European Parliament Calls for Special Conference to Give EU More Powers

European Parliament Calls for Special Conference to Give EU More Powers

What Happened?

Last week, the EU parliament voted to start the process of changing the EU's treaties. This vote forces the all the heads of state and government within the EU to vote on whether or not to actually have a conference for this purpose. As it turns out, the suggested revisions to the EU's founding documents include very significant transfers of power to the European Union.

Political Background

Parliaments vote was in response to the results of the "Conference on the Future of Europe," where randomly selected EU citizens recommended several ways to change the EU for the better. As it turns out, many of their suggestions would involve transferring significant powers to the EU. Such power transfers would require changes to the EU's founding documents.

To appeal to the voice of the people, Parliament called for a "Convention" for this purpose. This has been called a "Constitutional" Convention by Politico Europe.

Yet it seems that not all countries are on board with this idea. Thirteen northern and eastern European countries oppose such a move. Nevertheless, seven western European states are explicitly in favor. EU treaty changes of this kind can only happen through unanimous agreement. Therefore it is unlikely that this Convention will yield a federal government for the entire European Union.

This could lead to a "multi-speed Europe", where only the western European states end up giving up their total sovereignty to the EU. The "multi-speed Europe" has been suggested by French President Emmanuel Macron, among others. This would allow for a core group of EU states to give more powers to the EU, without forcing the hesitant countries to give up their national sovereignty.

Biblical Background

As discussed in another article, the Bible anticipates the rebirth of the Roman Empire immediately prior to the Second Coming of Christ. Theologians call this the revived Roman Empire.

The Antichrist, who is the leader of this end times Roman Empire, will apparently start off in Western Europe. Once he has consolidated power back home, he will then use military force to expand into the Middle East and North Africa.

The European Union has many features of the end-times Roman Empire. As expected, the European Union exists in Western Europe. It was founded at the Treaty of Rome. It makes its own laws, has its own currency, and has its own legislature.

The Roman Empire (past and future) is described as a "beast" in Daniel 7 that has ten horns. These are said to represent ten kings. Revelation 17:12-18 provides more details on the ten kings, and how they give their authority to the Antichrist.

"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast."(Revelation 17:12-13)

This group of ten kings may have already existed, and given their military functions to the European Union. The Western European Union was a separate organization from the European Union, but worked closely with it.  After transferring all its functions to the EU, it closed down in 2011. According to the EU’s foreign office, the Western European Union formed the basis for the EU’s defense structures today.

Yet though the WEU gave its "power and authority" (v. 13) to the EU, the ten did NOT give their "kingdom" (v. 17) or "royal power" (ESV) to the beast. Though verses 12-13 sound a lot like verse 17, they have important differences.

"For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled." (Revelation 17:17)

The WEU countries never gave up their full national sovereignty to the EU. Therefore, the power transfer in verse 13 is not necessarily the same as the transfer in verse 17, despite similar language.

As is frequently the case in prophecy, these two power transfers could be separated by a gap of time which is not immediately obvious upon first glance, but is apparent in retrospect. Therefore, verse 13 may be historical, & verse 17 may be future.

What Could Happen As A Result?

If this is true, the ten Western European Union nations must come back to give their sovereignty to the beast, especially in the military domain. The ten are said to wage "war" (Rev. 17:14) against the Lamb, and they wipe end times Babylon off the map with fire. (Rev. 17-18)

Which brings us back to the EU's treaty change proposal. The European Council must have a majority (14 votes) to launch the Convention. This may barely squeak by, as 13 countries are explicitly against treaty change at the moment.

Interestingly, the 13 countries opposed are all central and eastern European countries. Not a single one of the former Western European Union countries signed the letter against treaty change!

Though a majority is required to launch the Convention, it needs unanimous approval of all 27 countries to pass any treaty changes. Therefore, this Convention will not result in a European federal government for all 27 countries.

Yet there's a way around this. The Western European countries could go it alone and make their own treaty for just themselves. This could easily include UK, since it would be a separate treaty. This treaty could include defense and be a total transfer of national sovereignty for the western nations involved.

I reckon we may see a revival of the Western European Union in the form of a European Defense Union, which will contain all (or primarily) Western European countries. And perhaps they will surrender their sovereignty to the one person who has fulfilled the prophecies about the Antichrist's rise to power.

Come Lord Jesus!

P.S. I am going to try to blog at least once a week from now on. If you want to be emailed each post as they are released, sign up in the box below.

Photo credit: https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/photo/ep-plenary-session-the-call-for-convention-for-revision-of-treaties_20220609_EP-132628A_STP_049