Wednesday, May 9, 2018

666: European Defense Fund and European Intervention Force



Wow. What an incredible week.

Fulfilled Prophecies

If you have been following this website, there are about 6 prophecies that I (and many others) consider to be fulfilled. These concern the Antichrist's rise to power and his empire:

  • Revived Roman Empire
    • Ezekiel 38:8 - EU exists at the same time as end-time Israel
    • Daniel 2:41 - EU is a “divided kingdom”
    • Daniel 7 - EU’s defense component was a core group of 10 countries
  • Antichrist
    • Daniel 7:7-8; 24 – Javier Solana rises up among the 10-nation WEU
    • Daniel 7:7-8; 24 – Javier Solana puts down the EU3
    • Revelation 17:12-13 – The 10-nation WEU transfer their military functions to the EU, under Javier Solana
Personality Traits

In addition to this, we find that Javier Solana's military and political desires line up with what we would expect of the Antichrist. 
    • Antichrist's Personality and Desires
      • Dan. 11:36 – Does whatever he wants
      • Dan. 11:36-37 – No conventional religion
      • Dan. 11:38 – Big on defense spending
      • Isaiah 28:15; Zech. 11:17 – Betrays Israel
      • Dan. 11:36-45 – Military conqueror
      • Rev. 13:7 – Obtains world domination
    • Javier Solana's Military Desires and Beliefs
      • Dan. 11:36 – Does whatever he wants
      • Dan. 11:36-37 – No conventional religion
      • Dan. 11:38 – Big on defense spending
      • Isaiah 28:15; Zech. 11:17 – Two-faced on Israel
      • Dan. 11:36-45 – Advocates EU military force
      • Rev. 13:7 – Advocates world government 
    To see the events that fulfill these prophecies, and their Biblical justification, check out the Summary Powerpoint. Or you can check out the 4 part Powerpoint series that explains all of this in detail. Most of what I say in the rest of this blog post will make more sense after reviewing those slides. 

    But One Problem...

    The main outstanding problem is Javier Solana's stepping down at the age of 67. He has engaged in primarily academic "think-tank" type work for the past 8 years. Nevertheless, in recent years he has become increasingly involved in think-tank work close to EU government organization. In particular, this has related to creating an EU military force. (See "Part 3" in the 4 part series, which documents his efforts in this area). Due to the type of work he has done, and the things he has said, many of us believe that he is about to make a comeback. 

    When God prophesies something, it surely happens. So it doesn't matter how old Solana is, how his career outlook has looked in the last 8 years, or anything else like that. There are many things in the Bible that God predicted which seemed hopeless right before they happened. Furthermore, prophecies are full of gaps when there doesn't initially appear to be one. (I.e. first and second comings of Christ). So the Antichrist having two phases to his career is not a stretch.

    But what really matters is if God really was talking about Javier Solana when giving us the Scriptures cited above.  For a while, things were so bad, that I abandoned the possibility of him being the Antichrist. Yet now things are starting to look like it is God's word, not human assumptions, that will be correct. 

    Prophecies in Progress

    This leaves 3 unfulfilled prophecies. Coincidentally, these are occurring around the same time Solana has started pushing for an EU military union again. These are either 1) politically imminent or 2) some political structures in the EU exist to do them. 

    Which brings us to this week. Below you will find a progress report on each of these. 
    • Prophecies in Progress
      • Daniel 11:38 - Antichrist: King of Defense Spending
      • Revelation 17:17 - Giving Military Sovereignty to the Antichrist
      • Daniel 9:27 - Antichrist's 7-Year Contract

    Daniel 11:38 - Antichrist: King of Defense Spending
    He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. (Daniel 11:38)
    In general, theologians have interpreted this to mean that the Antichrist worships military power. This is due to the fact that the preceding verses indicate the Antichrist does not have any religion in the conventional sense of the term. 
    “In place of normal affection, he will place a perverted worship of military power, he'll worship power.” - Pastor John MacArthur 
    “...he will worship only the power to make war and gain victory…” - Dr. John F. Walvoord, former President, Dallas Theological Seminary
    The Antichrist worships the "god of fortresses." However, "fortresses" are much better at defending than attacking. So it is not just military power that the Antichrist worships, but military defense

    How does he honor this God? With "gold and silver" and "precious stones and costly gifts." What is the modern meaning of these terms? Money. The Antichrist serves a god of military defense with money. Therefore, he is very big on defense spending. 

