Category Archives: EU-Referendum

Referendum on 23 June 2016 by citizens of UK on whether or not Britain should Remain in or Leave the EU (ie. ‘Brexit’ – see tag)

UK/EU in/out #3: In the Face of God

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I’m grateful to Dave Chapman for this paper of 7th April and especially for emphasing the importance of Christians taking a stand (hence my under-linings) and for including some prophetical visions. The Footnote updates the first section and considers the Lord’s hand behind the exposures of anti-Semitism in UK politics.:

IN THE FACE OF GOD

We have reached a time in our nation where we need to stand up and be counted. Here is an example why :-

In recognition of Baal worship

“On April 19, 2016, in cooperation with national and international cultural heritage preservation organizations, and in conjunction with World Heritage Week 2016, the Institute for Digital Archaeology will install a monumental scale reconstruction of Palmyra’s Triumphal Arch on Trafalgar Square. Through this project — and others like it scheduled throughout 2016 in cities both inside and outside the Middle East — the IDA seeks to provide an optimistic and constructive response to the ongoing threats to history and heritage that have captured headlines over the past year. Our aim is to highlight the potential for the triumph of human ingenuity over violence by offering innovative, technology-driven options for the stewardship of objects and architecture from our shared past”. (Source: IDA website original).

A considered response

‘Voice for Justice’ make a response this way (most of original on Voice for Justice UK – News) :-

‘We call on the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and Roger Michel, executive director of the Institute for Digital Archaeology, to abandon immediately the scheme to reconstruct the Arch of Palmyra in Trafalgar Square on April 19.  In 2015 the pictures of destruction by ISIS/Daesh of the Temple of Bel (also known as Baal Shamin) in Palmyra rightly shocked the world, and attempts to safeguard the world’s historical heritage from future acts of senseless aggression are to be applauded.

‘However, the reconstruction of the temple arch in Trafalgar Square on April 19 by the Oxford based Institute of Digital Archaeology (IDS) will serve a much darker purpose….. From earliest times Baal was a powerful symbol for evil and the occult: a pagan Canaanite god who demanded regular and bloody appeasement by child sacrifice.  Baal worship, representing all that was evil, was particularly condemned in the Bible (e.g. Leviticus 18:21).

‘In terms of symbolic value, however, even more disturbing is the date chosen for the reconstruction of the monument, because in occult belief, April 19 marks the Feast of Moloch, another ancient Canaanite god, specifically associated with Baal (e.g. Jeremiah 32:35), who also demanded child sacrifice.  April 19 marks the first day of a thirteen day period known as the “blood sacrifice to the beast,” and culminates in the high occult holy day of Beltane on 1st May……[NB. date for Footnote]

‘….Without question, April 19…is one of the most significant dates in the occult calendar. Was the selection of this particular date to reconstruct an ancient monument to the god Baal random or deliberate?  Either way, it is extremely unfortunate, to say the least.

‘If we allow the erection of this Arch we will be placing a symbol of death, murder, child sacrifice and sexual immorality in the heart of London…….. And we call on the Mayor of London to uphold the UK’s Christian heritage and ban the erection of a monument that is clearly hostile to Christian belief.”

Flying in the Face of God

Surely such a thing flies in the face of God.  Our battle though is not a physical one, even though we cannot stay silent by failing to protest its erection in our Capital City, despite their claim that it is apparently intended only for World Heritage purposes. Why should we celebrate what we know is specifically identified in Scripture as a forbidden ‘god’ by the Lord Himself!?  Of course, as Christians we do not, but why should we not speak up, as those aware of evil things, since we desire blessing upon our Nation, not cursing.

Another edifice to ‘another god’ 

There again, there is our Union with Europe, which as we pray for our Nation to return to God, includes praying concerning this upcoming Referendum Vote on the 23rd June, and, as we do, we find clarity that the prime issue is a spiritual one.  It is clear that the whole of this Union is constructed not only on a Godless basis – in fact God is not mentioned in any of the founding or official documents of this Union – which therefore stands in direct competition to God, in setting itself up as an alternative power to rule – therefore as an alternative Kingdom.  That, in itself is an alignment with the spirit of anti-Christ.  We shall return to this aspect.

A grand example to us all 

Not only this, but as a Nation – I mean the current British Isles – we have a Monarch, who achieves her 90th birthday on the 21st of this month, who recognises, and serves, our God as her King, and recommends  the Christian Gospel.  For instance, in her Coronation vows, the Queen requested Gods help to make good her vow to the Nation – which is ‘to be devoted to our service’ – and requested Him’ to bless us all’.  At this same Coronation she received the Bible, given to her at that time as  “The most valuable thing that this world affords”.  Later, the Queen in her message to the Nation in 2008 expressed, in speaking of Jesus of Nazareth (there is no disputing who she speaks of), that “so many of us are able to draw inspiration from His message, and to find in Him a source of strength and courage”.

Then in her message of 2012, when speaking to us, the Queen quoted from the carol  “In the bleak mid winter” these words  “What can I give him, poor as I am?  If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man I would do my part. Yet, what I can I give him? – give my heart”.  It is clear the Queen understands to love and follow Christ is a matter of the heart and not of words only.

All these things are imbedded in our Constitutional Monarchy, and have been for centuries the basis of our Governmental authority. Yet we find no such thing in the EU Constitution.  Are we really wanting to give up such a Godly heritage?  If so we will find a quickening decline into open rebellion against God, with pretty dire spiritual, and natural consequences.  As if we are not in considerable trouble with our present spiritual state already!

