In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we read:

And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27 New American Standard Bible).

It is commonly believed the "he" in the above passage is the coming Antichrist. However, when it comes to identifying the "many" with whom the Antichrist will make his seven-year covenant, there doesn't seem to be a consensus. Recent news may change that.

As I've been reporting, Javier Solana's European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) has a seven-year element. And, it is quite literally a covenant with many. It is an agreement between 25 European Union member states and 17 non-member states. In other words, it's a seven-year agreement involving 42 nations. Friends, that's a covenant with many.

For students of prophecy, the primary nation of concern is Israel. That's because Israel is the primary focus of Bible prophecy. And, many believe -- myself included -- that when Israel was reborn as a nation in 1948, we saw the first great warning sign of Christ's imminent return (Revelation chapter 12).

The second sign is the appearing of the seventh head of the dragon; the 10-horned revived Roman Empire. It is commonly held that the seven heads of the dragon in Revelation, Chapter 12, are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome and revived Rome. The Bible tells us one of the dragon's seven heads has a fatal head wound that is healed. It is my view the head wound happened to the sixth head of the dragon -- the old Roman Empire -- when Jesus was crucified. However, Scripture tells us the old Roman Empire will come back, head wound and all (Revelation, chapter 13). This, I believe, is what is meant by the head wound being healed.

So, with the literal rebirth of the nation of Israel and the revived Roman Empire in the form of the European Union, we find the two great signs warning us about the final events of prophecy and the return of Christ. And, within these great signs, we even find the foretold details.

The details include the appearance of a 10-nation alliance in Europe in 1995; the creation of the Office of High Representative (which was filled in 1999 and has a dual connection to the number 666); the association of three nations, the EU's "big three" (which, according to prophecy, must be subdued); and now, a pending seven-year agreement with many.

Jesus said:

But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near (Luke 21:28).

Is your neck hurting yet?