Calvary Prophecy Report

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EU leaders deadlocked over top 2 EU jobs

This should be a momentous occasion for Europe: this week, the European Union will select its first-ever President, a figure who could leave an indelible mark on Europe and live on in history — and on coins — just like George Washington in the U.S.

But one wouldn't know it on the streets of Paris, Athens or Helsinki. Europeans are by and large apathetic about the idea of having an E.U. President, in part, perhaps, because they aren't having a say in choosing who it is. Rather than open the contest up to a Europe-wide vote, E.U. leaders are instead making the decision behind closed doors amid a swirl of rumors, gossip and intrigue more befitting a papal conclave than the selection of the head of the largest group of democracies in the world.

If all goes according to plan, the E.U. could know who its President will be following a gathering of E.U. leaders on Thursday night in Brussels. (One almost expects a cloud of white smoke to rise from the Justus Lipsius building when a candidate is chosen.) But it won't be a straightforward process: the leaders are likely to haggle until the final moment on the decision of the President and the new E.U. Foreign Minister in an attempt to strike a balance in politics, gender and geography in the appointments — quite possibly at the expense of qualities like talent and merit.

Already, strategies are unfolding. French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to support a joint candidate for the presidency, although they haven't named any names yet. Time.com

Within hours, European Union leaders say they will reveal their choice for their first president and foreign minister.  I find it strange that nobody in this powerful European bloc of nations is all that excited about the selection, but frankly, it's not what you would call a normal election process.  There are no candidates and the citizens of the EU will not cast a single vote.  The selection of the EU's first president and foreign minister has been shrouded in secrecy and kept completely behind closed doors.  The winners of these two positions will literally be revealed to the world in one day.

Amid all the rumors and gossip, insiders are saying that the EU leaders are deadlocked on the selections. The smaller represented nations are pulling for a lower profile president so they are not left out while the larger nations want a high profile, powerful, and charismatic president which would better serve their interest.  If indeed, the Antichrist does rise up out of the EU, he will be a very powerful and charismatic president.  So I look for the larger countries to win out.  

If the Antichrist does rise up out of the EU, there is no Biblical mandate that states the first president will be the Antichrist.  I believe Satan's selection process will have more to do with the timing of the rapture than any preconceived plan he may or may not have in the works.  Let me explain...when the rapture takes place, Christians will be taken from the earth along with the Holy Spirit. When this happens, Satan will finally be free to rule this world, for it is the Holy Spirit who constrains Satan from doing his evil will.  He will immediately begin to set up his kingdom.  The Bible says that his choice for who his ruler will be will come out of the Old Roman Empire.  Virtually all Bible prophecy experts believe this to be the modern day EU.

Whoever he turns out to be, Satan will control him as he did Judas (see Article# 971) and in the end, will possess him to carry out his ultimate plan.  I do not believe that Satan and God are heading for some epic showdown for which both are jockeying for position in heaven and here on earth.  That certainly wasn't the case when Jesus came to the earth the first time and it won't be the case at His Second Coming.  I am completely convinced that the Scriptures teach that Satan is completely oblivious to God's future plans and is only permitted to act in a way that will push forward the perfect will of God.  He is nothing more than one of the many tools God uses to carry out His perfect will and to bring us into conformity to His Son Christ Jesus.

Getting back to the selection of the first EU president.  At this point, the role of the president is loosely defined.  Meaning...this position does not have a concert job description.  We do know that the term of the position will be 2 1/2 years, renewable once, and will begin December 1, 2009.  That's eleven days from today!  In loose terms the president's job will be to represent the EU in the world of high stakes global politics.

Here is the betting lines from Ireland's biggest bookmaker on who will win the presidency: Paddy Power Plc, Ireland’s biggest bookmaker, makes Van Rompuy the 4-9 favorite, ahead of Blair at 4-1, Juncker at 7-1 and Balkenende at 8-1.  Bloomberg.com

The EU foreign minister is also up for selection.  Here is an article by Radio Free Europe as to who are the possible frontrunners for this position:

The new EU foreign minister will most probably hail from a large country and be a social democrat. The most popular candidate, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, has ruled himself out. Italy's Massimo D'Alema, second in line, could still find himself in trouble over his communist past, which raises hackles in eastern member states.

The new foreign-policy post will combine the resources and mandates of what, until now, have been two posts -- the EU high representative for common foreign and security policy, and the external relations commissioner. Javier Solana and Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who currently hold those positions, will leave their posts once a decision on the new foreign-policy chief is made.  Radio Free Europe

Some in the prophetic world had their eye on Javier Solana taking this new post, but all indications point to him stepping down once a decision has be made.  In the last decade, there has been a theory circulating that Solana would one day rise to become the Antichrist. With this news and the likelihood that he will disappear from the political scene, we have to surmise that he can no longer be considered a possibility.

One last mention, the Bible says that the Antichrist will be selected by the leaders of his kingdom.

 "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

Are you ready to meet the Lord?  If not, your time is running out!