Choose the better path

No, it is time to stand up and be counted – and be clear about it.  We need to leave the EU. It may be the only opportunity we get before the whole thing descends into more and more chaos.  It’s central Parliament is as we know held in Brussels, the Capital of Belgium, which itself became locked in confusion for over one year and seven months as it tried to put together a Coalition after their last Election.  What an example from the EU’s present Capital City!  We can see what happened here:-

‘Following the Belgian general election held on 13 June 2010, a process of cabinet formation started in Belgium. The election produced a very fragmented political landscape, with 11 parties elected to the Chamber of Representatives, none of which won more than 20% of the seats. The separatist New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), the largest party in Flanders and the country as a whole, controls 27 of 150 seats in the lower chamber. The Francophone Socialist Party (PS), the largest in Wallonia, controls 26 seats. Cabinet negotiations continued for a long time. On 1 June 2011, Belgium matched the record for time taken to form a new democratic government after an election, at 353 days, held until then by Cambodia in 2003–2004.[1] On 11 October 2011, the final agreement for institutional reform was presented to the media. A government coalition was named on 5 December 2011 and sworn in after a total of 541 days of negotiations and formation on 6 December 2011,[2] and 589 days without an elected government [3] with Elio Di Rupo named Prime Minister of the Di Rupo I Government.’  (The bold letters are mine – DC – for emphasis. Otherwise all above as quote from Wikipedia here) :-

Can we really ignore what confusion and ineptness, as a Governmental example, we have from the very seat of this unwieldy Organisation?  We may do so at our peril.  Could their malaise over the Jihadists living in areas of Brussels be connected to this lack of Government?  At least they do not have to vote again till 2019 though!

However, in finding out how Belgium got its name, we discover its ancient roots are linked with the worship of Bel, and Belenus, the Babylonian and Celtic sun gods, indicating  ‘lord and master’, known otherwise as Baal also! Conspiracy of links?   No, clear demonic overlay.  We have pointed out before also the Statue of the Woman riding on the Bull shown outside the European Buildings there.  Apocalyptic imagery indeed.

Another EU Parliament?

Of course, the other Parliament in the EU is in Strasbourg.  Built there at a cost to Member Countries of the EU of some 500 million Euros – let alone the secondary buildings! – and designed to represent the unfinished Tower of Babel – which itself means “confusion”  – (The people who built this original Tower attempted to enter spiritual realms beyond this earth to gain power to operate totally independently of God, so were scattered by the Lord through confusion their languages) – It is active for just 4 days a month, when papers, personnel, security, MEP’s, the whole shebang – decamps from Brussels to hold Parliament there, and then back! 

The strap-line to Sunday Telegraph’s Chief Reporter Robert Mendick’s report The Farce of the EU Travelling Circus published on 11 January 2014 reads.:

‘The full cost of the travelling circus that sees MEPs decamp once a month from Brussels to Strasbourg can be disclosed. And even though MEPs have voted to scrap a second parliament, the French government has the power to block any such move.’

strasbourg_2788207b

Photo credit: ALAMY

What of us?

Are we any better though?  It’s not really a point of ‘being better’, is it?  Surely, in the face of such control – and increasingly so with regard to our Laws, our Finances, our Business relationships, as well as our spiritual alignments – we need the ability to make our own decisions, choose our own path, to walk as much as is possible with as many Countries as possible, but not to be controlled, manipulated or intimidated by them.  We have ‘sleep walked’ into this mess.  We have been  passive for too long.  Are we brave enough to start to step out of it?

Are we, as Christians, at last going to express what we really feel and know in our inner beings about this matter? We have a choice.  In this life choice is one of the most valuable things we have.  It is directly linked to freedom. We can take a lead.  Too many live under despotic regimes where they have none.  Let’s own some backbone.  I wanted to say have some ‘steel’ in us, but that’s another problem at the moment too! – and not unconnected either!  As has been said “it only takes good men (and women) to do nothing for evil to triumph”.

Voice of believers

But, here are also some things from believers, the one who we know well, and trust her spiritual insights; the other, though a total stranger, sounds like she has bothered to pray about these matters for nigh on 30 years.  That’s good enough for me.  Firstly, from her :-

“In my quiet time I was led to Matthew 16:19 where it talks about binding and loosing. I confess I didn’t fully understand the principle and asked the Lord for clarification. I began to think of a vision I had way back in ’87 of scissors cutting through the English Channel. The Lord told me I was to pray that we are to cut off from Europe.  I asked why not a sword? “You got yourselves into this mess, you are going to have to pray yourselves out. Every time you pray according to my will I will cut…cut.” The vision then changed to a Britain as a battleship tied by her stern to Europe with an enormous rope; I then saw little fiery darts hitting and cutting into the rope, these I understood to be the prayers of the saints. As I watched the rope broke and the battleship slowly turned to face Europe, and the covers came off her guns; signifying this was a spiritual as well as a physical battle.”

Some weeks later a Pastor’s wife rang to say she had the same vision and what did it mean? I explained, and then we discovered that women all over the country were having the same vision.

“29 years later we are on the threshold of the rope breaking in the coming Referendum as we seek to leave the EU. So what has this to do with binding and loosing in Matt 16:19?  I wrote down the word ‘Europe’ and immediately saw the word EuROPE, the rope that binds us to the EU…..”

Then again, earlier this year, in response to my item called  ‘Britain and the EU’, Sue commented :-

“Some years back when I was praying  for Europe one Tuesday afternoon, the Lord gave me an action picture of the map of Europe.  I saw the UK right at the heart of Europe, then a big hand came and grabbed the whole nation, wrenched it out of Europe and put it back in its place, which is geographically where it is on maps.  Then Europe imploded on itself, as if it was in tatters.”

