Is the European Neighbourhood Policy a confirmation of a previous covenant?

Ted’s Response:

You evidently have not heard of EuroMed. It stands for Euro-Mediterranean Partnership, and it was initiated at a conference in Barcelona in 1995. Here are a couple of web pages with more information about it:

• 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."
• 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.)

It would seem, in fact, that to reiterate the commitment of the EU to the processes of peace, stability, and security in the Middle East, the ENP was implemented for a specified term or period—which just so happens to be seven years (2007-13), with explicit important events to take place at the midterm of that period (2010). Things like this cause me to consider the possibility and feasibility that the 70th Week covenant has begun.

Interestingly, Javier Solana already is an extremely powerful man in the European Union. He also has met with leaders of many nations around the world as the representative of the EU's foreign policy. All of the following facts and designations apply to him:

• born July 14, 1942, in Madrid, Spain,
• Secretary-General of both the Council of the European Union (EU) and the Western European Union (WEU),
• High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) of the European Union,
• Chairman of the Political Security Committee for the European Union,
• European Union Foreign Policy Chief from 1999 to 2009, and
• Secretary General of NATO from 1995 to 1999.

You expressed the thought that notifying people of the possibility that the ENP might be a fulfillment of the Daniel 9:27 prophecy could cause them to panic. I think most pastors are informing their congregations of the possiblity or probability of the persecution of believers becoming more widespread and rampant. At least, they should be, since the news certainly seems to be indicating more and more of this.

At some point, people will see world and national conditions obviously beginning to "go crazy" on a gigantic scale, especially when they begin to be affected personally. When that happens, I believe that they will appreciate having been forewarned that, very likely, sure and certain Jewish and Christian persecution is at the doorstep. I believe that this will cause them to be less likely to panic, because they already will have been "put on alert" and won't be stunned and shocked when it happens. But is mentioning the idea of an upcoming persecution enough, without adding the feasibility of already having entered a potential time frame of seven years (or, even more forthcoming, the final three and a half years, potentially beginning in the Spring of 2010)?

People are stimulated and motivated the most when they are given time frames within which to work or expect things to happen. This is why I feel it is important to notify people about the possibility that the 70th Week has begun, with the additional information that the worst part will begin at the midpoint (when the Antichrist puts an end to sacrifice and offering, probably in a partially or fully standing Third Temple in Jerusalem). If we are there (within the 70th Week) now, it would give people time to "register" this idea and prepare themselves, in whatever ways they deem necessary, before the inconveniences, trials, and persecution of the Great Tribulation (beginning at the midpoint) ensue. If anything, believing that they may have a time limit set before them, they very well may be more apt to feel a greater urgency in bringing others to a saving knowledge and acceptance of Christ.

In case we are in the final seven years, imagine the true panic that will ensue among believers who have not been prepared for, nor given any thought about, the possibility that the 70th Week may have started if the dominoes begin falling and, suddenly, very hard times, persecution, and severe tribulation are upon them. In such a case, I see a high likelihood that multitudes of believers in Christian churches (particularly in America, which long has been "buffered" from the terrible persecution already experienced in other parts of the world) will hold their pastors responsible for not having alerted them, at the very least, to the possibility that the final seven years has begun. This would have given them time to make any preparations for very hard times that they, otherwise, might not have been able to make.

On the other hand, if people are forewarned about something, and even given a potential time frame for it to occur, yet they choose to ignore the warning, then the failure to perceive the danger falls on their own heads. They have only themselves to blame and to hold responsible for their apathy and inactivity.

My two-part commentary on the European Neighbourhood Policy is here:

I've also created a page-by-page Presentation of it here:

If we are "there," I'd rather be at least mentally, emotionally, and psychologically prepared for the possibility that the worst may occur, rather than having no clue that it is about to happen.