    In November of 2016, the European Union proposed its very first defense spending program, the European Defense Fund. Admittedly, the amount of money proposed is very modest in comparison to American terms. However, we must keep in mind that it is an incentive program for EU nations to develop weapons together. For every project that the EU selects for funding, member countries will get 20-30% co-financing from the EU to research and develop the new weapon. The EU's new budget proposal, which was released this week, suggests that 13 billion euros be dedicated to this incentive package over the 2021-2027 time frame. 

    The EU expects that, for every euro it spends, it will incentivize member countries to spend 5 euros. So as far as actual defense spending on new weapons, multiply that number to something around 5. Yes, a big number, especially if talking about only new weapons.

    Ever since the proposal of the European defense fund, it has rained down 666 connections, perhaps unlike anything we have ever seen, barring Solana himself. (See 666 connections to Solana here).

    Number one:
    https://cesi-italia.org/articoli/666/european-defence-fund-origine-sfide-e-prospettive


    Number 2 & 3:

    PE595.666v01-00: Paragraph 6, Draft Opinion 6, Amendment 6
    (page footer)
    (Click to enlarge)



    Number 4: (127- of 666 words visible)
    Click to enlarge


    Number 5:

    Just yesterday, I found this by accident:

    Document MEX/18/3666


    It contains the European commissions daily news, but an announcement at the end. Here is the announcement:
    ANNOUNCEMENTS
     Commissioner Bieńkowska in Sofia to discuss the European Semester and defence
    Tomorrow and Saturday, Elżbieta Bieńkowska, Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, SMEs and Entrepreneurship, will be in Sofia. On Friday, she will meet Mr Boyko Borissov, holder of the rotating Council Presidency and Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Marinela Petrova, Deputy Finance Minister, and Mr Emil Karanikolov, Economy Minister. They will discuss the key recommendations for Bulgaria identified in the context of the European Semester, in particular in the areas of public procurement, business environment and access to finance. Commissioner Bieńkowska will also meet with Mr Atanas Zapryanov, Deputy Defence Minister, to discuss the European Defence Fund. They are expected to exchange on the state of play of negotiations on the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) following her participation in the dedicated trilogue today, as well as the EU long-term budget proposal for defence. On Saturday, she will attend the Informal Meeting of Foreign Affairs Council on Defence to discuss the contribution of the European Defence Fund to the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and the perspectives for crisis management in the light of current security challenges and a potential cooperation among international organisations. (For more information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Maud Noyon – Tel. +32 229-80379; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tel.: +32 229 55040) 
    Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News) 
    MEX/18/3666

    The EU is struggling in its negotiations about the biggest half of the European defense fund (the industrial section). It's already been ratified by European Parliament, but the Council and Parliament are still negotiating the final law. Among the things that have not been fully determined is how the fund will be governed. I have heard from my subscription to B2 Pro that the agreement could be as early as May 22, when the last trilogue takes place. These are secret meetings, so we will only know what they decided when they are done. Furthermore, the European Council at the end of June expects to welcome the agreement on the industrial section of the European Defense Fund.

    Solana is all about defense spending in the EU, and spending more efficiently. Some of his think-tank reports and articles have addressed this. (See the 3rd powerpoint in the 4 part series to learn more). Will he come back to fulfill Daniel 11:38 by being head of the EU's defense spending program? 

