The European Neighbourhood Policy
and Daniel 9:27

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) is a collective agreement, initiated by the European Union (EU), involving many nations.  It has been funded and implemented for a seven-year period (2007-2013).  Indications and assurances of the pursuit of peace, between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and in the Middle East as a whole, are included in the agreement.  Here are two examples:

For Israel and the Palestinian authority, the Neighbourhood Policy is a concrete sign of the EU’s engagement. ... Israel has never been willing to make such commitments in writing to any other partner (Brussels, 9 December 2004).

The EU-Israel ENP Action Plan opened up new possibilities for developing EU-Israel relations by setting out a wide range of areas for greater cooperation including: promoting peace in the Middle East... (The European Neighbourhood Policy Fiches on Partners, December 2006).

Officially, the ENP went into effect on 1 January 2007.  Technically, though, the European Neighbourhood Policy was finalized in October 2006.

Following years of planning, on 17 October 2006, more than €11 billion was allocated to fund the ENP.  This was achieved via the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI), specifically for a span of seven years: 2007–2013.  A week later, on 24 October 2006, “general provisions establishing a European Neighborhood and Partnership Interest” were laid down for the same (seven-year) period: 2007 through 2013.

An “Action Plan on the Protection and Welfare of Animals” also was adopted in 2006.  Certain reviews and evaluations, including those pertaining to “planned specific actions to improve the protection and welfare of animals,” are to take place in the middle of that seven-year period (2010):

In a table annexed to the Action Plan, the Commission outlines planned specific actions to improve the protection and welfare of animals, some of which are already underway. These include: ... the possible establishment of a European Quality Standard for products emanating from high animal welfare standards (2010) (Brussels, 23 January 2006).

The website of the European Neighbourhood Policy is here:

Frequently asked questions about the European Neighbourhood Policy can be found here:

Here are the non-European nations included in the European Neighbourhood Policy, at least initially:

Most people would find nothing remarkable about the European Neighbourhood Policy, and indeed there may be nothing extraordinary about it.  On the other hand, it is the conviction of many that the ENP has initiated the prophesied final seven years of this age, which will culminate with the return of Jesus Christ back to earth.

The belief is that, particularly since Israel is a member of the agreement (being the first non-European nation to join), the ENP may be the fulfillment of a seven-year agreement, implied in an ancient prophecy in the Bible, which was given by the angel Gabriel to the Israeli prophet Daniel:

He will confirm a covenant with many for one “seven,” but in the middle of that “seven” he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.  And one who causes desolation will place abominations on a wing of the temple until the end that is decreed is poured out on him (Daniel 9:27).

The most common interpretation of Daniel 9:27 is that the “he” in this important prophecy is the infamous Antichrist—anticipated by many, throughout the centuries, to come at the end of the age to wreak havoc upon the entire world.  After the final seven years have transpired, the Antichrist or “lawless one” will meet his demise (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

The final “week” (seven-year period) of the seventy “weeks” of years commonly is referred to as the 70th Week of Daniel.  Some believe that this period of seven years already has taken place, back in the First Century.  I adamantly disagee with this view, as explained in my responses to the following two questions pertaining to “preterism”:

• The seventy weeks prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 already has happened, so how can you say it has anything to do with the end-of-the-age prophecies of Matthew 24?
• How do you know that Daniel's 70 weeks did not end in 33 or 34 A.D.?

Interestingly, Jesus actually made a direct reference to this important prophecy in Daniel, as part of His Olivet Discourse to His disciples:

So when you see standing in the holy place “the abomination that causes desolation,” spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15,16).

At about the same time, there should be a cessation of sacrifice and offering.  There is a precedent, in ancient Israel, for performing sacrificial burnt offerings on an altar stone without the presence of a temple (Ezra 3:2-6).  Furthermore, construction of the next sacrificial altar stone, in Jerusalem, began on July 30, 2009 (see Temple Altar Construction Begins on Day of Destruction) and was completed in December 2009.

