip to the Middle East and a possible three-way summit between Rice, PA Chairman Mahoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Read about it here. Earlier this month, while in Washington, it was announced that Solana would be following in Rice's steps. And, after closed door talks at the Madrid+15 Conference, I believe Solana may have expressed the new feeling of most of the international community. Solana said, "the moment of action has come" Read about it here.

The last area of de facto power I will mention is in regard to the UN's Alliance of Civilisations (AoC). As you know, I believe the AoC may be the perfect mechanism from which the coming Antichrist and his 10 kings can wage their foretold war against the saints of God. Although the AoC won't be legally binding, it will -- like all international treaties -- be politically binding. In other words, the AoC will have de facto power. And, as I said before:

The advantage of de facto power is deniability. Where there's legal power, it's an easy paper trail to those responsible. But where there's de facto power, no such trail exists.

The power, however, is just as real.

.................................................benny

Reviving EU charter through words, changes
Michio Hayashi / Yomiuri Shimbun Correspondent

Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende and Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt head neighboring countries, but they hold starkly different views on what should be done to breathe life into the European Union's stalled constitution.

The charter, which provides for a long-term EU president and foreign minister and a simpler voting system that takes population size more into account, suffered two body blows in 2005 when voters in referendums in France and the Netherlands voted against adopting the constitution.

Speaking separately to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Balkenende proposed dropping the term "constitution" in a bid to gain more support for the envisioned charter, while Verhofstadt suggested that the unanimity rule should be abolished.


Dutch Prime Minister

Jan-Peter Balkenende


The Yomiuri Shimbun: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Rome Treaty. What is your vision of Europe's future that is at the same time beneficial to the Dutch people?

Jan-Peter Balkenende: The Netherlands is one of the founding fathers of the EU and if you look to the past of the Netherlands, it's so important, the line, the significance of the EU for the people. If you look to European history, now is a time of freedom, a time without wars, and for decades, we had wars in this part of the world. So that is new in European history.

If you look to the economic development of the European continent, it is clear. If you look to a country like the Netherlands--you know we have always been an internationally oriented country--we are dependent on the European development, we have taken benefit of the European integration.

So when looking back I think it is very clear: a country like the Netherlands cannot exist without the EU. After World War II it was a matter of economic well-being--the supply of food for people, the continuation of liberty, of freedom, an existence without war. That is all clear and we have realized that. And then what happened afterward, you know, first we had an EU of six and then 12 and 15, and now we are 27. I am very happy that we have seen enlargement. Because when we had the subscription of the new member states, you could feel that was the end of the separation of Europe. It was also an emotional moment. This is a matter of looking back: I am thankful for what has happened in Europe, and the Netherlands played its role in it, and now I am looking to the future.

If you look at the challenges of today, you can talk about the economic development and innovation. If you look at ecology, sustainability, energy, the message is clear: we need each other in Europe. If you talk about the fight against terrorism: we have to work together. So the important thing is that we need an understanding of the people, that we cannot exist without Europe.

But, then it is important that Europe is also in the hearts and minds of people. And that is I think the difference with what we have seen here in the '50s. After World War II, people had a conviction that it was necessary to work together, not have war again, that was the message in those days. But after some decades, people take it for granted, it seems a natural development. If you look at the constitution: that was a moment when you could see that something changed in the hearts and minds of people. But talking about the European perspective, you have to work together on those issues that really have an international character.

And if you look to Europe, I think it is a fascinating continent. We always had our own social model, the role of social partners, for example. This has been a continent of economic well-being, the building up of the welfare state, and we have European values, which are of course diverse, but we also consider Europe as a continent of values.

During our presidency of the EU we organized a conference about values in Europe, what is the European identity. So, the important thing is the conviction that we need Europe if we want to solve international problems, you need the EU, but you must make clear what the responsibility of the EU is and what the responsibilities of the member states are, or what the responsibility of a region in Europe is. I think that is so important when talking about the issue of subsidiarity, for example. We have to define which issues need international cooperation, and what is a national responsibility.

As prime minister, how do you intend to deal with the issue of the European constitution?

Having said that, I have always said that the future of the Netherlands is in Europe, but that doesn't take away the fact that you have to be critical about certain elements. And that takes me to the point of the constitution. First, I need a short analysis of the situation because after France, the population of the Netherlands said no to the constitution. You have to look at the arguments that have been used.

I think it says something about the gap between the European institutions, what is happening in Brussels and Strasbourg on the other hand, and the feeling of the people on the other hand. Suppose you had a referendum in a country like Belgium or Germany, would you have the guarantee that this would have led to a yes? I think nobody can give such a guarantee. So I have always said that the issue of the referenda in France and the Netherlands is not only a matter for these two countries, it says something about the gap between the European institutions and the feeling of people.

And that is the reason why we stressed that it is important to get Europe back in the hearts and minds of people. And that is the reason why after no, when we had a meeting at Hampton Court of heads of state and government, we said it is important to talk of concrete results and concrete projects. Why do we need Europe? To making Europe safer, more secure. We need Europe for environmental reasons. Make clear what Europe means for the daily lives of people, that is the first step we have to do.

