The Omega Letter Intelligence Digest

Vol: 37 Issue: 20 - Wednesday, October 20, 2004

Welcome to the 'Neighborhood'
by Jack Kinsella

In December, 2003, the European Union unveiled a new strategy dubbed "The
European Neighborhood Policy" -- creating yet a fifth tier of membership
within the Union.

Currently, the 28-state European Community consists of ten Full Members,
six Associate Members, seven Associate Parters, and five Observers.

According to the European Neighborhood Policy [ENP]'s website, the mission
of the ENP is to  "prevent the emergence of new dividing lines between the
enlarged EU and its neighbours and to offer them the chance to participate
in various EU activities, through greater political, security, economic
and cultural co-operation. ENP will also help address one of the strategic
objectives the European Union set in the European Security Strategy in
December 2003, that of building security in our neighbourhood."

The ENP has invited Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Georgia,
Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and the
Ukraine.  Oh, notes the ENP website, "also the Palestinian Authority."

Take another look at the list again.  There is one country that sticks out
even more egregiously than the country the ENP website calls the "West
Bank and Gaza Strip (no official name, but current denomination)."

Called an 'action plan', the ENP requires each country to meet certain
political and econoic prerequisites.  In October, Belarus strongman
Alexander Lukashenko swept the elections in what the EU determined was
'less than free and fair'.

Speaking on conditions of anonymity, reports one EU news report, one EU
diplomat said that Belarus "can forget about the neighborhood policy" now.

The Russians aren't too happy with the idea of the EU extending its
influence into Moscow's traditional sphere of influence in places like the
Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus and the former Soviet republics in the Caucasus.
But it is also eager to sign up for the economic benefits offered by
joining the 'neighborhood' -- but Moscow is seeking yet a sixth tier of
membership.

According to the Moscow Times, Russia wants only "a bilateral relationship
with the EU ... and a free hand to try to reintegrate its near abroad,"
said Michael Emerson, senior research fellow at the Center for European
Policy Studies in Brussels.

The EU has drafted a "strategic partnership" in four areas: trade and EU
investments in Russian transport, telecommunications and energy projects;
cooperation in law enforcement and nonproliferation issues; settling
border disputes with new EU members Estonia and Latvia; and negotiations
for visa-free travel for Russians in Western Europe.

The "strategic partnership" aims to boost European investments in Russia's
energy sector. The EU already accounts for 58% of the Russian energy
export market.

The European Commission is slated to meet this week to decide whether to
approve the action plans for admission into the ENP of the first wave of
countries and, of course, the Palestinian Authority.

The other countries involved, in addition to Israel, are Jordan, Moldova,
Morocco, Tunisia, and Ukraine. Diplomatic officials said the Israeli
action plan is the only one in doubt.

The action plan currently under discussion has two "baskets," one
political and the other economic. The political basket deals with
formalizing a dialogue on issues such as the peace process, terrorism,
small arms, non-proliferation, and human rights.

This would effectively institutionalize a role for the EU on Israel's
internal political issues. Nonetheless, of all the countries slated for
inclusion in the ENP, no country wants entry more than the Israelis.

Through entry to the ENP, Israel hopes to gain entrance to a number of
institutions and programs that are currently closed to non-EU members,
such as the European Space Agency and the European Environment Agency.

In months of negotiations, the sides have looked for a "balance" between
the baskets, meaning that if Europe wants to institutionalize a political
role in different regional issues, it will have to compensate Israel by
giving it entrance to various economic, scientific, and technological
programs currently closed to it.

Opposing Israel's admission are France, Belgium, and Britain. They fear it
would be interpreted in the Arab world as 'anti-Palestinian' if Israel is
included in the neighborhood.

Interesting.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier wrapped up his three-day visit to
Israel with a lecture at Tel Aviv University Tuesday on Tuesday.  He
explained the EU's 'vision' of Middle East peace as one in which there is
coexistence between Israel and a democratic, viable Palestinian state,
with recognized borders and its capital in east Jerusalem.

Barnier also said such a state must "demonstrate a will" to give Israel
the security guarantees it needs.

"History has taught us that we don't chose our enemies," Barnier said,
"but with them we have to make peace. I know what the conventional wisdom
here is about the head of the PA, and what is said about those who meet
with him. But our opinion is that nothing will happen without Yasser
Arafat, or against [his will], and that keeping him a prisoner reduces the
chances of bringing him to take the steps that everyone expects of him."

Barnier also said that France and the European Union will support Prime
Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan -- on the condition that it
will be done in cooperation with the Palestinians, and is part of the road
map.

Since Sharon has already rejected both conditions, the French were, in
effect drawing a line in the sand.

Assessment:

There is a lot going on behind the scenes right now in Europe -- taking
place at breakneck speed from the standpoint of ordinary diplomacy.  And
it continues to follow the outline given by Scripture for the last days.

Europe is expanding its influence outward,  moving into the political
vacuum created by the sudden loss in American prestige brought about by
four years of partisan infighting that turned a first term president
fighting a global war into a lame duck presidency of four years' duration.