A Second Chance

So, some 41 years on from our last opportunity to express our personal conviction on this matter, we have this chance to change our course.  Mind you, it was not the same question then we answered.  At that stage it was whether we wanted to be a part of a free trading Europe, or not.  But, we were not told the truth, which Mr Heath admitted to.  Now that it is clear what it is all about, and with increasing loss of National Sovereignty, we can make a wiser decision. As one happy campaigner said today, after Holland said “No” to greater trading ties with Ukraine, “what we want is cooperation between European nation States, without all the superstructure we have at present”.

Neither did our current Government expect to have to grant a Referendum, since although it was a main promise if they won the Election, no one, the Conservatives included, other politicians or forecasters, expected an outright majority for them!  They certainly didn’t!   But now they had to keep their promise, otherwise there would have been uproar in the Conservative Party.  The Referendum Act in Parliament, some 7 months later, was passed into Law.  So, it was a ‘set up’!  And who did that?   I suspect our ALL KNOWING GOD did!

A Higher Purpose

But, let’s not waste this opportunity, and so gather to pray, in two’s and few’s, and many too, not only about this, but for the real purpose of separating  from the EU – which is to head these Nations back to God.  (Many will be doing so on St George’s Day 23rd April, also Passover.  George, a Christian in Diocletian’s Roman army in 303 AD, who refused to deny his faith, became a martyr).  Leaving the EU is just a big step to choosing a better path for that.  We are not above any other peoples, but we can choose to be blessed, and be a blessing to others, to fulfil the long-established, un-rescinded call of God to spread His name around the world, by being an example among the Nations to His faithfulness, His Gospel, and His Kingdom, through, and from these Nations.  “The gifts and callings of God are without repentance”.  They are there for picking up again – and He wants us to.

That has to be our goal, otherwise we become lost in the political and economic tangles of one issue alone, then, only to find his purposes still exist for us, whatever the result on the day – it’s just that one pathway will be less severe as a journey to that end, than the other.

Dave Chapman 7th April 2016

Footnotes:

  1. After much public protestation – by believers and the public in UK and USA, over the raising of a Baal Arch in London and New York, we understand New York cancelled theirs, and the one raised in London was only the Roman Arch at the front of their Colonnade and Market.  Voice for Justice says, “We are being contacted by people saying they have heard interviews on LBC radio reporting that the Triumphal Arch today being erected in Trafalgar Square is part of the Temple of Bel/Baal, and asking what is going on.  In particular, they are asking if we have been misled. The answer to this, we believe, is no.   It is our understanding that the Roman Triumphal Arch was not part of the Temple of Bel/Baal but was an entirely separate structure standing at the end of a colonnade that began in the market place and led up to the Temple. Current misreporting appears to reflect the general confusion surrounding reconstruction of the arch, but may also mirror continued attempts to claw back victory.   Either reason serves to demonstrate the continued need for vigilance and prayer.”  [Thanks for this Dave; latest from VFJuk may be read in ‘Victory’.]
  2. Interesting to note above reference to pagan significance of 1st May, which is also celebrated by Communism and Socialism as the workers’ public holiday. This year however, we can see the hand of the Lord in exposing the outrageous anti-Semitism buried deeply within the Labour Party. This necessitated its leader Jeremy Corbyn’s eventual denunciation of all racialism in his public Mayday speech (report here) .
  3. Dave’s calls for us to “Stand!” speaks to me about the meaning of an open vision I had in 2004 of a map of Britain. As the fabric of society is rotten I saw a great tear appear from which emerged a huge long rock, in the same location as the Pennines – I understood this means the Lord will restore our strong, spiritual backbone when we stand upon Him, The Rock –  see Comments upon the collapse of Society.

UK/EU in/out #2 cont’d – significant spiritual signs

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Continuing Neil Mackereth’s Discussion Paper ‘Stay or Leave?‘ with flagged annexures. Your attention is also drawn to the editor’s Footnote.

FLAG A

1. Tower of Babel – EU HQ Strasbourg

Apart from signposting the pitfalls of pride and idolatry, what significance does the Tower of Babel have today?

It may shock you to learn that the European Union Parliament building in Strasbourg is modeled on the unfinished Tower of Babel, as depicted in a painting by Brueghel (see poster image below). Here is a photograph of the EU Parliament building in Strasbourg, and below is an architectural model of the building:

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Louise-Weiss-Building-1

Now take a look at the picture below:

tower-painting-poster

The picture on the right was an early EU poster which, after considerable protest, was dropped. But the picture had done the damage. It had divulged the secret of the inspiration for the design of the EU building. There seems little doubt that the EU parliament building was modeled on Breughel’s painting of the Tower of Babel (seen on the left).

More controversial are suggestions that the inverted star symbols represent satanic inverted pentagrams.

Doesn’t it seem strange that anyone would choose to model the EU Parliament building on a tower built in defiance of God? Is it deliberate, coincidental, or a sign – a sign not only of the re-emergence of Babylon on the world stage but a sign also of the End Times?

FLAG B

2. A Woman Rides the Beast

Europa-Statue-EU-HQ-Brussels

The first statue above is in front of the EU parliament building in Strasburg and the second below is in front of the Winston Churchill building, also in Strasburg.:

Europa-Statue-W-Churchill-Bldg
Is there some prophetic significance in the name Europe, its origins, and/or the woman riding the beast? The mythology is that “Europa” was a Phoenician noblewoman who was seduced by Zeus who was disguised as a bull. He carried her off to Crete and raped her. Europa subsequently became queen of Crete.

‘Europa seated on a bull’ has been a motif in European art since Greco-Roman times, and in the eighth century Europa gained ecclesiastical usage under Charlemagne. Today, Europe is called Europa in most Germanic languages.

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The link that is made by some is with the Woman and beast references in Revelation 17 and 18. She is referred to in Revelation as Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abomination of the earth (Rev 17.5). There is much debate and conjecture on the metaphors and symbolism in these chapters. Suffice it to say, we are advised to have nothing to do with her.