According to the Daniel 9:27 prophecy, the seven-year agreement should “confirm” (some Bible translations read “strengthen”) another covenant or agreement.  In 1995, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EuroMed) was initiated.  It also is known as the “Barcelona Process,” since the conference was held in Barcelona, Spain.  EuroMed was an agreement between the EU and a number of Mediterranean nations, including Israel (represented by Ehud Barak) and the Palestinian Authority (represented by Yassir Arafat).  The following is a declaration of EuroMed:

The declaration is intended to establish a comprehensive Euro-Mediterranean partnership in order to turn the Mediterranean into a common area of peace, stability and prosperity through the reinforcement of political dialogue and security, an economic and financial partnership and a social, cultural and human partnership (Barcelona, 27,28 November 1995).

The European Council considers that Israel, on account of its high level of economic development, should enjoy special status in its relations with the EU on the basis of reciprocity and common interest.... On that basis, the EU and Israel concluded an Association Agreement, and developed relations further in the context of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Brussels, 29 November 2006).

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (the so-called “Barcelona Process”) share the same basis, i.e. bilateral Association Agreements with countries in the region.  Both policies make use of the institutions established under those Agreements, allowing for a formal dialogue at various levels.  With many goals in common, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership pursues a multilateral track whereas the ENP provides additional focus and impact through a bilateral approach of mutual commitments to implement reforms and modernisation conducive to closer economic integration and political cooperation. ... It [the ENP] is therefore a valuable complement to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership as it allows each country to develop closer links with the EU, based on its particular needs and capacities (How does the ENP relate to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (“Barcelona Process”)?).

• http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/euromed — The first paragraph originally described how the Barcelona Process, launched in 1995, “formed an innovative alliance based on the principles of joint ownership, dialogue and co-operation.”  Now it says that the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership was re-launched in 2008 as the Union for the Mediterranean.  To the right of that is a list of all of the nations in Euromed.  Most also have signed onto the European Neighbourhood Policy (see Nations Included in the ENP).
         Further down the original page, it stated the following:  “The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) works to complement and reinforce the Barcelona Process....”  If the ENP is the prophesied seven-year agreement, then consistent with Daniel 9:27, it would seem to confirm and strengthen EuroMed.  (To see the text of the original page, see The Euro-Mediterranean Partnership; however, many of the links on that page now are obsolete.)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona_Euro-Mediterranean_Conference — Note in the last paragraph, under the “Role” section, that Javier Solana opened the conference.  Also, in the “Afterwards” section, note that Ehud Barak (of Israel) and Yasser Arafat (of the Palestinian Authority) “had high praises for Solana's coordination of the Barcelona Process.”  Barak added that he felt they all had beaten their “swords into ploughshares.”  (See previous and present titles of Javier Solana.  Also, link to his Wikipedia page, You Tube page, and Home page.)
• http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/faq_en.htm#1.7 — This section (How does the ENP relate to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (“Barcelona Process”)?) shows how the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (also known as the “Barcelona Process”) share the same basic agreements and goals.  The Action Plans of the ENP are fully consistent with the EuroMed acquis communautaire (used in European Union law to refer to the total body of EU law accumulated thus far).  The ENP is considered to be a “valuable complement” to EuroMed.
• http://www.eu-delegation.org.eg/en/special_features/Interim%20Report.htm — This “Interim Report on an EU Strategic Partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East” came out in March 2004.  In the report, the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EuroMed) is referred to as the EMP.  In the Neighbourhood Policy – Deepening the EMP section, it refers to the Action Plans of the European Neighbourhood Policy as being a reinforcement of the Barcelona Process.  (The “Barcelona Process” is another name for EuroMed.)  Also, in the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) section, it mentions that the Middle East peace process is a major preoccupation of the EU.
• http://www.europa-eu-un.org/articles/en/article_4448_en.htm — In this speech in 2005, by Margot Wallström, a Vice President of the EU, it is noted how the European Neighbourhood Policy compliments and has objectives similar to the Barcelona Process/EuroMed.  A quote in the seventh paragraph from the end is revealing:

  As I have tried to point out, the European Neighbourhood Policy does not replace the process launched ten years ago in Barcelona. It renews it, clarifies it and breathes fresh life into it.