The ten toes of Daniel's vision, (the ten Full Members) pretty much rule
the entire geographic region that made up the old Roman Empire, from the
Middle East to the steppes of Russia, from the United Kingdom to Baltic
Sea.

The Russians are looking for ways to develop an economic partnership with
the EU on a unilateral basis -- meaning Russia will not be 'part' of the
EU -- as Ezekiel 38-39 outlined 2500 years in advance.

Daniel says that somehow, the leader of this revived Roman Empire will
introduce what appears to be a workable peace deal between Israel and her
enemies, based on a pre-existing seven-year 'land for peace formula'.

"And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week. . ." (Daniel
9:27)

(He can't 'confirm' an agreement unless it already existed, anymore than
you can 'confirm' a dentist's appointment unless you had already made
one.)

Of the antichrist who will lead the revived Roman Empire through its final
seven years of existence, Daniel tells us;

"Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he
shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to RULE
OVER MANY, and shall DIVIDE THE LAND FOR GAIN." Daniel 11:39)

I want you to stop and think about this for a minute.  The whole of the
Big Picture as it is lining up. . .

The Apostle Peter said;

"Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers,
walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of His
coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they
were from the beginning of the creation." (2nd Peter 3:2-3)

So much is happening so quickly -- and the Rapture hasn't yet happened --
that even some Christians are beginning to take that attitude.  Things DO
seem to continue as they were from the beginning. The sun rises every
morning. It sets each night.

For some, it is beginning to look like the Tribulation is already here.
Maybe that whole pre-trib Rapture thing really IS some cosmic 'great
escape' theory, instead of sound doctrine.  If the Rapture hasn't happened
yet,  maybe the post-trib view is right after all.

The Lord, speaking through Peter, anticipated that attitude and addresses
it in the next couple of verses;

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the
water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water,
perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same Word
are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and
perdition of ungodly men. " (3:5-7)

The Word that was ignored by everyone except Noah didn't make that Word
invalid. The rains still came.  Noah and his family were saved --
regardless of popular opinion that he was nuts.

That same Word says the Church will be Raptured so that the 'Restrainer"
of 2nd Thessalonians 2:7 can be 'taken out of the way' in order that "that
Wicked be revealed' (2:8)

God's Word says the Holy Spirit will indwell the Church until Jesus
returns. Jesus tells us through the Apostle John of a miracle that takes
place during the Tribulation.

Revelation Chapter 7 details the 'sealing' of the 144,000 Jewish
evangelists,  "Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,
till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."
(Revelation 7:3)

This 'sealing' of the 144,000 Jewish evangelists is so important that God
devotes an entire chapter to it.  It is important because the ONLY ones
who have 'it' during this period are those Jews chosen to be sealed.

This 'sealing' is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

"Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him
hath God the Father sealed." (John 6:27)

"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts." (2nd Corinthians 1:22)

"In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the
Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. (Ephesians 1:13)

"And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day
of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)

If the Church goes through the Tribulation Period and is raptured at some
point in the middle, or at the end, it can only mean one thing.

It means that the Comforter, (the Holy Spirit - John 14:26) must be
withdrawn from the Church during a time Jesus said would be so terrible
that, if allowed to run its full course, 'there should be no flesh saved'.

John 16:7 would have to be revised to read:

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you UNTIL YOU NEED HIM THE MOST. THEN YOU ARE
ON YOUR OWN." (allcaps mine)

Jesus promised; "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another
Comforter, that He may abide with you FOREVER." (John 14:16)

Jesus said the Comforter He would send us in the Church Age would abide
with me FOREVER.  'Forever' is a long time, and makes no allowances for a
seven-year separation.

Recapping, then, the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit must be
'taken out of the way' BEFORE that 'Wicked' be revealed.  The indwelling
of the Holy Spirit is promised to Church Age believers 'forever' . The
Apostle Paul says that indwelling is "whereby ye are sealed unto the day
of redemption."

The Apostles, as Jesus ascended to the heavens from their sight, were told
by two men "in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why
stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from
you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven." (Acts 1:11)

Paul tells us that "For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the
dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall
be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the
air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18)

Daniel's feet and toes of iron and clay are trudging through the Middle
East, increasing their influence and expanding their empire to rival that
of ancient Rome.  The whole world stands against Israel over the issue of
who will control Jerusalem and the Holy Land.

Jesus told us that when these things BEGIN to come to pass, our redemption
draws near.  (Luke 21:28)

We can already see the antichrist's shadow on the wall of the EU
Parliament Building in Brussels.  Scripture says he won't be revealed
until after the Comforter has been 'taken out of the way' with the Rapture
of the Church.

The time is short. The fields are white with the harvest. And the stakes
are enormous.  Both for the lost -- and for those of us who know the
truth.

"But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the
people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among
them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at
the watchman's hand." (Ezekiel 33:6)

There is much to do -- and not much time left in which to do it.