• "Alliance Of Civilizations"

    From Steve Asher@3:800/432 to All on Saturday, April 01, 2006 00:56:06
    The Euro-Med Summit and the 'Alliance of Civilizations'

    by Michael G. Mickey

    (11-28-05)

    As this week's Euro-Med Summit approached, I read a commentary by EU
    foreign policy chief Javier Solana entitled 'Toward a partnership of
    hope' as many of my site's readers felt certain something dramatic
    might be forthcoming at the summit where the future fulfillment of
    Bible prophecy is concerned.

    As I read Solana's words concerning the Barcelona process he started
    ten years ago, also called the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, I was
    chilled when I read how the Barcelona process was born of the hopes of
    the Oslo peace talks, which had a seven-year timeline - one I still
    believe may play a prominent role in the prophetic future. My
    attention was grabbed even more when I further read that a period of
    seven years may play largely in the future of the Euro-Med region. In
    Solana's speech, there were many points worth sharing, but I was
    fascinated by the following excerpt as it addresses a future period of
    seven years:

    Many Mediterranean countries say they want to advance on the path
    of political reform but that it should be home-grown and that they
    need help. I agree. So I am pleased that the EU will launch a so-
    called governance facility. This will not be a cosmetic initiative,
    but one that, over seven years, will offer several hundred million
    euros to those countries that are making the greatest efforts
    concerning governance reform. They can then spend the extra money on
    the priorities they have set themselves. This is what I call a true
    partnership for political reform.

    Many believe, as I hear often, the next EU budget period, set for 2007-
    2013, could be worth noting as a timeframe wherein the EU could make a
    major move toward establishing a new world order, leaving me to
    wonder, specifically after reading Solana's words, if the millions
    of euros he refers to being handed out over seven years is simply
    coincidence or could indeed be telling of things to come. Time will
    tell as one of the stated goals of the Euro-Med partnership is peace
    in the region, particularly resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
    conflict.

    And then there's the "Alliance of Civilizations" I'm hearing more
    about that met on the sidelines of the Euro-Med summit weekend as
    well, but first some background on that.

    In July of 2005, as seen in a United Nations press release, UN
    Secretary General Kofi Annan announced an "Alliance of Civilizations"
    would be formed which would come up with a "practical plan of action"
    by late 2006 - one short year from now. A practical plan to achieve
    what you ask? The press release gives us a pretty good idea, as seen
    in the following excerpt:

    The Secretary-General is pleased to announce the launch of an
    initiative for an oAlliance of Civilizationsoe. The initiative is
    intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the
    international community -- both at the institutional and civil society
    levels -- to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions,
    misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world
    peace. The Alliance will aim to address emerging threats emanating
    from hostile perceptions that foment violence, and to bring about
    cooperation among various efforts to heal such divisions.

    While I'm sure some will scoff at what I'm about to state, I believe
    the divide the so-called "Alliance of Civilizations" is primarily
    concerned with is the divide that exists between the Israelis and
    Palestinians - the one the international community, the international
    Quartet, and the revived Roman empire believes is "fomenting" the
    violence most of us refer to as terrorism.

    As I've stated on many occasions and, I'm hopeful, demonstrated
    through a variety of references, the international community is
    shaking in its collective boots as a result of radical Islamic
    terrorism and, as a result, has become convinced the only way to
    prevent or lessen acts of Islamic terror from threatening the western
    world is for Israel to yield to the demands of its Arab-Muslim enemies
    and surrender land for peace which Israel is beginning to do, as was
    seen in the recent Gaza withdrawal.

    Well before Kofi Annan was talking up the "Alliance of Civilizations",
    Spanish prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, as seen in a BBC
    report dated July of 2004, issued what I believe was the initial call
    for such a group when he asked for "an international effort to resolve
    cultural and religious differences between the Western and Muslim
    world" --- what he originally referred to as an "alliance of
    cultures". What I want my readers to note, particularly, from the 2004
    article is the following (emphasis added mine):

    The alliance he envisages could therefore prevent hate and
    misunderstanding from developing by looking at political and cultural
    issues - everything from joint peace keeping missions to interfaith
    dialogue.

    Did you catch that? Peacekeeping and interfaith dialogue! While I have
    no idea if Zapatero's proposed "alliance of cultures", which is now
    being called the "Alliance of Civilizations" by Kofi Annan's U.N., is
    seen in the Bible, prophecy tells us an alliance of civilizations of
    some sort is going to take place in the prophetic future --- one that
    will confirm a seven-year peace in the Middle East between Israel and
    its enemies (Daniel 9:26-27), as well as impose a universal religion
    on mankind --- one that will see the peacemaker from the revived Roman
    empire (today's EU) who will someday confirm peace between Israel and
    its enemies proclaimed to be "god" three and one-half years later and
    commanded to be worshipped, as seen in the 13th chapter of Revelation.