  In a word, the ENP “confirms” a previous covenant, EuroMed, just as Daniel 9:27 predicts.

It long has been thought that the prophesied agreement or treaty would involve some type of “peace” concessions, by Israel, to another or others nearby, such as the Palestinian Authority, Syria, and/or Lebanon.  This has been a common assumption even though there is nothing in the prophecy (Daniel 9:27) that stipulates any type of “peace process” or “peace treaty.”  Nonetheless, there definitely are goals and objectives of “peace” incorporated into the ENP portfolio of documents.  (More about this can be found in How can the European Neighbourhood Policy be the Daniel 9:27 covenant, if the latter is a "peace treaty"?)

A press conference in December 2004 indicated that the European Neighbourhood Policy would launch an Action Plan promoting the principle or peace.  As per an Overall Assessment in December 2006, support for a future Palestinian State has been expressed.  A Fiches on Partners document indicates that, in deepening the EU-Israel relationship, the ENP would promote peace in the Middle East.

The achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East is a central aim of the EU, via the ENP.  Some of the EU’s purported objectives are these:

• achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East,
• a two-State solution leading to a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on implementation of the Road Map, and
• a democratic, viable, peaceful and sovereign Palestinian State living side-by-side in peace within secure and recognised borders and enjoying normal relations with their neighbours (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument: Israel, 24 October 2006).

The prophecy (Daniel 9:27) seems to make a reference to the “temple” or, as Jesus stated (in referring to this prophecy), the “holy place” (Matthew 24:15).  Other biblical references to this temple were made by Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and by John (Revelation 11:1).  Most Bible scholars believe they refer to the Third Temple.  It has been assumed, by most, that this structure would be standing, in Jerusalem, no later than the middle of the prophesied 7 years (that is, after the initial 3½ years).

The Temple Institute, founded in Jerusalem in 1987, has been making steady, ongoing preparations for the construction of the Third Temple, on Mount Moriah, where two previous temples stood in ancient times.  Virtually all of the sacred vessels and vestments, including the blue robe of the high priest, have been made and are ready to be used in the Third Temple—should it be standing, at some point. 

Third Temple Model	Copper Vessel	Gold-Plated Shofar	Lottery Box	Measuring Cup	Small Mizrak
Sickle	Silver Shovel	Silver Wine Decanter	High Priest’s Robe #1	High Priest’s Robe #2	High Priest’s Crown

However, another possibility also should be considered.  The word “temple” in (2 Thessalonians 2:4) and in (Revelation 11:1) may be a mistranslation.  A better translation of that word, from the Greek, is “shrine.”  The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine which presently stands on the Temple Mount (see Third Temple).  Some have suggested that it could serve as an “International Temple” for all people, including the Jews.  (See option #3 in Doesn't the word "temple" in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 and Revelation 11:1 indicate that the Third Temple will stand on the Temple Mount for the last 42 months of the final seven years?)

Furthermore, as has been noted previously, there is a precedent, in ancient Israel, for sacrifice and offering to be made without the presence of a temple (Ezra 3:2-6).  The prophecy merely states that sacrifice and offering will be put to a stop, not that this act must take place in a temple.

It has been assumed that, once the temple or holy place has been constructed, there will be a return to the ancient offerings and sacrifices put into practice by Moses and his brother Aaron, for the Israelites, millennia ago.  These sacrifices and offerings were performed until 70 A.D., when the Second Temple was destroyed.

Just before Passover of 2007, an orthodox Jewish religious group attempted to slaughter a lamb across from the Western Wall in Jerusalem (see Court nixes Passover lamb sacrifice at Temple Mount).  Prior to that, there also have been other attempts to perform animal sacrifices there.