FLAG C

3. Pergamum Altar – Berlin

pergamon1

Pergamum was one of the cities in Asia Minor (modern Turkey) where Roman influence can be most clearly seen. Situated on a hill there was an altar to Zeus where historians and archaeologists now believe the Roman Emperor was worshipped by the citizens of the city. Every year, on the Emperor’s birthday, the Caesar of the day was adored by people throughout his Empire who addressed him as ‘son of god’, ‘saviour of the world’, and ‘lord.’

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus dictates a letter to the Apostle John, which includes the line:

“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” (Rev 2.13)
The throne mentioned here can only refer to one thing – the temple-like structure which is known as the Pergamum Altar, built around 200BC. This temple is also mentioned by the Roman historian Tacitus (56-117AD) in his Annals, and in Plutarch’s (45-120 AD) Life of Caesar. The mound on which it was situated is still visible today.

From what John sees and hears it seems that from the Ascended Christ’s perspective Pergamum is the location in Asia Minor where it can be safely said that “Satan has his throne” and where “Satan lives.”

Let’s now fast forward nearly 2000 years. In 1878 the German engineer and archaeologist Carl Humann started excavating the Pergamum Altar. In 1902 Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered that the whole structure, including the Gigantomachy Frieze, be transported to Berlin. The 113 metre sculptured frieze around the base of the altar depicts the struggle between the gods and the giants in Greek mythology. The altar was reconstructed, first in the Kaiser Freidrich Museum and subsequently moved to the specially built Pergamon Museum, on Museum Island. Kaiser Wilhelm II claimed this was the greatest achievement of his reign.

In 1933, Hitler was elected Chancellor of Germany and in 1934 he ordered the building of a Tribune at Zeppelin Field in Nuremberg. The architect, Albert Speer, is said to have used the Pergamum Altar as a model for the much larger scale “Zeppelintribune”. It took three years to build and it was from a podium at the centre of this vast edifice that Hitler took the salute during the Nazi rallies in Nuremberg.

[See Footnote by editor RB]

FLAG D

4. Ishtar Gate – Berlin

Ishtar_Gate_at_Berlin_Museum

The Ishtar Gate and Processional Way were built by Nebuchadnezzar II in c 575 BC. They formed the main and ceremonial entry route to the inner city of Babylon (there were seven lesser gates). It was dedicated to Ishtar, revered goddess of fertility, love, war and sex. Some scholars believe that, just as the Babylonian military and intellectual influence spread across the world, so too did their religion.

There is speculation that the different names, Eostra or Ostara (a Germanic pagan goddess) and Easter, may originate from Ishtar. The Benedictine monk Saint Bede chronicled that Easter took its name from “Eostre”, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. The Romans, in attempts at unity, were known to have combined festivals, their names and practices, in order to appease differing religious and pagan beliefs. If Easter is derived from Ishtar, that might make many of us think about the pagan origins of a major Christian festival.

BabylonReconstruction

The Ishtar Gate and Processional Way (an artists’ impression is shown above) were excavated by Robert Koldewey between 1899 and 1914. Its reconstruction in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin was completed in 1930, though some parts are so huge they are held in store.

There is a mass of information on the Internet about the gate, and a plethora of opinion, in which there is a considerable mixing of fact and fiction, myth, scientific study and archaeological findings. All this makes objective analysis very difficult. However, there are mythological references to the goddess Ishtar visiting hell and to the Ishtar Gate being the very entrance to hell. The depiction of 337 snake god images on the gate may have significance in Hebrew numerology, as the number 337 is said to represent hell.

You may feel that this connection and the Ishtar symbolism generally are overplayed. You may regard it all as just plain weird. Or you may come to the conclusion that this is an example of truth being stranger than fiction. Whatever your view, there is strong evidence to support the contention that the EU Parliament building is modelled on the Tower of Babel. Furthermore, there is no doubt that the Pergamon Altar and the Ishtar Gate stand in Berlin.

FLAG E

5. Shiva – CERN Geneva

[CERN Statue Unveiled – official CERN link replaces photo: RB]

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, straddles the Swiss French border. Strictly speaking CERN is not an EU research project but rather a European lead cooperative scientific research venture. The 12 founding states, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia, established CERN in 1954. The organization was subsequently joined by Austria (1959), Spain (1961-1969, re-joined 1983), Portugal (1985), Finland (1991), Poland (1991), Czechoslovak Republic (1992), Hungary (1992), Bulgaria (1999) and Israel (2014). The Czech Republic and Slovak Republic re-joined CERN after their mutual independence in 1993. Yugoslavia left in 1961. Today CERN has 21 member states.

CERN came to public attention when scientists using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) identified the elusive Higgs Boson particle in 2013. There has been growing concern about the work that CERN does, especially from those who believe the scientists are “playing God.” CERN has tried to allay the disquiet by stating that the Large Haldron Collider (LHC) experiments are not trying to “open a door to another dimension.”

CERN recently explained that the statue of the Hindu god Shiva, a complex deity sometimes termed “The Destroyer”, in front of its Geneva HQ (shown here), was a gift from the Indian government. India is one of CERN’s “observer states” along with Russia, Japan and the US.

There is a wealth of information and countless “conspiracy theories” available on the internet – treat with caution.

FLAG F

6. Babylon

The story of Babylon is interwoven in the timeline of Scripture. We have already looked at some strange and disturbing symbolism on the global stage today. Here I want to add some historical depth to FLAG A and FLAG B

Babylon is first mentioned in Genesis 10, a chapter that is sometimes referred to as “the table of nations” because it lists the countries founded by the descendants of Noah, after the flood.

