It appears the Inter-governmental Conference is going in the direction we students of Bible prophecy suspected. According to Radio Free Europe, this new, super EU may have a weak presidency and a strong foreign minister.

This report says:

All member states accept that the current six-month rotation must go. It will be replaced with a system where each of the "section " ministerial councils -- dealing with agriculture, transport or environment, for example -- gets its own rotating "team presidency" (Read about it here.

As you may known, this is not what the larger member states want. They want a longer term, stronger EU presidency within the Council of Ministers -- not an even weaker team presidency such as called for above.

But, never fear. It looks like they're going to get what they want also. It turns out this new team presidency won't apply to the Council of Ministers. Not only that, as it looks now their new foreign minister may become their Council president. The report says:

The one council that is likely to be left outside of the rotational system is the one that brings together the foreign ministers themselves. There is no consensus as to who should chair it. Some consider it a job for the new EU foreign minister.

Why is this of interest? Because, what we're seeing is the birth of what some call a "two-speed" Europe in the important area of defense. And, as I've said in recent commentary, this is what the prophecies appear to describe. This revived Roman Empire will be a divided kingdom -- like iron and clay. But, it will have in it the toughness of iron (Daniel 2:41).

You see, at the heart of this new, super EU we find a core group of 10 European nations seeking to maintain their national powers in the area of defense and foreign policy. They just don't want to risk their security to a community of nations that is beyond their ability to control. So, while part of the EU is falling under a new system of a shared presidency, these core nations are securing for themselves their hour of power.

However, that doesn't mean people aren't concerned. The EUobserver is reporting a Hungarian author by the name of Peter Esterhazy is warning against allowing the creation of a two-speed EU. Evidently, Esterhazy lived under a Communist government and understands the threat of a super EU falling under the control of a small core group (Read about it here). 

But, I don't think even Esterhazy understands the implications of these events fully. You see,
I suspect the stage is now being set for our world's final experience with tyranny. And, it may be brought to us at the hands of this core group now rising to power in Europe. Here's why I say this:

Jesus warned about a 3 1/2 year period He called the "great tribulation" (Matthew 24:21). However, He also said He would keep a certain church that had been faithful from experiencing this terrible period. Jesus said:

Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth (Revelation 3:10).

You see, the hour of testing Jesus was talking about was that 3 1/2 year period. We know this because later in the book of Revelation we read:

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. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful (Revelation 17:12-14).

Is this what we're seeing? Will this two-speed Europe give birth to the fulfillment of these ancient prophecies? Will this be the core's hour of power?

Stay tuned!