Despite enjoying the full diplomatic support of the world's last super power, the short-lived administration of Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas has fallen. And, once again, Yasser Arafat has prevailed.

As I consider the implications of this event for the so-called "Quartet" and their road map peace plan, I can't help but think of the different course taken by a member of the Quartet, the EU's High Representative Javier Solana. You see, even while Israel and the Bush administration were busy trying to sideline Arafat by supporting Abbas, Solana was still busy showing his continuing support for Arafat.

Now Abbas is gone and Arafat remains. And, once again, Javier Solana has demonstrated his amazing ability to always be able to end up on the side of the winner.

Here's what I think: In the eye's of the Palestinian people, without the approval of Yasser Arafat, Abbas' authority never had legitimacy. You see, in the West a name can always be made with enough money and power. In the Middle East, however, there is power in the name alone. And, evidently, Solana understood this reality better than did Washington.

I'm reminded of what Jesus prayed just before He left his disciples behind on earth and returned to His Father in heaven. He prayed: 

"I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word  ... keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, even as We are" (John 17:6-11 New American Standard Bible).

Once again we're not talking so much about a specific title, but about the authority that comes from the person who bares the title. In this case we're talking about the mighty power and authority of God that comes through the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and is now made available to us here on earth who believe.

You see, in order to provide our needs the God of heaven has given His own name and authority to us. So, when we pray in Jesus' name, God hears us and grants our requests.

But Satan will have his counterfeit name. In fact, I believe this may help us understand the meaning of some of those difficult verses found in the 13th chapter of the book of Revelation. This is the chapter that begins with the rise of the terrible 10-horned beast from the sea, and ends with that mysterious number 666. Here's is some of what is said: 

And he (the False prophet) causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or sell, except that one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name" (Revelation 13:16-17).

Once again the issue isn't a particular title -- it's the authority. In this case, it will be the authority of the Antichrist who will derive his authority from Satan himself. This being the case, the 13th chapter ends by saying:

"Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six" (Revelation 13:18).

What does this all mean? I believe it could mean the Antichrist's authority will come from Satan and will be associated in some way with 666 -- the number of his authority.

In other words, it could mean something like the emergency powers granted to the EU's High Representative under the 10-nation's Assembly Recommendation 666.

Stay tuned!