The past few weeks have seen Britain hurtling along the road toward a rather rocky BREXIT. On the Bible in the News we have followed the British BREXIT from Europe and have considered the prophecies that require Britain to leave the European Union. Let’s be clear, we don’t know how, we don’t know when, but we do know that it is inevitable.

The Destiny of Europe

Quite clearly Europe and Britain are completely different paths. The European Union is going to continue down its path to becoming a resurrected Holy Roman Empire. The scriptures are clear – the independent nations of Europe will yield their power to a centralized government that is guided by the Vatican at the center. This is what is described in Revelation:

 “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” (Revelation 17:12–13)

The ten horn nations amount to nothing by themselves, but together they see themselves as a powerful system. They yield their power and strength. But notice who is riding or directing the 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.” (Revelation 17:3)

The woman is the religious system that is historically drunken with the blood of the saints:

“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.” (Revelation 17:5–6)

She is the mother of harlots, the mother church that has spawned the many other Christian churches that look to her for leadership. But she is a butcher who has persecuted the saints throughout history. People forget he litany of crimes, and are happy for her to assume the reigns of power and influence once again. She is clearly identified:

“And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (Revelation 17:9)

The Vatican is the religious system that sits on the seven hills of Rome. All the nations of the world que up for an audience with her leader:

“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Revelation 17:18)

The nations of Europe, influenced by the Vatican are destined to collide with the Lord Jesus Christ when he returns:

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)

Britain is on a different path

When the nations of Europe combine with Russia to come against the land of Israel in the very near future, Britain (described as Tarshish in prophetic language) is seen standing apart from their evil plans:

“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?” (Ezekiel 38:13)

Rather than making with the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, they are shown to bow the knee in supplication when he takes the throne in Jerusalem:

“Give the king thy judgments, O God, And thy righteousness unto the king’s son…. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents: The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: All nations shall serve him.” (Psalm 72:1, 10–11)

Why the fuss?

Some have asked why we are so focussed on European and British politics. The reason is clear. The Lord has given us indications of what is going on as proof of his existence and proof of his hand in world events:

“THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.” (Revelation 1:1–2)

There is a blessing for those who take the time to see what is going on:

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3)

The Lord exhorts us to watch:

“Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” (Luke 12:35–37)

It isn’t reserved for an intellectual few either:

“Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:33–37)

The Sea and the Waves Roaring over the Backstop

There are clearly different directions the nations of Europe and Britain are to take. One is going to make war with the Lord Jesus Christ upon his return, the other is to submit to him upon his return.

The diverging path of these two biblically identified entities began to divide with the Brexit vote three years ago. The British John Bull has been convulsing with EU withdrawal symptoms ever since. The political class has been struggling to follow through on the vote of the British people. The “Remain” friendly Conservative Prime Minister David Campbell resigned following losing the referendum. His successor, (also a Remainer), Prime Minister Teresa May, resigned after three years of negotiating with the EU and failing to get her withdrawal agreement through parliament. Why did her deal fail?  Well, because it would tie the British people to the European Union with the Backstop agreement.

What is the Irish Backstop agreement?

The Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom were both members of the European Union. After the Good Friday Agreement (peace between the IRA and Britain), the physical borders between Northern Ireland and Britain were able to disappear. The EU is using the peace in Ireland to drive a wedge into midst of the British people, who voted for Brexit, by threatening a descent back into the sectarian violence of the 1970’s. The backstop is Europe’s way of to keep the North and South of Ireland from having a boarder once again.

The BBC described it this way:

The UK and Ireland are part of the EU's single market and customs union, so products do not need to be inspected for customs or standards.

But, after Brexit, all that could change - the two parts of Ireland could be in different customs and regulatory regimes, which could mean products being checked at the border.

The “Backstop” is designed to solve this problem:

It would see Northern Ireland staying aligned to some rules of the EU single market.

That means that goods coming into Northern Ireland from elsewhere in the UK would need to be checked to see if they meet EU standards.

It would also involve a temporary single customs territory, effectively keeping the whole of the UK in the EU customs union.

These arrangements would apply unless and until both the EU and UK agree they are no longer necessary.

The problem with this is that it keeps Britain inside the EU customs union, without any clear way of getting out of it. It could go on indefinitely as both sides would need to agree to a termination of it. The EU could simply withhold its consent, and keep Britain a prisoner inside Europe.

It is a withdrawal agreement where Britain steps out of the decision making processes of Europe, but is bound by their rules and regulations. This effectively turns Britain into a vassal state of Europe, even more than it is today. Whatever the political arguments for and against Britain accepting the withdrawal agreement, the key issue is that is goes against the prophetic directive laid out in Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel and others!

