Is peace in the Middle East the primary purpose of the Barcelona Process and the European Neighborhood Policy? Could the Mediterranean Union, rather than the ENP, could be the fulfillment of the Daniel 9:27 prophecy?
I know you believe that the European Neighborhood Policy may be the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27. I have had discussions with others about the Barcelona Process and the ENP and whether their primary purpose was peace in the Middle East.
Also, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has launched the Mediterranean Union. Perhaps the Mediterranean Union, rather than the European Neighborhood Policy, might fulfill this important prophecy. What do you think about all of this?
Ted’s Response:
It seems that many Bible scholars, evangelists, preachers, and "prophecy buffs" assume that the 70th Week cannot begin until a "peace treaty" of some type, involving Israel and others in the Middle East, has been ratified or approved. It's as if they need to see a piece of paper or a document with the words "Peace Treaty" as part of its title. (Incidentally, most of the ones who feel this way also seem to endorse the "Pre-tribulation" view of the Rapture, for some reason.)
Most also seem to think that permission to build the Third Temple will be granted by the "peace treaty." They also tend to believe that this "treaty" will be successful, to some extent, up until the point that the Antichrist, whoever that may turn out to be (some believe Javier Solana), breaches it at the midpoint of the seven-year period. These are man-made and commonly-believed assumptions, alluding to the idea that the agreement or accord, which confirms another covenant, will, at its core, stipulate or designate peace—some believe, specifically, for seven years. See also How can the European Neighbourhood Policy be the Daniel 9:27 covenant, if the latter is a "peace treaty"?
I look at all of this from a different perspective, however. When one reads the prophecy in
In the past, I never had thought of the agreement, that confirms a prior covenant, as being one having the primary purpose of peace. I had thought that the agreement probably would involve the promotion, endorsement, or funding of a peace process in some way, shape, or form. And, indeed, the seven-year European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) absolutely does qualify in this regard, in several ways. Here are three examples:
Relations between the EU and Israel are also part of the Union's wider efforts to contribute to a resolution of the Middle East conflict. The achievement of lasting peace in the Middle East is a central aim of the EU, whose main objective is a two-State solution leading to a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on implementation of the Road Map, with Israel 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 for Israel).I always have felt that the prophesied agreement somehow would "bind" Israel to the EU, in some way, and cause Israel to "obligate" itself to the EU at some point down the line. The assurance and pledge to pursue peace, made by the EU on Israel's behalf, would be the "carrot on the stick" to convince Israel to sign onto the "covenant with death" (Isaiah 28:15), which ultimately would result in Israel's devastation and desolation (28:18,19).
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).
In the EU/Israel Action Plan, as part of the ENP, language in the very first paragraph affirms the "opportunity for the EU and Israel to develop an increasingly close relationship, going beyond co-operation, to involve a significant measure of economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation":
I am somewhat familiar with the Mediterranean Union (MU), set forth by Nicolas Sarkozy. Some people have proposed to me that the MU, rather than the ENP, might be the agreement prophesied in Daniel 9:27. Personally, I have seen no indication that this is the case.
To those who suggest this to me, I point out the narrow simplicity of the Daniel 9:27 prophecy, as well as how the ENP seems to fulfill what is stated in the first part of that verse in every way. The ENP
One question on a FAQ page at the ENP website asks, "How does the ENP relate to the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership ('Barcelona Process')?" After reading the answer, one can see how the ENP complements EuroMed, as they both have many common goals. As such, EuroMed may be the "confirmed" or "strengthened" covenant of Daniel 9:27. Here is the link to that question/answer (if your browser does not jump directly to that section the first time, delete the browser window and click on the link again):
Furthermore, in the following link to a speech in 2005 by Margot Wallström, a Vice President of the EU, it was 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 of that speech 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.Thus, in a word, the ENP "confirms" a previous covenant, EuroMed. In this way, it very well may fit like a glove into Daniel 9:27. The ENP fully complements EuroMed and is a manifest fulfillment of its long-term goals, in a seven-year time frame. Furthermore, Javier Solana has been a primary endorser, supporter, and promoter of both EuroMed and the ENP.
Because of all of this, I have little to no interest in exploring the possibility that Sarkozy's Mediterranean Union could be the prophesied agreement—unless, at some point, a seven-year time line specifically becomes attached to it. Some also have proposed that the Annapolis summit of November 28, 2007, might be a precursor to something that would fulfill Daniel 9:27. I am not holding my breath on that one, either.
Hardly anyone in the USA seems to have heard about the ENP. I believe that the main reason for this is that the USA is not a nation in the ENP agreement and, as far as anyone knows, has no direct connection to it (although there might be a connection, “under the radar”). Thus, information about the ENP typically will not be reported on news stations in this country. I do not believe that I have heard about it even once, in any news broadcast, so far.
I believe that the ten toes of the fourth kingdom (Daniel 2:41-43), and the ten horns of the fourth beast (7:7), will be the revival Roman Empire—both the western and eastern portions. A possible way that the United States could become a part of that, in my opinion, is if the President were to ally and associate himself closely with the Antichrist (see Barack Obama: False Prophet?.
Many who cleave tenaciously to the (erroneous) "Pre-tribulation" premise of the Rapture grasp at reasons why the ENP cannot be the agreement prophesied in Daniel 9:27, since they are unable to acknowledge, under any circumstance, that the 70th Week already may have begun. If they did, then their dearly-held view of the Rapture automatically and suddenly would be yanked out from under them like a rug, and many of them would be under great emotional duress to find another Rapture foundation to stand on.
As such, I continue my task of notifying people about how the ENP may be the fulfillment of
I feel that it is imperative for as many people as possible, especially Christians, to be made aware of the distinct possibility that the 70th Week has begun. If it has, then I believe it is important for people to consider putting some effort into preparing themselves mentally, emotionally, psychologically, and physically for a time of great persecution, described by Jesus as a time of "great tribulation, such as has not been seen from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21)—that is, in the second half of the 70th Week.
If my time line is correct, then the Great Tribulation will begin in the Spring of 2010, at the midpoint of the 70th Week, when the "abomination that causes desolation" (which very well may be similar to King Nebuchadnezzar's image in Daniel 3:1) is set up in the Third Temple. The time is growing short.
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