Israel and the European Union
Tom's Perspectives
Dr. Thomas Ice
I recently returned from a trip to Germany where I spoke at a prophecy conference. Many of the Germans were interested in the role of Europe in Bible prophecy and if the European Union could relate to the coming Antichrist kingdom. I told them that I thought the EU is probably some kind of preparation for the Antichrist’s kingdom during the tribulation. I told them that I would expect the United States to eventually become less involved in trying to solve the problem of Israel in the Middle East and see the EU become increasingly involved. I was home only a day or two when I read the following headlines on the Internet: "EU expecting role in Israel’s security." [1]
EU Exerting Itself in Israel
Aaron Klein reports in his article that sources are telling him that secret negotiations were under way between the Olmert administration of Israel, representatives of President Abbas for the Palestinians, Egypt as a mediatory, and the EU with American input. "According to an aide to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, speaking on condition of anonymity, there will be a 'historic political evolution and movement in negotiations in the next few weeks and few months, unseen since the Camp David peace talks in 2000,' "notes Klein.[2] (Don' t forget that the Oslo Accords were also negotiated in secret and then virtually forced upon the Israeli people.) "According to the diplomatic sources, Israel agreed in principal to hand over most of the West Bank in a deal with Abbas." [3] Here we go again, the failed policy of land for peace, which always brings more death than peace to Israel.
According to this report, most of the West Bank would come under Palestinian control as it would be transitioned from Israel to the EU and eventually to the Palestinians. With the EU appearing to be on the verge of replacing the US as the primary outside influence in the Middle East, at least in Israel, it would clearly move things a step closer to what the Bible envisions as the players that will be involved in the covenant that begins the tribulation period. Those players are Israel and the Revived Roman Empire, of which the EU appears to be a stage-setting precursor. Klein tells us, "EU sources in Israel tell WND their offices here are taking on new staffers to deal with matters of security, public relations, diplomacy and regional coordination. They say they expect an increased work load due to behind-the-scenes diplomatic initiatives they state may result in an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank." [4]
Israel’s Covenant with Death
Daniel 9:27 says, "And he will make a firm 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." The pronoun "he" at the beginning of the verse refers to the future antichrist. Why? Because the nearest antecedent is clearly a reference to "the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary" (Dan. 9:26), which speaks of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70. Thus, "he" must refer to someone who comes after those who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70. That someone is the antichrist who will accomplish the events of 9:27 in the middle of the future 70th week of Daniel known as the tribulation on behalf of the Revived Roman Empire. Further details of the Revived Roman Empire are taught in detail in Daniel 2 and 7.
Isaiah speaks of why Israel will agree to such a covenant with the antichrist in 28:14-22. As was often done in her past, Israel will agree to the covenant with the Revived Roman antichrist with the intent of providing security from her enemies that are pressing her from all sides. Verse 15 says, "because you have said, 'We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.' "Instead of securing a covenant of life, as Israel’s leaders will think, the nation will start the tribulation with what is in reality a "covenant with death" (Isa. 28:15,18). Instead of gaining protection from European oversight, Israel will experience "the overwhelming scourge" (Isa. 28:15,18) which is a metaphor for military invasion. Verse 18 says, "'And your covenant with death shall be canceled, and your pact with Sheol shall not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.' "Further, in the middle of the tribulation, this Roman antichrist who will start the tribulation by promising protection for the nation of Israel, will turn upon her and commence the greatest time of persecution ever upon the Jewish people (see Matt. 24:15-22; Rev. 12:1-17). However, it will be through this "scourge" and "trampling" that the nation of Israel will come to realize that Jesus of Nazareth was their Messiah after all and call on Him to rescue them. The whole world appears to be rapidly moving toward these times, the time of tribulation.
The EU and Satanic Symbols
It is also interesting to note that the EU appears to be attracted to symbols from the Bible that are used to depict the opponents of God. True, the EU flag has twelve stars that are taken from the positive symbol of woman in Revelation 12:1, but they place them in a different context than do the Scriptures. Within the context of the EU, they have taken a godly symbol and defile it by identifying it as the primary symbol of their union.
Another main symbol of the EU is that of Europa, a woman riding a beast. This is clearly related to Revelation 17 that identifies the woman as a harlot who is riding the beast, which are the antichrist and his kingdom. One version of the two-Euro coin (the one representing Greece) proudly displays the woman riding the beast. Why the attraction to such clearly satanic symbolism? Their leaders are well-educated and intelligent men. These leaders surely must know the biblical significance of the symbols they use to represent the EU. I believe that they do and they deliberately choose them because they have great aspirations for the EU. Included in these ambitions are global rule.
The EU Parliament Building in Strasbourg
While we were on our recent trip to Germany we went into France to see for ourselves the newest EU Parliament building in Strasbourg. I had heard about it and wanted to see it for myself since I was in the area. Just like others have said, its architectural design resembles an unfinished Tower of Babel. The building looks like an unfinished Tower of Babel and the implication is that the EU is going to bring the world together at last. That, of course, will be the goal and desire of the antichrist. In fact, Ian Paisley, who is a member of the EU Parliament, has said the following about the building:
Now, a massive Crystal Palace tower (officially called the Tower Building) houses the Fifth Parliament of Europe. It is certainly a building of the Space Age. The seats of its massive hemicycle are designed like the crew seats in the Star Trek space machines. There are 679 of them—but wait for it! While these seats are allocated to Members, one seat remains unallocated and unoccupied. The number of that seat is 666.[5]
I happened to be there when they were opening a new session of Parliament and the place was buzzing with activity and security. It was an impressive site to see.
Conclusion
We see in our own day the increasing isolation of Israel within the world leading to an effort for her to look for security from man made covenants instead of looking to the Lord for stability. One day a European leader will step forth and appear to solve the Middle East crisis through a covenant. In the mean time, God is preparing through contemporary events in our own day a Revived Roman Empire that will be the final phase of the kingdom of man that will put forth its greatest effort against Almighty God. There are specific indications of active stage-setting all around us, if we know where and how to look. These developments are paving the way, for the great that will unfold during the tribulation. While God is preparing our world for judgment, the Believer should continue to be about the Lord’s business while we watch and wait for the any-moment return of the Lord in the clouds to snatch away His bride. Maranatha!
ENDNOTES
[1] Aaron Klein, "EU expecting role in Israel’s security," World Net Daily (January 24, 2007).
[2] Klein, "EU expecting role."
[3] Klein, "EU expecting role."
[4] Klein, "EU expecting role."
[5] Ian Paisley, "The Vacant Seat Number 666 in the European Parliament," European Institute of Protestant Studies, (July 22, 1999), www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/742553/posts.