The problem with Politics

Politicians are just that, politicians. Their primary goal is to be in power. This is a trait of human nature as the Lord pointed out to his disciples:

“Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42–45)

 Not so in the world of men. The goal is to be chiefest and Lord of others. Politicians may have an underlying ideology, but they will quickly sell out their principles to stay in power, even the most principled amongst them. This is why British politicians have struggled obeying the will of the people. They want power. They have courted European big business and are afraid to make the break with Europe, fearful that they will be out of the club that has power and strength with the beast. However the angelic hand behind the scene is moving them towards the outcome that God desires. Sometimes the angelic hand is deployed against politicians that don’t want to move in the direction God wills:

Gabriel explained to Daniel how things worked behind the scenes:

“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” (Daniel 10:12–13)

Gabriel was unable to answer Daniel’s initial call for a period of time because the Prince of Persia withstood him. He was helped by Michael, the arch angel, and following his meeting with Daniel he would return to the struggle:

“Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.” (Daniel 10:20–21)

Daniel was amongst a privileged few, including Gabriel and Michael – yet as the servant of God he had been invited to see what was going on behind the curtains. We don’t see the movements of the angels, but we know the eventual outcome.

Will Boris take Britain out of Europe?

This week Macron and Johnson met in Paris, with the now famous “foot on the table” stance of Boris Johnson that seems to be garnering more interest than the content of the meeting. Nigel Farage’s program on LBC captured what Mr. Macron came out and stated:

We will make the most of this period of time. Michel Barnier will be part of that, the European Negotiator, trying to find solutions with that, totally reshuffling the withdrawal agreement, because there has always been a lot of work, and it has been approved by the 27. I very much want all of us to find a solution. That being said, I can be very clear, we will not find a new withdrawal agreement with in the 30 days that will be very different from the existing one. It is just that what Michel Barnier has negotiated can be amended. While complying with the integrity of the single market, and the two goals I have mentioned, then we can find a solution.

There is a big debate amongst the BREXITiers over what Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently doing with the European Union. He has become the Prime Minister, and has vowed to take Britain out of Europe. In his speech in France to Macron he stated:

I want to make it absolutely clear to you, Emanuel, to the French People, that, of course, I want I deal. And I think we can get a deal. And a good deal. I was powerfully encouraged by our conversations last night in Berlin with our mutual friends. And I know with energy, and with creativity, and application we can find a way forward for all our business and our citizens. But as you yourself have just pointed out, Emanuel, it is vital for trust in politics, that if you have a referendum, then you should act on the instructions of the voters. And that is why we must come out of the EU on October 31st, deal or no deal.

The Prime Minister would like a deal, it is clear, which Nigel Farage is arguing is Mrs. May’s agreement with changes on the Backstop:

Let’s listen to that key part of what Emmanuel Macron said today, which everyone else seems to have missed. Here it is:

“What Michel Barnier has negotiated can be amended.”

So Macron says, we cannot change the whole thing, it is impossible. Wholesale changes are not going to happen, but we can amend it. And what is Boris Johnson asking for, he’s asking for an amendment on the backstop. He’s asking for what he calls alternate arrangements. Let’s hear what he is saying on that point:

“I think what Angela Merkel was saying last night, if I got her correctly, and I was standing next to her, was, “If we can do this in 2 years, we can do it in 30 days.” I admire that can-do spirit that she seemed to have there. I think she is right, I think the technical solutions are readily available, and they have been discussed at great length. You can have trusted trader schemes, you can have electronic pre-clearing for goods moving across the border. I just want to repeat one crucial thing, under no circumstances will the UK be putting checks at the frontier. We don’t think it is necessary from the point of view of the EU to protect the integrity of the single market. We think there are other ways of doing that, we have adequate time to do it, let’s get on and do it.”

Boris is going for a withdrawal agreement. Forget all the talk about do or die.  I know there are some, I spoke to some Tory MP’s this morning who said, “No Nigel, don’t worry, he’s just doing this because he wants to appear to reasonable. He’s doing this because he doesn’t want the Philip Hammond wing of the party to vote against him in motion of confidence. But don’t worry Nigel”, they tell me, “he’s really going for a clean break no-deal Brexit on the 31st of October. But then those very same people told me, “Nigel pack your tents, go home, because Teresa May is going to deliver.” I don’t believe any of it. I think Boris Johnson is going all out for an amended withdraw agreement, added to that, a political declaration that will effectively lead us tied to the European union for many years to come. That’s my view.

Well, where will this go?

Will an amended agreement be put to parliament once again? And if so will it be accepted by parliament who has rejected three Teresa May agreements?  Will Britain still be tied to Europe through this?

Will Boris Johnson fail at his intentions for a revised withdrawal agreement, and this will see Britain crash out of the EU?

Will some in the conservative party join forces with Labor to force another election, or try to force a referendum? BBC Reported:

Mr Corbyn has cancelled a trip to Ghana, urging MPs to meet him next week to discuss ways to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

He has proposed that MPs should help him defeat the government in a no-confidence motion and install him as a caretaker prime minister.

If he wins the vote, he plans to delay Brexit, call a snap election and campaign for another referendum.

It remains to be seen where things will end up, but the overall outcome is clear. Britain will leave Europe.

It might take a little while. It might take different leadership. The present leadership might be forced to do what it doesn’t want to do. It might take a crisis that has yet to develop to force Britain out.

It is inevitable that it will be removed in order to conform to the scriptural picture which the prophets paint. The angels are at work in the background. Michael, Gabriel and others are working just as they were back in the time of Daniel.

We have been given the tools to watch – just as Daniel was. We have the privilege of knowing that the return of the Lord is near. So let us gird up our loins, have our lights shining brightly, and be prepared to meet him.

For the Bible in the News – this has been Jonathan Bowen joining you.