Then the next question: are the institutions; are the treaties as we know them now enough for a Europe of 27 or a Europe of more?

We can draw a clear conclusion: the treaty of Nice is not enough. Now it is our responsibility to talk about what should be changed. My conviction is that it is necessary that those countries that have already ratified and the countries that have said "no" and the other countries that have not yet made a decision should consider this as a common project and also as a common responsibility, because the no's of France and the Netherlands cannot be separated from feelings of people in Belgium or Germany or other countries. I think it is best to talk in terms of changes in the current treaties, not to present it as a constitution, because that was also one of the reasons why the people in the Netherlands feared it, feared a word like constitution.


Belgian Prime Minister

Guy Verhofstadt


The Yomiuri Shimbun: Some EU member states are of the opinion that the term 'EU constitution' should not be used. What are your thoughts?

Verhofstadt: I don't know if that is the problem, the name of the treaty. Certainly, it can influence people, but I don't think that is the problem. I think that the no vote in a number of countries, in France and in the Netherlands, was certainly influenced by local situations and by different opinions. For example, France, where you had people voting no because it [the European constitution] was going too far, and people who were voting no because it was not going far enough. So then, it is very difficult to say what the right solution is.

What I hope is that we can save the maximum number of elements of this constitution, and I think we have just cause, because 18 of the 27 member countries, representing two-thirds of the member countries, have ratified the treaty. If you were in the U.S., under the rules of the Constitution adopted in 1787 in Philadelphia--where the unanimity rule was replaced by qualified majority rule--it would be adopted. Based on the old, American Constitution this constitution is already adopted. It is not adopted because we have the unanimity rule.

My point is that we'll have a discussion next year to see what elements can be dropped from the constitution, but an even better question is: What can we add to the whole piece to make it a better compromise for the future of the EU?

In fact we should have a constitution with only one article saying: we abolish unanimity rule. That is the key reason why you are going from a confederation--a loose confederation--to an efficient federation. We do have a number of important steps in the right direction in the constitution. But, for example, that in actuality we cannot make steps in the right direction on migration, on justice, on police cooperation, on security. Why is that? Because of the unanimity rule. We have a passerelle, a bridge, that we put in the Nice Treaty to go from unanimity rule to majority voting. Why can't we use it? Because of the unanimity rule. You always come back to the same problem.

And certainly in a union, because I am very much in favor of an enlarged European Union, to more than 30 members, including the Balkan countries, Ukraine, and why not include Turkey. But in a situation where there is no unanimity. Because otherwise you are putting yourself in a blocked situation. If you are creating a union with 30, 32, 33, 35 member states, while keeping unanimity, you are blocking yourself.

So what I am trying to do, is to say, OK, we can change, we can adapt, we can clarify the situation of the European constitution. But let's not only talk about what can be dropped from it, but also talk about what can be added to it. Because normally, if you want to resolve a crisis in Europe, you have to do it by doing something better, by increasing your ambition, and not to go to a lower level of ambition. That happened in the 1950s with the crisis surrounding the European Defense Community. It was not adopted by the French Assembly and they said, okay, if you don't accept it, let's create a bigger idea, let's realize a bigger one. That idea was the European Community, the internal market. I think we have to adopt the same ambitious attitude toward this crisis, to try and find something better.

The EU has been working on communication, to improve public relations. Is it working?

You know what is the best thing we can do to have better communication about Europe? It would be to not blame Europe when something goes wrong in your own nation state. What we are now doing is simply saying, when something goes wrong on the national level, "Oh, it's Europe! That's an obligation of Europe. That's a new regulation of Europe."

So the first thing we need to do is not to blame Europe for everything that goes wrong inside our national economies, inside our national communities. It is not because of Europe, because Europe represents 1 percent of GDP of all the member states together. One percent. So that cannot be its fault and it's not at the source of every mistake.

Instead, we have to show to the public that the EU is not the basis of our mistakes but that it is an opportunity to give an answer to the globalization worldwide that is happening today. If you want a strong economy, a strong eurozone, let's develop a common economic strategy with the EU and in this new world order.

Should a new treaty to embody the principles of the EU constitution be referendum-free?

I like referenda. Every national state has to decide how to ratify. But it is very clear, having more and more and more member states in the EU, you have to move to another system, with maybe two elements. That at least we do the referenda on the same date. So that we are not doing what we are today: we start a referendum in one country, and then a week or a month later another one in another country.

Secondly, I am supporting the idea of having a European referendum. Why have a referendum state by state? Why not have one referendum for the whole of the European population? So it is the European population that is deciding on the future, and not what we have today, which is a system in which in fact a minority can block the whole thing. That is what we have today--a minority is blocking the constitution, for two-thirds have already ratified, so in fact it's a minority that is blocking the thing.

(Jan. 16, 2007)
.............................................benny

Dialogue 'only path to peace in Middle East'
By Duraid Al Baik, Foreign Editor



Madrid: The Madrid +15 Peace Conference concluded yesterday on a positive note.

It said all parties including Israel and Syria have realised the need for peace to address the lack of security in the region. The meeting stressed the need for dialogue and concessions as the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East.

