I received an email this morning questioning why my discovery of a document with the number 666 meant anything. And, the person wanted my answer in a brief summary.

Instead of attempting to answer this person in an email, I suggested they either buy my book, or spend time on my site. Here's why: For one thing, without first knowing a person's grasp of Bible prophecy, that question is not that easy to answer. And, for another, recently I've been receiving emails with questions that later I learned were designed to trap me into saying something that could be used against me.

For example, one such encounter recently led to an attack on our discussion board. Among other things, this poster said:

Herb is just another blogger who found 666 somewhere and became a date setter. Out of pride he insults the service of God fearing Bible Scholars who do just as the apostles did and encourage others to have hope because our Lord will return for us. Herb's motto is "look at me". The Apostles motto was "look up".

To be honest, this poster's accusations really hurt. It wasn't that there was any truth to them. It was because they were so false. It hurts to see how there are those who act like they are our brothers or sisters in Christ, and then go and do something like this.

However, after receiving that email this morning, I realize there may be others who are sincere in wanting to know why my finding a document with that number means anything. So, here goes my answer:

Some may think I first stumbled on that document with the number -- Assembly Recommendation 666 -- and then built my end-time scenario around it. Well, unfortunately, the opposite is true. The discovery of Recommendation 666 came last. That's what makes this information I'm trying to get out so compelling.

My discovery of Recommendation 666 was the result following actual, real-time events in Israel and Europe that appeared to be fulfillments of the prophecies -- according to the old dispensational Bible scholars --  since before the start of the Gulf War.

As I record in my book, it all started back in 1991 when I read in the Los Angeles Times that the European leaders were awaking the long dormant Western European Union (WEU) military alliance. And, what caught my attention, it was to be a 10 nation alliance. In other words, the possible 10 horns of Bible prophecy.

When the WEU became 10 nations in January 1995, I began watching for the creation of an Office in the European Union that could accommodate the future Antichrist. This happened in 1999 with the creation of the EU's first High Representative of Common Foreign and Security Policy. The first person to fill this post, Javier Solana, was also made Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and Secretary General of the WEU 10-nation alliance. Then, in July 2000, the command structures of the WEU were moved into the Council and under the EU's High Representative. 

If you know what all the old dispensational Bible scholars taught, you will understand the possible implications of these events. These where the things that were supposed to happen in the rise of the Antichrist. My question was, should I take these events seriously? Or, could these events in Europe, that appear to be fulfillments of prophecy, just be a series of coincidences?

It was while praying and asking myself this question, in December of 2000, that I found the number. The unusual thing was, it was on the very document the EU heads were implementing when these prophetic events occurred. And, today in 2004, we find because of Recommendation 666, a new power center has been created that is taking the place of the EU Presidency.

So, does my reporting these events make me just another blogger who found 666 somewhere and became a date setter? And, do I insult the service of God fearing Bible scholars? 

If only that were the case.