    Revelation 17:17 - Giving Military Sovereignty to the Antichrist

    If you thought that the European Defense Fund was interesting, take a look at this.
    12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 
    14 These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
    15 And he *said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. 17 For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:12-18)
    In Revelation 17:12-13, we learn that the ten kings give their power and authority to the beast. Nevertheless, the passage above seems to contain repetition. Verse 13 and verse 17 contain very similar, but not identical, language about the transfer of authority to the Antichrist. In addition, the Greek for "one purpose" (verse 13), and "common purpose" (verse 17) are the same. Verse 13 & 17 seem like the same event, but the repetition allows for the possibility that authority is transferred to the Antichrist in two phases.

    Phase 1:

    I have argued that Phase 1 has already been completed. This took place when the 10-nation military alliance, the Western European Union, transferred their military functions to the EU. These were placed under a new committee, which would later be put under Javier Solana's leadership. This proposal was called Recommendation 666.

    The ten-nation WEU completed its purpose by transferring their military functions to the EU. This fulfills the first part of the passage. "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. "

    Notice the eerily similar language from the European External Action Website:
    The Council declaration states that in the event of the EU fulfilling its responsibility in the area of the Petersberg tasks [military functions], the WEU as an organisation would have completed its purpose. At the Cologne meeting, Member States also appointed Javier Solana, from Spain, as High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), a post that had been created by the Treaty of Amsterdam.

    Phase 2:

    Nevertheless, although the EU has control of EU military operations once they are launched, military sovereignty lies squarely with the member countries. Which means that a full transfer of sovereignty is yet future, in a "phase 2" of the prophecy.

    If we look at phase 2 above (v. 17), it is a full transfer of national sovereignty to the Antichrist, since it says they give their "kingdom" to the beast. This is in contrast to verses 12-13, where "kingdom" is not used, but "power and authority" is used instead.
    For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. (Revelation 17:17 NASB)
    The sovereignty transfer is in the military domain, since the transfer is in context of the violent destruction of an end time city code-named Babylon. Furthermore, the book of Daniel describes the Antichrist as a powerful military conqueror, who has the authority to wage war. This is especially the case after he is attacked, and launches a major counteroffensive (Daniel 11:40-42). There is nothing more sacred to national sovereignty than the ability to wage war.

    What about Brexit?

    Keep in mind, this prophecy still applies to the ten horns. This means all former 10-nation WEU members must give their military sovereignty to the Antichrist. This would include the UK, despite the fact that they voted to leave the EU in Jun. 2016. Furthermore, they are scheduled to finally exit the bloc by April 2019. To make matters worse, one of the big selling points for Brexit was fear of being sucked into an "EU army."

    Surely then, there is no appetite for giving their sovereignty to the Antichrist then? Think again. Paradoxically, and against all odds, the main thing the British are committed to signing up to is a defense pact with the EU. They want to use this as a bargaining chip to sweeten the deal when it comes time to get concessions during the Brexit negotiations with the EU.

    On Saturday, the British junior defense minister stated they were very keen on joining French President Macron's "European Intervention Initiative." It is basically a rapid reaction force, but outside EU bureaucracy. There is a signing ceremony for 10 nations on June 4, where the leaders of these countries will state their intent to participate. These are almost all of the WEU nations, excluding two.



    WEU Members
    Will Commit to Joining EII
    Belgium
    Belgium
    Netherlands
    Netherlands
    France
    France
    United Kingdom
    United Kingdom
    Germany
    Germany
    Spain
    Spain
    Italy
    Italy
    Portugal
    Portugal
    Greece

    Luxembourg


    Estonia

    Denmark


    As I understand it, Greece is big into defense, so I wouldn't be surprised if they joined later. Luxembourg is incredibly small, having active armed forces of <2000. If all their Western European neighbors joined, they may as well join too, since they are small and wouldn't mind additional protection in the event something bad happened.

    Keep in mind, the hardest part (the UK!) is already in, which is almost miraculous in itself, considering the events of summer 2016. Furthermore, this is only a preliminary list of EII members. Who knows what the intervention force will even be called, or who will finally join, when all is said and done.