Noah’s great grandson Nimrod, “a mighty warrior on the earth”, established a kingdom in Shinar that included Babylon (synonymous with Babel) as one of its centres. Shinar is thought to have been an area between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates in what is now Iraq, formerly Mesopotamia. Babylon was on the Euphrates, located about 55 miles south of modern-day Baghdad.

The first event of note concerning Babylon, recorded in Genesis 11, is the building of the Tower of Babel, which most scholars agree was a ziggurat, a many tiered structure with ramps leading upwards from each level to the next.

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Tower of Babel by Pieter Brueghel, painted in 1563

It seems that the people of Babylon were building the tower as a symbol of their own greatness. It was a statement of identity, self-worth and pride: it was not built to honour God.

The Bible records that God stopped the building, the builders were dispersed and the common and only language spoken by the world’s population became many languages.

Genesis 11 is foundational in establishing Babylon as a picture of a city of rebellion against God. From then on, references in the Bible indicate that Babylon is symbolic of sin, depravity, and defiance (e.g.1 Peter 5:13; Revelation 17.5).

Perhaps no one expressed the origins of Babylon more eloquently than Josephus, a Jewish historian in the first century (an exact contemporary with some of the New Testament authors). He describes the extraordinary pride of the ruler called Nimrod who inspired the people of his city to build something that clearly sought to dethrone God:

‘Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man, and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as if it were through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power… Now the multitude were very ready to follow the determination of Nimrod and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree negligent about the work: and, by reason of the multitude of hands employed in it, it grew very high, sooner than any one could expect; but the thickness of it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of burnt brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen that it might not be liable to admit water. When God saw that they acted so madly, he did not resolve to destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the former sinners [in the Flood]; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them diverse languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages, they should not be able to understand one another. The place wherein they built the tower is now called Babylon, because of the confusion of that language which they readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the word Babel, confusion.’
(From The Antiquities of the Jews by the Jewish-Roman historian Josephus, c AD 94).

Coming back to the possibility EU being the new Babylon: why is the Europa symbol (a woman on a beast) so widespread? Is it merely symbolising Europe or is there some other prophetic significance?

“There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names ….” (Rev 17.3)

Most theologians agree that this prophecy refers to an end times world order where the woman symbolises an ‘ecclesiastical Babylon’ and the beast symbolises a ‘political and commercial (economic) Babylon’. Revelation 17 describes the woman as ‘Babylon the Great’ whilst Revelation 18 describes the fall of commercial or economic Babylon. In simplistic terms, a corrupt apostate church rides (and therefore by implication, controls) a corrupt and brutal political and economic system. If Europa (Europe) really is moving towards a fulfilment of this prophecy then we can expect to see a world political system and a world economic system developing the EU.

FLAG G

7. What Does Scripture Say About Alliances

Peter Horrobin, founder-director of Ellel Ministries International, posted his ‘Thoughts on the coming referendum on membership of the European Union’ on his blog of 24 March 2016 under the title ‘In or Out?’ 

[NB: Neil copied the full blog as Flag ‘G’ to his paper but here it’s abridged. To read full original version click/tap its above, highlit title.]

After a brief introduction to the matter Peter writes, ‘As I meditated on the situation and prayed about how I should vote, God turned my thoughts to the story of King Jehoshaphat, as it is told in Chapters 17-20 of 2 Chronicles….

He’s drawn to the following conclusion:

‘After Jehoshaphat realised what he had done through his marital, political and military relationship with Ahab, God gave him an opportunity to repent and change direction once more. He took it and the subsequent years were the most prosperous and God-protected of his entire reign. In some ways I now see this coming referendum as being like an opportunity for the whole nation to repent of the decision it made in 1975, in ignorance of what membership of the EU would mean.

‘But now we know what it has meant and what it will mean, and we have a one-time opportunity to choose whether or not we are going to remain in alliance with a type of Ahab or Ahaziah, through which we lose both our sovereignty and the potential to be a God inspired nation. Or, we can choose to take back into our own hands the future destiny of our government, our laws and our finances.

‘You may say that it won’t make any difference, for our own government has not shown any desire to return to our spiritual foundations, an opinion with which I, sadly, have to agree. But the difference is this: with the UK inside Europe, if leaders were to rise up in the future with the intent of changing things, to bring the UK more in line with God’s laws, they would have no legal authority to change anything – because everything would be subservient to our masters in Brussels. Even if God were to raise up a modern-day ‘Joseph’, ‘Daniel’ or a repentant ‘Jehoshaphat’, inside the EU they would be impotent.

‘But, released from the shackles of what I now see as an ungodly alliance, who knows what God could still do in and through this nation?

‘I do not believe that God has forgotten our history, or the blood of the Christian martyrs who have laid down their lives and I would agree with the implication of what Archbishop William Temple said during the second world war – that God still has a purpose for this nation in the times that are yet to come before Jesus returns.

‘There are those who are saying that for the economic benefit of the nation and our workers we need to remain within the trading community that is the EU. However, let us not forget the painful lesson that Jehoshaphat learned the hard way – that trading alliances with the wrong partners will not be a source of blessing.

‘So, for deeply spiritual reasons – reasons that you will not see talked about in the Newspapers, or hear about on TV, I have come to the conclusion that it is time for the UK to cut itself free from alliances which undermine our sovereignty and limit our capacity to make our own laws. On the 23rd of June I will be voting to leave the EU – but I’m already praying for those hidden ‘Jehoshaphats’, ‘Daniels’ and ‘Josephs’ to come to the fore of public life, and start steering our nation back to the godly roots from which it has currently wandered so far.’

