The other occurrences of the number 666 may have been interesting. But, this one makes me angry. Have you ever had the feeling that someone was playing with you? Well, that's how I'm feeling. It seems the city of Rome has posted on their Website a phone number for visitors seeking information. The number is 060606.

If your trying to figure it out, don't. The Bible tells us what's going on -- we're in a spiritual war. At the center of this war is the ancient city of Jerusalem. That's why things got so crazy in the sixties. If you recall, everything changed in 1967. And, that was the year that, after two thousand years, the Jewish people recaptured their Old City and the Temple Mount. You see, what really happened in 1967 was the spiritual war entered into another phase. The international community began seeking ways to return Israel back to her pre-1967 borders.

That's why, for us students of Bible prophecy, this news about Italy becoming a player once again in the EU and international affairs is most intriguing Read about it here. That's especially true because it also has to do with Israel and the Middle East peace process -- in other words, it has to do with the spiritual war.

Perhaps we should consider Italy's motives. The Apostle Paul tells us not to ever forget that our enemy is not flesh and blood -- our enemy is spiritual. Italy must have some practical reasons for her new foreign policy. According to this report Read about it here, Italy's primary motive may be to restore her prestige in the EU. The report says: 

Among many of Italy's European partners, friction with France over who should lead the UN mission is outweighed by admiration for the way that Romano Prodi, prime minister, a former European Commission president, has returned Italy to its role as an inspirer of common European policies.

The report also says:

In the Middle East, Italy is advancing its historically good ties with moderate Arab states.

And it say:

Italy aims to ease tensions with the US over its imminent troop withdrawal from Iraq by helping out in another regional hot spot central to US interests.

This brings us to the motive that I find the most interesting. Evidently, Italy wants to prevent Germany from being given a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The report says:

Italy also wants to block Germany's demand for a permanent UN Security Council seat, a campaign that looks more convincing – or so the Prodi government hopes – if Italy, unlike Germany, takes centre stage in such a dangerous UN military operation.

Why would blocking Germany from acquiring a permanent seat be so important to Italy? Because, if Germany got a permanent seat, the EU3 -- France, the UK and Germany -- would have almost total control over the EU and its foreign policy. The report continues: 

With France and the UK already having permanent council seats, Italy has long feared German membership would consign it indefinitely to the second rank of European powers.

You see, Italy wants the EU to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. And, if that were to happen, guess who would be sitting in that seat -- the EU's High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Update: It looks like a confrontation between the EU3 and Italy be be looming Read about it here. The EUobsever also reports:

The "big three plus Solana" construction used by the EU in the Iran dispute is seen by many experts and diplomats as having produced a rare success story for EU foreign policy. Not only has the EU so far largely spoken with one voice on Iran – as opposed to for example on the Middle East – but the bloc has also taken up a leading international role on the issue, with UN veto powers, the US, Russia and China, allowing Mr Solana to talk to Tehran on their behalf.

Friends, it's all coming together. The spiritual war may soon be entering into its final phase. It's important for us to keep our eyes on the things we know -- the Word of God and the gospel of His Son. That's why that phone number for the city of Rome angered me. The enemy is doing everything in his power to distract us from what's really going on. We're in a spiritual war, it's over Jerusalem, and our side wins -- Jesus is coming soon.

And, I'm not calling Rome.