It is possible that burnt sacrifices may be offered on the sacrificial altar stone, which the Temple Intitute wishes to place inside of the next temple.  According to the prophecy, in the middle of the seven years, an end will be put to sacrifice and offering (Daniel 9:27b).  A temple does not have to be present for sacrifice and offering to begin:

Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests and Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, in accordance with what is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.  Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.  Then in accordance with what is written, they celebrated the Feast of Tabernacles with the required number of burnt offerings prescribed for each day.  After that, they presented the regular burnt offerings, the New Moon sacrifices and the sacrifices for all the appointed sacred feasts of the LORD, as well as those brought as freewill offerings to the LORD.  On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, though the foundation of the LORD's temple had not yet been laid (Ezra 3:2-6).

Furthermore, the midpoint of the proposed seven-year period, described in this commentary, is the Feast of Firstfruits 2010.  On this particular Hebrew feast, a lamb is supposed to be sacrificed, and a grain offering is to be made (Leviticus 23:12,13).

The Daniel 9:27 prophecy actually is the last verse of a more extensive prophecy, spoken to Daniel by the angel Gabriel (9:21-27).  It indicates, in 9:24, that seventy “weeks” of years “are decreed” for Daniel’s people (Israel) and his holy city (Jerusalem) before sin and transgression are ended and the Most Holy is anointed.  Thus, the final “week” of seventy “weeks” of years, understandably, is referred to as the “70th Week.”

After the seven-year period has transpired, the Lord will destroy the armies which will have occupied and ransacked Jerusalem.  A short time later, the Antichrist will meet his doom (see The Final Battles and final battle).  Essentially, most of the world will worship or pay homage to the Antichrist during the final half (3½ years) of the 70th Week period (Revelation 13:5-8), after which “the end that is decreed” will be “poured out on him.”

In the Bible, “666” is associated with the “mark of the beast” in Revelation 13:16-18.  This commonly is assumed to be a reference to the Antichrist.  Many believe it is significant that Article 666 and Recommendation 666 are included in the ENP.  They deal with the person who is in a primary position of leadership and power:

• the Secretary-General both of the European Union (EU) and of the of the Western European Union (WEU), as well as
• the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP).

Many believe that Javier Solana, also known as “Mr. Europe,” is a candidate to fulfill the prophecies pertaining to the Antichrist.  In 1995, Solana was the President of the Council of the European Union when EuroMed was created.  Solana also was the Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union and the Western European Union when the European Neighbourhood Policy was implemented.

In a speech given on March 17, 2008, to the Conference of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairs of National Parliaments of EU Member States, Dr. Solana stated the following:

The situation in the Middle East has again become extremely difficult.  Regardless of all the obstacles, the EU should stay engaged.  That is why I visited the region recently (Israel, Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Egypt).  The aim was to de-escalate the situation.

It is positive that the violence has declined and the negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians will continue.  I stressed to all my interlocutors that it is vital to maintain the Annapolis process and that changing realities on the ground and implementation of the Roadmap are essential. (Javier Solana: March 17, 2008)

At the website of Constance Cumbey (http://cumbey.blogspot.com), the entry of April 14, 2007 (“The Javier Solana Story, Continued, Part VII”) is interesting.  It indicates how Solana’s name appears, in the Bible code, “on every Greek New Testament prophecy ascribed to the prophesied antichrist.”

Many feel that 666 is linked to Islam and may be an encryption for “In the Name of Allah.”  If so, it may be that people will not be able to buy or sell anything, in the global economic market, without a mark on their right hands or foreheads—indicating that they have pledged their allegiance to Allah and have converted, whether voluntarily or forcibly, to Islam.

In any case, the “mark of the beast,” I am convinced, will be implemented, globally, at some point during the final 3½ of the 7 years.  Those opting to take it, ultimately, will wish that they had not (Revelation 14:9-11).

The website of the European Neighbourhood Policy is located here:

http://ec.europa.eu/world/enp/index_en.htm

European Neighbourhood Policy: a Brief Summary

Read Part 2 to see potential dates of importance in the middle and second half of my proposed seven-year period:

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