FLAG ‘C’ FOOTNOTE by RB:

Joel Richardson makes this note in his blog Joel’s Trumpet about that altar of Zeus:

dnc10

‘As an aside, while many saw it as a deeply ominous sign, I personally found it more humorous that when President Obama made his initial acceptance speech in 2008 for the DNC presidential nomination, it was in a nearly perfect replica of what Jesus referred to as “the throne of Satan.” Needless to say many leftist bloggers and news outlets went crazy when I pointed this out.’

Even so, perhaps this really is an omen in view of Obama’s supportive remarks during his state visit this April 2016 on behalf of the UK government’s propaganda for remaining in the EU.

UK/EU in/out #2 – Stay or leave?

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Published by kind permission of the author, who says, “Over recent weeks I have felt a growing pressure to put pen to paper (or finger to keyboard to be more accurate) on the vexed question of how to vote in the EU referendum. I have drafted a military-style brief, using a format learned long ago!”:

EUROPEAN UNION (EU) MEMBERSHIP REFERENDUM

STAY OR LEAVE?

A Discussion Paper by Neil Mackereth, 13 April (updated 26 April) 2016

Introduction

There are many aspects to the debate on whether the United Kingdom should remain in or leave the EU. Notwithstanding the many opinions, nuances and uncertainties, the main discussion points can be grouped into three broad categories:

  1. The economic (markets, trading relationships, self-interest, fear);
  2. The political (power, right to govern, security, law-making, influence);
  3. The spiritual (God’s will, plan, apostolic and prophetic guidance).

The most important is the most ignored!

I see reports that the church should not be involved/take a stance/make recommendations on whether we should vote to stay or to leave the EU. I question that – surely the opposite is true. Wouldn’t it be more fitting if those charged with shepherding the flock and encouraging our spiritual well-being, gave prayerful guidance on this difficult question?

Is God interested in Britain and its future?

If He is, has he given us any biblical guidance on alliances, or signs and insights that might help us in the decision-making process?

As you might imagine, these are not the sort of questions I would ask if I didn’t believe that God is interested in our future and that God has given us signs and indicators to help us make wise choices. In what follows I focus on the spiritual category. It could be argued that living by faith means letting God choose the best way forward, rather than claiming our “rights” and focusing on our own welfare. Thus obedience to God transforms anything we do in the natural (politics, economics, social interaction or whatever) into the spiritual.

What is God saying about EU membership? In my view the indicators are unequivocal and are summed up in 2 Corinthians 6:17: “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord” (see also Revelation 18:1-4).

There are 5 “signs” and 2 points for consideration that I want to look at:

Signs and Considerations of Spiritual Significance in the EU Membership Debate .

  1. The EU Parliament Building, Strasbourg, modeled on Tower of Babel – FLAG ‘A’
  2. A Woman Rides the Beast statue, Council of Europe, Brussels – FLAG ‘B’
  3. The Pergamum Altar (Satan’s throne) in Berlin – FLAG ‘C’
  4. The Ishtar Gate (gateway to Hell) in Berlin – FLAG ‘D’
  5. Shiva statue (Hindu god of destruction) at CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research) – FLAG ‘E’
  6. Is Europe the new Babylon? – FLAG ‘F’
  7. What does Scripture say about alliances? (Peter Horrobin article) – FLAG ‘G’

Recognising that you may not have the time or the inclination to look at these signs and considerations in full, I have attached relevant information, as Annexures or ‘FLAGs’ [in blog’s next post]. Even if you don’t have time to read the detail, each picture is worth a thousand words!

Executive Summary

There can be little doubt that the EU Parliament building is modeled on the Tower of Babel, as depicted in a painting by Brueghel, FLAG A, and that the Woman Rides the Beast image is both a statue and a widely used symbol in pictures and on EU currency, FLAG B.

Most would agree that Germany is the “power house” of Europe and has significant influence in the EU decision-making process. Assuming that God does give us signs, it is startling to note that the Pergamum Altar, also referred to in the Bible as Satan’s throne, and the Ishtar Gate, said to be the gateway to Hell, are both in Berlin, see FLAG C and FLAG D respectively.

The statue of the Hindu god Shiva (The Destroyer) is a strange choice to have in front of the CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) building in Geneva, FLAG E.

If asked whether the surprising symbolism used in the EU and at CERN has significance in influencing how we should vote, my counter question would be “what further signs would we need to be convinced that remaining in the EU is not our best option?” I find these signs astonishing and compelling. The Bible repeatedly advises us about having “eyes to see and ears to hear” and about being held accountable for not recognising the signs of the times.

If the EU is the new Babylon, FLAG F, we can expect to see systems developing that aim to establish worldwide economic and political controls: a new world order moving towards totalitarian government. We might also wish to note the Bible’s emphatic advice to have nothing to do with Babylon, as depicted as the woman on the beast in Revelation 17 and 18, and as stated in Isaiah 48.20

Under the heading “What does Scripture say about alliances” I have taken the liberty of quoting in full an article written by Peter Horrobin, founder of Ellel Ministries, at FLAG G. [RB: extracts only for blog but link to original blog provided.]

Sadly, I can guarantee that over the coming weeks we will hear a great deal about economic issues, trading relationships, financial stability, security, border controls, immigration, political influence, special relationships, the right to govern and so on, and so on. It is very unlikely that any senior politician will mention the spiritual implications or even suggest that prayer might be appropriate in seeking the best way forward for our nation.

Finally, what the government’s controversial “vote to stay” leaflet makes clear is that we are not really committed to the EU dream. We are a fringe member both in geographical terms and in our hearts and minds.

I will be voting for Britain to leave the EU [as will editor RB].

