At the start of the current Middle East war, I wrote the following:

Looking at what we know about the facts on the ground in the Middle East and Europe, factoring in what we know about end-time Bible prophecy, we might end up calling this one the 70th Week War. That's because, when the smoke settles from this war -- if it should come -- the stage may be set perfectly for Israel's final seven-year period before Israel's Messiah comes and establishes His long awaited kingdom Full commentary here.

The passages of prophecy that I was thinking about as I wrote the above words were from the O. T. book of Daniel. There we read:

Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary and its end will come with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. 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 9:26-27 New American Standard Bible). 

Some of this prophecy was fulfilled a long time ago. The part about the Messiah being "cut off" is widely believed by Christians to refer to when Jesus was crucified. And, the part about the people of the prince who is to come destroying the city and sanctuary happened exactly as predicted. About 40 years later in 70 AD the Roman general Titus fulfilled the prophecy by destroying Jerusalem and the Jewish Temple. However, it is commonly held the rest of the prophecy has yet to happen -- the part about the Roman prince. This coming prince will evidently make, or confirm, a covenant with many for a period of seven years.

That's why today's news is so chilling. Not only does it look like the peacekeeping/peacemaking force that will be deployed into the current Middle East crisis will be European Read about it here, the place where the decision will be made is, of all places, Rome Read about it here. 

 Not only that, the person who will be making the proposal for European troops in Rome will be the EU's High Representative Javier Solana. Solana, as you may know, appeared among a 10-nation alliance in 1995 -- the same year he successfully negotiated the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace covenant with many nations. And, beginning on January 1, 2007, Solana has a political and financial instrument in place by which to confirm his 1995 covenant with many for a period of seven years.

So, could we actually be witnessing the coming of the Roman prince?

We soon shall see.