    Interestingly enough, EU members do this kind of thing all the time. The eurozone's bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, is a separate treaty from the EU. The Schengen "borderless travel" started off as a separate treaty. Even the EU's fund for developing poorer countries, the European Development Fund, is an international agreement. Nevertheless, these are EU policies, since they are all managed by an EU official. (i.e. the Eurogroup president is the chair of the eurozone bailout fund).

    The EII has some 666 connections, though admittedly weaker than the defense fund. Some of the connections are simply to the defense ministers meeting the EU members had. Nevertheless, I did not go googling 666 with other search terms. These just came up on their own.

    666-4 "Bad Request" links to think-tank discussion of French government on EII

    (Click to enlarge)


    Article link from Facebook to Euronews: EU ministers in talks over new defence body

    https://www.facebook.com/euronews/posts/10155951466613110

    Twitter video: 

    European External Action Service - EEAS  🇪🇺
    @eu_eeas
    Following Following @eu_eeas
    "We will have the opportunity to look at the implementation of #PESCO, the projects and the state of play of their advancement” @FedericaMog discusses topics ahead of today's #EU Defence Ministers meeting in Sofia, hosted by the @EU2018BG

    What does the future hold?

    Due to Solana's exceptional Antichrist credentials, he needs to be in charge of both the 1) military sovereignty and the 2) defense spending. The defense fund will be ratified in a couple months (or weeks!). Then the Commission will set up its leadership structure. I have no idea how long that will take. In EU speed, that would be very slow. But keep in mind, the industrial section of the European Defense Fund launches January 1, 2019. Therefore, they will need their committee and chair in place to make decisions before the money becomes available at that time.

    Regarding the European intervention force, there is one factor that plays in our favor. The British want to get a defense agreement done quick, since no one will like the uncertainty associated with being outside the EU (or being in the transition period) and having no defense agreement. They want a security agreement with the EU as early as next year. Most notably, the British Prime Minister warned that she would not like red tape to get in the way of this, because it would have "damaging, real-world consequences." She also would not like the process to be unnecessarily long.

    Lessons Learned...

    Throughout this process, God has been teaching me a few things. I've become so obsessed with this entire process that I have become impatient. And an impatient person is a miserable person. Nevertheless, the Lord is teaching me to stop and see the beauty around me, while still looking forward to the future.
    Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (James 5:7)
    God is also teaching me that he is not in any way beholden to the EU to get their act together. I used to get incredibly frustrated with EU leaders for not getting defense integration done, because they were essentially preventing Jesus from coming back. Obviously, I intellectually understand that this is false, because God is sovereign over everything, especially the time of his own return! But emotionally, it felt like the EU has to get their act together for God to get prophecy done. Furthermore, I even started having a bizarre fondness for Solana, since he was a reminder Jesus is coming soon. Its as if, when he gets his act together, Jesus can come back. 

    This is definitely not true. He can only do what God lets him do. If he's the Antichrist, he'd have done it long ago if God let him. If he is the Antichrist, then he is likewise going to become a very bad man. (I am not here judging the man's character, as if I had any authority to do that. But given the thesis that he has fulfilled prophecies, then his character will indeed become bad.) So fondness is out of place. 

    The EU has been trying for years and years to do the things we see them trying, yet again, to do today. Yet they have always failed at military integration....except where it fulfilled prophecy. They've also failed at making a strong pact with the Mediterranean nations, despite many tries. For really wanting to get something done, they are sure failing a lot. This may be because EU military integration requires divine intervention to succeed

    Recall Revelation 17:17:
    For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 
    It is God's idea to have the ten kings give their sovereignty to the Antichrist, in order to achieve his own purposes. Daniel 2 teaches us that the end times Roman Empire will be a "divided kingdom" and struggle to adhere to itself. This is what we have been seeing for the past few years. But why would it go from a divided kingdom to a united one? What politician would voluntarily give his power to another person? 