Continue reading the appended FLAGS A-G >>

SignsNOTE: Neil, retired Brigadier with background in communications and administration, is the author of SIGNS, The Significance of Biblical Prophecy. I first met Neil at his excellent extensive course on this topic at Winchester Vineyard Church, the outcome of which is his conversational introduction to what the Bible teaches about the climax of history and the end of the world, as we know it. For more information and my recommendation see this post, or click image for fuller details and to purchase.

UK/EU in/out #1: Referendum and Remnant’s opportunity

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First published on 22nd April and re-posted with the kind permission of the managing editor of ProphecyTodayUK.(click title for original):

THE REFERENDUM: AN EXERCISE IN BULLYING by Dr Clifford Hill

The Government’s propaganda may put people off, or it may deceive them – just as the nation was deceived in the 1975 EU Referendum.

C Hill 163835British people dislike bullies. We have a strong sense of fair play and on big issues we like to weigh the evidence and make up our own minds. We are an island people and we value our independence. We do not like being bullied. This is why the huge pressure being put upon the electorate by the Government and their overseas friends, international leaders, big business corporations and bankers may prove to be counter-productive.

The Government promised to help the undecided by publishing the facts. Instead, they have spent £9 million on a blatant piece of propaganda trying to persuade us to stay in the European Union. The front page title of the booklet gives the game away. It says nothing about a presentation of the facts. Its title is “Why the Government believes that voting to remain in the European Union is the best decision for the UK”. It then states “The UK has secured a special status in the reformed EU”.

We should surely be entitled to ask, what ‘special status’? And in what way is the EU ‘reformed’? Are the British people once again being deceived by lies from powerful politicians – as we were 40 years ago?

More Deception?

What is happening today looks very similar to how we were tricked into entered the European Union. Ted Heath, the Prime Minister who did the original deal in 1973, readily admitted before he died that he had lied to Parliament and to the British people because he knew that we were not simply joining a trading group but that the intention was always to work towards the formation of a United States of Europe in which we would all lose our sovereign identity.1

This fact was deliberately kept hidden from the British public when we voted at the 1975 referendum on whether or not we should stay in the ‘European Economic Community’ (‘Common Market’) as it was then described. In those days it was largely a trading group with nine member states, whereas today the EU is a very different beast, with 28 members in a tightly regulated organisation bound by treaties, such as Maastricht and Lisbon, and controlled by an unelected Commission backed by an enormous bureaucracy, with institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice exercising enormous power over our own parliament and legal courts.

When the Maastricht Treaty was being negotiated there were attempts by churches to get some reference to the Judaeo-Christian heritage of Europe but this was strongly resisted by secular humanists, who prevailed.2 The resultant European Union is not only deliberately a godless – in fact, God-denying – organisation, but it is also systemically corrupt, as demonstrated by the fact that it has not been able to persuade the auditors to endorse its accounts for at least the past five years.3 In this country, if a company were in that situation they would not only be prosecuted but they would not be allowed to continue in business.

Miracles in the Past

So how should Christians decide on such an important issue? We surely have to recognise the moral and spiritual battle for the soul of Britain that is involved in the present referendum debate. Christians need to know what God is saying to us, not least by looking at the recent history of Britain in a biblical context. This enables us to understand the purposes of God and what he requires of a nation with a strong Judaeo-Christian heritage such as Britain’s.

There are still many people in the older generation who remember that God worked a miracle at Dunkirk in 1940, saving our army from annihilation and giving us victory in the Battle of Britain in the skies. Even Churchill acknowledged in Parliament that it Dunkirk was a “miracle of deliverance”.4 Those were days when the whole nation turned to prayer.

It was also at a time of national prayer that Hitler took the irrational decision not to invade Britain. It is now recognised that if the German invasion had taken place in 1940 nothing could have stopped them conquering Britain. Dad’s Army would no doubt have fought valiantly but German Panzer tanks would have been rolling down Whitehall within days.

When a nation puts its destiny in the hands of God it can expect miracles to happen. It has happened in the past and it can happen again today – if there is a sufficiently strong believing remnant in the country.

Opportunity for the Remnant

Of course we know that as a nation we have spurned our spiritual heritage: we have passed many ungodly laws and we no longer deserve to be called a Christian nation. But there is undoubtedly a strong remnant of believers in the older generation and there are many indications of young people coming to faith in Jesus – possibly in reaction to the mess their unbelieving parents have made of the nation. It is the middle generation who are missing in many churches up and down the country today.

Believing Christians know that as a nation we deserve judgement but we also know the love and mercy of God who has given a solemn promise, “If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned” (Jer 18:7).

The Referendum debate is bringing believing Christians to prayer throughout the country. Many prayer meetings are organised for this weekend, St George’s Day, 23 April, and many more are planned between now and 23 June. These prayer meetings give us a chance to seek the Lord and know what he is saying to the nation so that we can pray in line with God’s will and vote accordingly.

Word on the EU, 2015

We have already nailed our colours to the mast in this magazine but we know many Christians who are still undecided. We respect their integrity and we therefore encourage them to join other Christians in prayer where they can spend time spreading the whole issue before the Lord who will surely answer in clarity.

Alongside this article we are printing a prophecy from David Noakes that has already been widely circulated. I was with him when he received this prophecy towards the end of last year. David and I have been close friends and colleagues since the early days of the old printed magazine, Prophecy Today.

We have shared a platform at hundreds of meetings over the years and I have heard him prophesy many times, but I have never heard him bring a word that is as directional as this. In publishing it today, please understand that we are not saying that this is a direct word from the Lord. We offer it in love and humility to our fellow believers for weighing and testing, and we offer it as part of the process of seeking the word of the Lord for Britain today.