There was no agreement among 100 participants representing six countries and international organisations on what is the best formula for peace, but officials at the conference said the EU and the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice will undertake a tour in the coming two weeks to explore ways of activation.

The three-day conference including representatives from Syria and Israel who met for the first time after seven years to discuss ways of pushing peace ahead was described as highly fruitful.

But, a veteran EU diplomat warned the world against the risk of delaying the peace process and suggested moving the peace process ahead, within the next six months, before the US administration got busy with the presidential election.

Javier Solana, EU top Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy told Madrid+15 Peace Conference that the world is convinced that the core of achieving peace in many regions in the world lies with finding a just and feasible solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

"Dialogue and concessions, not the use of military force, will bring peace to the region and subsequently to the world," he said.

He said, "The world, including the US, has come to this conclusion. The Baker-Hamilton report referred clearly to the links between Arab-Israeli conflict and other security challenges facing the US and rest of the world. We have to move quickly before it is too late."

Solana told Gulf News Madrid+15 is a EU initiative although they believe the US has a key role to play in the coming few months.




.............................................benny

You reminded me of two of my dreams and it was about Dubai.

http://www.christian-forum.net/index.php?showtopic=6289

...i have been looking for the meaning of dubai...the only thing
i have come up with is something to do with pearls in two places...

anyone know?

signet

Shadow types in the Bible...

They may think they are the Pearl...NOT! LOL

Rev.21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl; and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

Jesus is the One Pearl, not the kingdoms of this World.

This is so wierd...I read about this city a while ago in some magazine at the doctor's office, when taking my mom for a check-up. It's totally sickening extravegence of the material world. Surely not feeding the sheep, but is total indulgence of the Rich and famous...and even the horrific selling of children and women into sexual slavery, prostitution. Just another sign of the times...as in the days of Noah. A Headonist get a way for the rich and famous. God will NOT BE MOCKED.
We have seen the work of his hand in Indonesia...one of the world's biggest slave trading ports in the World...no wonder he took mostly children...his children will not be used as sexual slaves!!!

Hmm and interesting...The two towers again...? don't beleive they will ever be built...and the Christ is coming soon. Blessed be the name of our LORD whom lives and WILL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.

and just last night we watched a goofy move, Pirates of the Carribean...and the one ship was named the Pearl...and I thought it very strange...and selling one's soul over to the Beast of the Sea.

Jesus is LORD, King of Kings and Lord of Lords...blessings to all

I found this guy's official web site...and here's an article on what they were meeting about this week...

UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired a Cabinet meeting yesterday.

The Cabinet reviewed memoranda submitted by the ministers and the Ministry of Economy's achievements. The Cabinet members approved military cooperation agreements with Russia, South Korea, Azerbaijan ......

full article: http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/

[b]and check out this flash player where he challanges you to "step into the light" because "he can make dreams a reality" GOOSEBUMPS!!![/b]


http://www.sheikhmohammed.co.ae/english/fl...site/index.html

Matkoum in hebrew numerical value is 661. Making him very close to 666 but no cigar.

Is it possible that his last name could be spelled a different way? Possibly with an "E"? (Which equals "5")

i think his son is the one to watch...he is 26 this yr...he will be 30 (same age as Christ) in 2011....2011 will be 63 yr bday for Israel since 1948....add 7 yrs of trib and you get Israel at 70...this generation shall not pass...

...known for the pearling industry for centuries...


it is one of the quickest growing and sought after vacation and tourist
location in the world...

thanks for link...

signet

thats the tip of the iceberg...gov controled realestate group TEN Realestate is building the gold tower, the silver tower, an underwater hotel, the tallest building in the world, creating islands in the shape of the world atlas. They export; ivory vessels, frankensense, slaves, vehicles, and lead the world in gold, They are the babylon of Rev 18 in my opinion.

Here's a link of the tower:

www.burjdubai.com/content/thetower.asp

Who is the dark Lord? and his companions whom will only be allowed in this tower? ) ...almost reminds me of the Lord of the Rings...geeeeesh crazy stuff.

Solana's Hidden Ten................by herb peters
In the world of diplomacy, the order of official visits means something. And interestingly, on his first official trip overseas after becoming the United Nation's new Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon paid a visit to a non-state entity. He went straight to Brussels to visited the top officials of the European Union (EU). And, the first EU official that Ban visited was High Representative Javier Solana. Our first report tells us why:

Earlier, meeting with Javier Solana, Secretary General European Council, Ban said the UN and the EU were determined to deepen their “special partnership” to tackle regional conflicts, improve global human rights and fight poverty, adding, “Basically our positions are on the same page” Read about it here.

The reason this report should be of interest to us students of Bible prophecy is by knowing what's going on in the EU is being guided by the 10-nation Western European Union (WEU). What we're actually seeing in this article is Solana's implementation of the WEU's Assembly Recommendation 735 Rec 735 pdf.

You may have noticed that the report said that Ban also met with NATO's Secretary General, Jaap De Hoop Scheffer. This too is part of the WEU's agenda. You see, the WEU nations not only wants to enter into a strategic partnership with the UN, they want -- along with the EU -- to enter into a deeper partnership with NATO too. In fact, Germany