"...Be He God Or The Devil"

By Dr. David Reagan

European leaders, gathered in Lisbon, Portugal, signed “The Treaty of Lisbon,”which represents an attempt to further strengthen the European Union, increasing its powers as a super-state while diminishing the national sovereignty of its 27 member states.

Unlike the previously proposed constitution which required public approval,this treaty will bypass the public since it must be approved only by the parliament of each member state. The pact aims to create a more effective, centralized foreign policy, stronger central leadership, and more democratic decision-making.

A new post of foreign minister—in all but name only—is being created to give the EU a unified voice in foreign policy. He will speak for the EU at international conferences and at world organizations like the United Nations. The European Parliament, which until now has been primarily a debating society, is being given greater power to modify or reject legislation proposed by the EU Commission. The most important change from a biblical viewpoint is the creation of a supreme leadership post. In the past the EU has been ruled by a committee called the“European Council” which is made up of the heads of government of the member nations. The chairmanship of this committee rotates every six months. The new treaty creates a full-time president of this Council who will be elected by the heads of government for a two-and-one-half year term, renewable once. What the EU has lacked is a strong, centralized executive. The new treaty takes the first step in creating this official by providing for an elected president of the Council.

I have anticipated this development for a long time. I believe this is paving the way for the rise of the Antichrist, whom I believe will take over the EU and serve as its president. I am reminded of a statement made 60 years ago by Paul Henri-Spaak (1899-1972), the former Prime Minister of Belgium, the first Chairman of the General Assembly of the United Nations (1945), and one of the key founders of the movement toward European unity. He said: “We do not want another committee. We have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass in which we are sinking. Send us such a man and, be he God or the devil, we will receive him.” Such a man is on the horizon. We are witnessing the resurrection of the Roman Empire, an End Time event prophesied over 2,500 years ago by the prophet Daniel (2:31-45).