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Europe at an Historic Turning Point
Closer EU integration inevitable, French PM tells UK paper "The Times"
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Friday, January 14, 2011
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This is the Bible in the News with David Billington. France is one of the key nations at the centre of the European Union. So when the French PM Francois Fillon says that closer EU integration is inevitable, it is certainly clear where he sees the European Union to be heading. The Times also quotes him as saying: "Europe finds itself at an historic turning point. The real question right now is whether we keep building on this adventure or whether we leave it at that."
And: "In order to consolidate the euro we will need gradually to harmonise our economic, fiscal and social policies, hence we are going to go towards greater integration. We are going to need to put in place an economic system of governance for the eurozone."
From Francois' comments we can summarize the following as he sees it:
1. Europe is at an historic turning point.
2. Europe needs to integrate not just on a monetary level, but as a union which will harmonize economic, fiscal and social policies.
3. Europe is moving towards inevitable greater integration.
4. There needs to be put in place an economic system of governance for the European Union.
The practical outworking of these comments, if implemented, entail the countries of Europe surrendering a large portion of their sovereignty to a central European government dominated by Germany and to some degree France also.
The current European debt crisis, has proven that in order to have a common workable currency you require "an economic system of governance", to quote the French PM. This seems to be the practical reason for Mr. Fillon's comments. As he cannot see the Euro being abandoned, closer integration is the only answer - even if that does require giving up some sovereignty - he is willing to do so.
In the prophecy of Daniel chapter 7 we are introduced to a vision of four terrible beasts, representing four phases of the kingdoms of men that would have sovereignty over the land of Israel. These beasts represented the Babylonian, Medio-Persian, Greek and Roman Empires. These Beasts makes a comeback in the New Testament prophecy of the Revelation, which is really a companion prophecy to that of Daniel. We find them in Revelation 13:1,2:
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority."
This is another phase of Daniel's fourth Roman Beast. Notice the transfer of power from the previous form, "... the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority." You can read about some of the various forms of the Roman Beast or Empire in the rest of Revelation 13. Revelation 17 fills in the detail of the Roman Beast at the time of the end, when Jesus Christ returns to the earth to establish God's kingdom and to judge the nations of the world. John sees a vision of this terrible beast:
"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration." (Verses 3-6)
Here we see the Roman latter day beast being controlled by a woman, which represents a religious system. She is richly dressed in purple and scarlet and is known for her persecution of the witnesses of the truth of Christ. In verse 12 we see the nations of Europe depicted as the horns of the beast which will receive power with him. Verse 13 is very interesting, it tells us that:
"These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast."
Just like the French PM, they will give up their sovereignty and will be of "one mind". They will have common economic, fiscal and social policies. The reason they will be willing to do this is explained in verse 17:
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."
So closer EU integration is inevitable! But not because the French PM has said so, but because the word of God said so over 1900 years ago.
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Printed: Friday, January 14, 2011
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