References

  1. Eg. Quote from PRO/FCO 30/789, Sub-committee of official committee on monetary aspects of UK entry to EEC, 1970. The Heath Government’s positive response: PRO/CAB 164/771, Informal talks with the European Commission and the exchange of views with member countries during the negotiation period, 1970.
  2. Eg. Anderson, MJ. Ungodly Ways: The Dark Side of the European Union. CRISIS Magazine, 1 June 2003.
  3. Waterfield, B and Dominiczak, P. EU auditors refuse to sign off more than £100billion of its own spending. The Telegraph, 4 November 2014.
  4. Speech to the House of Commons, 4 June 1940. Transcript available via The Churchill Society.

EU Referendum Deception – 1975 and now!

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Courtesy of Telegraph_euroskepticizam

The European Union is of serious concern for those interested in Bible prophecy. Some theologians and commentators consider it may be the disturbing beast OT prophet Daniel saw in a very vivid vision. He was told this “fourth beast shall be a kingdom different from all other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth” (see Daniel 7).

In 1973 the British people were tricked into entering membership of the European Union. The Prime Minister responsible for the original deal, Edward Heath (nicknamed ‘Heath the teeth’ for his smile), readily admitted before he died that he lied (through his teeth!) to Parliament and the people.

Heath knew the EU wasn’t just a trading partnership but that the UK would eventually lose its sovereign identity! The real intention behind The Treaty of Rome’s establishment of a West European trading union has always been to work towards forming a political and financial federation – a United States of Europe.

In reference to that, Revd Dr Clifford Hill writes in ProphecyTodayUK (re-posted here),

“This fact was deliberately kept hidden from the British public when we voted at the 1975 referendum on whether or not we should stay in the ‘European Economic Community’ (‘Common Market’) as it was then described. In those days it was largely a trading group with nine member states, whereas today the EU is a very different beast, with 28 members in a tightly regulated organisation bound by treaties, such as Maastricht and Lisbon, and controlled by an unelected Commission backed by an enormous bureaucracy, with institutions such as the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice exercising enormous power over our own parliament and legal courts.”

And that’s just one reason why I object in principle to the EU – the main one being that it’s a spiritual issue and one all Christians need to be well-aware of in deciding which way to vote in June’s referendum. BUT how many are?

Also, it’s not just that the EU’s accounts haven’t been able to be signed off for several years because of gross irregularities, corruption and contingency slush-funding! Or the never-ending interference with our laws and infringements upon our liberties (eg. free-speech and Christian belief) etc, etc, etc…

Mini-Series on UK/EU

Although not following the debate closely I’ve read several useful articles that are worth bringing to my reader’s attention. Had it not been such a busy month I’d have posted them separately but am now catching up by posting a series of scripturally-related and rhema-prophetical pieces for auto-publication over the next few days.

I trust this will not inundate you but that you’ll find the posts worth mulling over at leisure. This information will also be available for reference via a new hub on the main-menu.

Well-Informed Opinions

Last Monday I read perhaps the most perspicacious insight in Charles Moore: Notebook – Trade Deals Are Red Herrings in the EU Debate. Writing from the perspective of being one of the privileged upper-class of the ruling ‘elite’, he hints at behind-the-scenes motives which may reinforce New World Order conspiracy theories:

‘One of the most important features of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy is that it allows voters to throw out one lot and put another in. This can never happen in the EU system. So the careers of the well-educated, unelected, “civilised” people who run the show are unimpeded by the will of the people. 

‘Perhaps because I come from that class, I agree that a high education is a good thing and accept that societies must have their elites, but I also believe that the British genius has been to create a political system in which the common interest of the whole nation can be represented politically. This is impossible in the EU, where there is a ruling class on the one hand, and a sweaty mob (as the ruling class sees it), on the other. If you like that sort of system, when you contemplate your navel, you will vote to Remain.’

Previous Telegraph editor Charles goes on to recommend “by far the best book setting out all European issues” Why Vote Leave? by Daniel Hannan.

Next, politico-religious blogger ‘Archbishop Cranmer’ notes in Owen Paterson: Cameron has “lost touch” with the Counties and will most likely lose his head.:

Cameron-Charles-I-ii

Credit: Archbishop Cranmer blog

“The further you go from London, the stronger the feeling is,” said former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson, speaking of England’s deep strains of Euroscepticism. “I do get the slight sense it’s a bit like the Civil War when Charles I sadly completely lost touch with what was happening in the counties,” he added, casting David Cameron as the out-of-touch Prime Minister whose inescapable fate is to lose his head, if he hasn’t already done so. There is a battle going on for the soul of Europe, and the British government has turned its back on all true patriots and democrats, just like the English government of the 17th century didn’t lift a finger to help the Protestant cause. You can gag the pulpits from preaching predestination, but you can’t stop the people searching the scriptures.

‘Owen Paterson’s speech was intelligent and thoughtful. As Dr Eamonn Butler summarised for the Adam Smith Institute: “His basic point is that the EU is not the ‘status quo’ but something that is rapidly moving to destinations that are uncertain and dangerous, particularly for the UK; and that being outside is the safer, more stable option.” And in response to a question, we heard a summary exposition of the transcendent Euro-reality:

‘But this is not a Tory Party issue. This really is not a Tory Party issue. This is our one chance the first time since 1975 – and it divides people of all political parties. What we should be grateful to David Cameron for is that he’s given us the opportunity, and we must not blow it. That’s the point I’m making here. If we blow it, we will have this very unsatisfactory, very unclear, new ‘associate status’. We’ll be outvoted in the Parliament, we’ll be outvoted in the Council, and we’ll be under the cosh of the European Court. That is a highly unsatisfactory destination.

‘Highly unsatisfactory, indeed.’ (Continue Cranmer’s blog here and Dr Butler’s informative summary Owen Patterson’s Brilliant Brexit Patter isn’t to be missed.)

If you read nothing else in this debate on the referendum I’d suggest you do check out the above links.