    Therefore, all of this is going to happen in God's time, and in exactly the way he has preordained it to. For as Daniel says: 
    He changes times and seasons;
        he removes kings and sets up kings; (Daniel 2:21 ESV)
    Furthermore, God's sovereignty is also seen in 2 Thessalonians 2. The Antichrist will be revealed, but only when the one restraining him is removed. One would assume God has control of this restrainer, since he is sovereign. In addition, God uses the Antichrist's claim to deity to accomplish his own divine purposes. (see 2 Thess. 2:9-11)

    So I don't have to worry about if there will be an EU Defense Commissioner appointed late next year or not. I don't have to worry about PESCO's apparent weakness. I don't have to wait for them to amend the entire Treaty of Lisbon in order to get prophecy done. All they have to do is make a new treaty or build a new position.

    They have been largely opposed to this until now. But now they are willing to do the "multi-speed Europe" thing. Multi-speed EU seems to have been successful in the past (ESM, Schengen, etc), since it doesn't require unanimous consensus. But EU leaders weren't too keen on it in this area. For one, they didn't want to go ahead and leave others behind. In addition to this, military integration with the EU was very risky back at home, because of the surge of "populism" in Europe.

    I am starting to emotionally realize what has been intellectually obvious all along. Namely, God is not constrained by red tape or bureaucracy. If he was, would he be worthy of worship anyway?

    I'm also realizing I'm really bad at speculating, unless God leaves a bread crumb trail (i.e. 666). I used to think the European Defense Fund was rather boring, and was more worried about the EU's PESCO military pact. Indeed, the EU announced PESCO with much fanfare. But it is the EDF that God seems to be telling us about. I will continue to speculate about how future prophecies will happen, but these will remain that...speculation (hopefully, with some kind of factual basis or framework in existing EU policies). But as far as fulfilled prophecies, I will stick to "Just the facts ma'am" as Herb Peters used to say.

    In the same vein, the last 2 powerpoints in the 4 Part Powerpoint series are not static. They are designed to be "rolling," and is updated and enhanced as more information becomes available. So if the Powerpoints are not exactly how you remember them from reading them last time, this is why.


    Final Thoughts 

    Comments 

    Sorry I have taken so long to get back to your comments. I do indeed read them all. I will be replying to them shortly. Please keep them coming! I'm sure many of you feel alone in this process. But it is a real blessing to hear from you, and your insights. It makes me (and all of us) feel less alone. God is faithful. He will stick to his word.

    Iran/Syria/Israel Situation

    Furthermore, there are interesting developments with Israel/Iran and Syria. This escalation could lead to a Psalm 83/Isaiah 17 situation. Though we can never know for certain, we must always remain watchful. As I am writing this, the Iranians have fired about 20 rockets into northern Israel. This could escalate quickly...and badly. @EUProphecyNews is very active on Twitter, so for daily updates or following faster moving events, that is the place to be.

    Solana's Fury

    In addition, our friend Javier Solana is further infuriated with Donald Trump for his cancellation of the Iran nuclear deal yesterday. This Atlantic divide will further drive EU defense integration, and a more united foreign policy on their end. Solana spent years negotiating with the Iranians, so he, and his successor, who closed the deal, are equally furious.

    EU's new 7-year Program with Israel and others

    The EU has proposed its next 7-year budget. This includes its relationship with Israel, which is currently framed around the "European Neighborhood Policy." Nevertheless, the EU is planning a massive overhaul of how it does all foreign aid. It wants to roll all foreign aid into one big mechanism, worth 89 billion euro. The scope is global, but the emphasis is on stability and good governance in the neighborhood. Think tanks are already expressing concerns that the fund, which will include poverty and development assistance, will be used to achieve foreign policy goals of the EU. In other words, the EU's "soft power" just got more powerful. I will provide a more detailed update when the Commission proposes the specific legal documents associated with this, on June 14.

    Stay Tuned!

    Come Lord Jesus! Peace to you all.