    A number of world leaders have come out in support of Zapatero's
    proposed "Alliance of Civilizations" which Annan drew attention to in
    July of this year. For example, Tony Blair, as seen in a Guardian
    Unlimited report dated 7-27-05, "welcomed a plan for an "alliance of civilisations" to combat Islamist terrorism by bringing together
    Christian and Muslim nations." Interesting in light of what prophecy
    tells us is ultimately going to take place, huh? Can you say
    ecumenism?

    Fox News reported, in the days leading up to the Euro-Med summit, the
    United Nations had a new "scheme" up its sleeve. The scheme? You
    guessed it! The Alliance of Civilizations which was to meet for the
    first time, apparently at sidebar in Spain. Two paragraphs of the Fox
    News story demonstrate why we may want to keep an eye on this
    Alliance. They are presented below in the order they appear in the
    story (emphasis added mine):

    * Still reeling from scandals on many fronts, the U.N. has
    launched another questionable initiative, called the Alliance of
    Civilizations, which is due to hold its first meeting this weekend in
    Spain. The program has been widely touted by U.N. Secretary-General
    Kofi Annan as a bridge across cultural and religious divides, but it
    involves a daisy-chain of dubious associations that casts serious
    doubt both on the project itself and on the U.N.AEs ability to cut
    loose from the scandals of the past decade.

    * But one lane of the bridge is a lot wider than the other:
    the panel of 18 "eminent persons" whom Annan named to the Alliance (a
    19th, representing all of East Asia, has yet to be named) is weighted
    heavily on the side of Islamic states, including representatives of
    Egypt, Qatar, Tunisia, Morocco, Pakistan and the former president of
    Iran, Mohamed Khatami. There are two representatives from the U.S.,
    but none from Israel.

    Yes, prophecy tells us there will be a new world order in the
    prophetic future - one we're told will bridge cultural and religious
    divides and, ultimately, encompass Jerusalem with forces!

    Zechariah 14:2: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to
    battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the
    women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity,
    and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

    Could what we're seeing, the Alliance of Civilizations, be a start
    to that coming about? If so, it isn't ultimately going to be what
    Zapatero and Annan currently think it will be as many of the Islamic
    states it hopes to have as allies in that cause are going to be doing
    anything but working toward peace in the prophetic future - the Gog-
    Magog battle of Ezekiel 38 & 39 being demonstrative of that!

    All the same, whether it be Solana's Euro-Med partnership or
    Zapatero's "Alliance of Civilizations" or some new brainchild the EU
    is going to come up with, someone, sooner or later, is going to emerge
    from the EU with a seven-year plan for peace in the Middle East that
    is going to work! As both of these initiatives demonstrate, the EU has
    a number of irons in the fire presently. That could, of course, change
    quickly, but it's interesting to monitor at any rate.

    An EUBusiness.com article stresses that the goal of the Euro-Med
    summit was "to re-invigorate ties with its Mediterranean-rim and
    Mideast neighbours" and to "set up a free trade area covering both the
    EU and the Mediterranean." The article also makes reference to the
    Oslo peace process having played a role in the Euro-Med partnership's hope-filled early stages, noting that things haven't gone as
    originally planned.

    As the article points out, the Middle East has plunged back into
    violence since 1995, the EU has struggled with constitutional issues,
    and the Iraq war has taken place. Adding to that, the western world
    presently suspects (knows, in my opinion) Iran is seeking nuclear
    weapons, further complicating what seems a difficult, if not
    impossible, task for anyone to complete --- the task of bringing peace
    to the Middle East. The EU and the Middle East could sure use a hero
    about now, huh? If the prophesied son of perdition - the Antichrist -
    is out and about making his rounds in EU-Middle East diplomacy, his
    prophetic ride onto the world stage described in Revelation 6:2 may
    well be approaching.

    Revelation 6:1-2: And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals,
    and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts
    saying, Come and see. And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that
    sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went
    forth conquering, and to conquer.

    For the record, both Zapatero and Solana left Barcelona happy by
    summit's end. Zapatero is quoted in an EU Observer article as
    saying the summit's conclusion represented an achievement "without
    precedent". Solana walked away happy that an anti-terrorism agreement
    was reached between members of the Euro-Med partnership, even though
    it doesn't define what terrorism actually is, due to the fact the Arab
    nations wouldn't agree to a definition of terrorism that didn't
    include "legitimate resistance against any occupying foreign
    military force" AKA "Israel existing" in it.

    Where will we go from here? I don't know, but it's clear EU leaders
    like Solana and, most recently, Zapatero are pushing hard for peace
    to come to the Middle East by way of the revived Roman empire. That, RaptureAlert.com fans, is very telling concerning the lateness of the
    hour we're living in, regardless of where we go from here precisely.
    What we're presently witnessing is prophetic posturing at the very
    least and, hopefully, evidence that our Lord's return is closer than
    many imagine, potentially at the very door!

    May God bless and keep you all under His protective wing!


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    Source: "Rapture Alert" - http://www.rapturealert.com/2005/112805euromed.html


    Cheers, Steve...

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    * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.thebbs.org (3:800/432)