From midnight tonight, it will be possible to travel through 24 European states without having to carry a passport. Nine additional states are due to join the Schengen zone tonight, enabling freedom of travel throughout the European continent. Internal land and sea border controls between the nine states are being lifted, while internal border controls at airports are expected to be abolished in March. Celebrations are being held in all the countries involved, and the occasion is being hailed as the final fall of the "Iron Curtain" in eastern Europe.

Quote: "Celebrations to mark the extension of the Schengen Agreement were planned along the newly opened borders. European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini will be there as the barriers come down. "We will live and circulate in an area of 24 countries without internal borders. This is a unique and historic accomplishment," Barroso said on Tuesday. "The lifting of the European Union's internal borders brings opportunities for people living, circulating and doing business in Europe," he said.

And there is no doubt this is a landmark occasion. We have witnessed in this past week, the signing of the European Charter on Fundamental Rights, the signing of the Treaty of Lisbon, and now the extension of the Schengen zone. It seems the sovereignty of European states is slowly being eroded away, while the Revived Roman Empire grows from strength to strength. I don't think the EU in itself is inherently evil. It is no more evil than any other empire that has come before it. The kingdoms of men are characterized by the things of earth. The kingdom of God is characterized by the things of heaven. The EU is a good idea in the eyes of men, for it is man's last attempt to bring peace to this troubled world. The United Nations headquarters features an image of a man beating his sword into a ploughshare. And who wouldn't object to a one world government, if it would help to bring about peace and stability in the world? Of course a super-state requires a super-statesman to run it, and the Bible says that one such man will come along in the not too distant future. Satan will see to that.

Revelation 13:2
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

This Revived Roman Empire may not be inherently evil, but it will be governed by a being who is inherently evil. The EU may usurp the sovereignty of nation states, but its leader is the ultimate usurper, who has obtained his authority by lies and deceit for the past 6000 years. Satan once offered to give all the kingdoms of the world into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, if He would only bow down and worship him (Luke 4:5-7). And I believe Satan presently has them in his power to give, for according to Scripture he is the god of this world (2nd Corinthians 4:4). But he won't be forever. Jesus Christ holds the title deeds to this planet. It is his by right of creation (John 1:10) and it is His by right of redemption (Ruth 4:9). And he alone holds the legal claim to the Throne of Israel (Luke 1:32). Praise God that soon, this angelic impostor will be thrown out of heaven, and cast down into the sides of the bottomless pit. And praise God that soon, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15).

Isaiah 14:12-15
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Source DW World, Wikipedia