Bible in the News | Britain to rethink its relationship with Europe

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	Britain to rethink its relationship with Europe Britain's isolation in Europe has almost come to crunch point.
Friday, January 18, 2013	www.bibleinthenews.com Audio & Print versions

The Tarshish power is poised to unshackle itself from the powers of the EU - as we would expect from Bible prophecy. This is Matt Davies joining you for another Bible in the news.

Crunch point
It seems the British people are becoming more and more concerned about their EU membership - with Brussels taking more out of Britain than Britain receives back from Europe. Add to this the sovereign powers which have gradually been stripped from Britain and the amount of red tape imposed upon the British courts and businesses and you will see it's no wonder that the Daily Express is leading a campaign entitled "Get Britain Out of Europe".

A controversial speech proposed, revised and canceled.
In a long awaited speech David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, was set to lay out his vision for Britain's relationship with Europe. It was thought that he would promise to negotiate a better EU deal for Britain if he wins the next election in 2015. More controversially though, commentators believe that he would most probably offer the British people their first vote on Europe since 1975. He is reported to have stated earlier this week that he would be speaking about "A fresh settlement and then fresh consent for that settlement".

This speech was originally to be delivered next Tuesday - meaning that David Cameron may have given his speech in Berlin.

The Financial Times records the controversy of this:

"Central Berlin is expecting gridlock next Tuesday when the Franco-German political elite assembles to mark the 50th anniversary of the Elysée treaty, the pact that sealed the postwar reconciliation of the two countries and propelled the great project of European unification.

The only trouble is that nobody told David Cameron. The British Prime Minister has been promising a “big speech” on his quest to loosen the UK’s European relationship since last autumn and last Friday he had finally settled on a preferred date: January 22. His officials thought Germany might be a suitable venue.

As his plan leaked out, anguished calls arrived at Downing Street from the UK embassy in Berlin and the office of Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, expressing incredulity that Mr Cameron might make his speech on this day of all days.

But this was more than a diplomatic blunder: it symbolised Britain’s awkward relationship with Europe, where misunderstandings on both sides are common. British officials later admitted they had no idea of the significance of the Elysée treaty event.
Mr Cameron finally decided to end what he has called the “tantric” wait for his speech on Europe by rushing it forward to this Friday, to be delivered at a venue in the Netherlands – a country regarded by Britain as a free-trading ally."
FT "Europe: In search of a new deal for Britain"
However Mr Cameron has had to postpone his address, amid a crisis in Algeria - where British citizens have been taken hostage. It seems that in the predetermined plan of God, the moment was not right for Mr Cameron to give the speech in Amsterdam.

Now that Amsterdam has been cancelled, it will be interesting to see if Mr Cameron goes back to his original plan to deliver his address about Europe in Berlin - on the very day the Germans and the French will be celebrating 50 years of a founding European treaty.

Whatever happens, one thing is for sure, Britain's policy on Europe is set to see them distancing themselves from it and not joining it.

Britain identified with the Biblical Tarshish
As Bible students we are not suprised by this. For many years Christadelphian students of God's word have identified the British with a power, called in the Bible "Tarshish". There are some very good Biblical reasons for coming to this conclusion. If someone were to study the characteristics of the Biblical Tarshish, then the following conclusions would be made about what Tarshish would be doing in the times after the restoration of the nation of Israel (the times called in the Bible "the latter days"):

1. It would be a trading power operating in the region of Sheba & Dedan
Ezekiel 38:13

2. It is a colonial power
Ezekiel 38:13

3. It is descended from Japheth & is an island or coastal power
Gen 10:4-5

4. Known as a Maritime power
2 Chron 9:21 Psalm 48:7 Isaiah 2:16, 23:1, 60:9, Ezekiel 27:25

5. It is located to the far west of Israel
Jonah 1:3

6. Source of silver, iron, tin and lead & traded with the ancient Phoenicians of Tyre
Ezekiel 27:12

7. It trades in global markets and in the past it particularly traded with India
2 Chron 9:20-21

8. It would take over from the trade of Tyre (Phoenicians)
Isaiah 23:6

We would suggest that the only power to fit these characteristics in these latter days, is the British power which is trading in the region of Sheba and Dedan (the Gulf) and which has within its geological belly the distinguishing metals required by the Scriptures. No other power fits the Tarshish clues.

The controversy on the mountains of Israel
But why is this important and how does it relate to Britain's recent distancing from Europe? Well in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 it is clear that the Tarshish power's foreign policy is at great odds with the European powers of Magog and Gomer. Of Germany and France. These European powers are confederate along with the Russian territories of Meshech and Tubal and the African territories of Libya and Ethiopia. They are described as an invading force who attack the "mountains of Israel" in "the latter days" and are headed up by a mysterious character called "Gog" v1.

This invading force is challenged by Sheba and Dedan (the territories of the modern Gulf states) and the merchants of Tarshish as we read in verse 13 of Ezekiel 38.

Therefore the Tarshish power does not align itself with Europe but rather with the territories of the Gulf. It is also said to have "young lions" which indicates it is a colonial power having independent offspring associated with it. These "young lions" relate to the political offspring of the British Empire who have now grown independent of the mother lioness of Britain.

It is therefore interesting to sit back and watch world events, as Britain seeks to loose its ties with Europe and rekindle its relationships with old colonies. One of the most exciting things we noted was a news story from last November which was printed in the Independent newspaper. It recorded that:

"It is understood that the Government is keen to reassure its Gulf allies that they would have Britain's full diplomatic and military backing should tensions with Iran escalate further.”
The Independent - 3rd November 2012.

We therefore see that the scene is being set for the great controversy of the latter days when a confederacy of nations will come up against Israel to battle under Gog but will be challenged by Sheba, Dedan and Tarshish. Verse 13 records this feeble challenge "art thou come to take a spoil?". We see this second power block of nations developing before our eyes.

The time when Jesus Christ will return
Ezekiel 38 tells us that when this occurs God will indeed act.

"It shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;" Ezekiel 38:18-19

It is at this time that the Lord Jesus Christ will return. He won't be coming this time as a sheep "before its shearers" (Isaiah 53:7) but rather as the judge of all the earth (Psalm 72:1). The inspired apostle Paul speaks of this when he says that Jesus will return "...in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." 1 Thessalonians 2:8-10

The hope of the gospel
This day is soon to be upon us but in God's mercy there still may be time for more to escape the troubles of that day and join with the Lord Jesus Christ as his saints. The Bible reveals the way of salvation through a belief and baptism into the hope of the Gospel. However the signs around us show us that time of opportunity is running short and the time of the Gentiles is soon to be at an end. So we encourage you to open God's word and "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and H is righteousness" while it is called "to day".

This has been Matt Davies with you for another Bible in the News. If the Lord has not returned, then please join us again next week God willing.

Printed: Friday, January 18, 2013

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