The British Parliament cast its vote last night on whether or not the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty into UK law should be put to a public referendum. Five EU states have so far ratified the revised EU Constitution, namely Malta, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania and France. The Polish government has approved draft laws for ratification of the treaty, and most other states have begun the process of ratification. Following the signing of the first EU Constitution, the Labour government had pledged in its manifesto that they would put any future EU Constitution to a public referendum. But they only agreed to this after facing fierce opposition from the opposition party at the time, and even then, the referendum they agreed to was never going to be legally binding, effectively meaning that the government could go ahead and adopt the treaty anyway if they believed it was in the best interests of the nation. Now that the EU Constitution has been redrafted in two parts, an "Amending Treaty" and a "Charter on Fundamental Rights", the government says that there is no need to hold a referendum. Britain intends to sign up to the Amending Treaty but not the Charter on Fundamental Rights, and thus the government claims that the United Kingdom will not be affected 'constitutionally'. But it is the Amending Treaty and not the Charter on Fundamental Rights that paves the way for the creation of an EU superstate, by establishing the permanent posts of EU President and Foreign Minister, and by giving the EU its own legal identity on the world stage. EU Constitution author Giscard d'Estaing previously stated that there are no substantial differences between the original constitution and the Lisbon Treaty, and a Parliamentary committee recently slammed the government over its attempt to bring in the EU Constitution by stealth, and adding that UK foreign interests would be significantly affected once the treaty comes into force.

Quote: "Many analysts believe the Lisbon treaty, which overhauls EU institutions, would be rejected if put to British voters. But Brown, buffeted by a bank crisis and government blunders during his first eight months in office, is determined not to call one. Brown has a working majority of 67 seats. While rebels say 20-30 Labour MPs may defy the government, Brown's position appeared secure after Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, said his members would abstain.

It seems that this whole process of ratification has been marked by deception and political intrigue from start to finish. Numerous claims were made by European politicians to try and convince the public to vote in favour of adopting the original EU Constitution. Giscard d'Estaing said the document could not be rewritten once rejected. French President Jacque Chirac exclaimed that France would cease to exist politically if the public voted no. Just before the referendum was held, he made a passionate plea for the French public to consider their future and the future of their children. EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson stated that a no vote would harm EU financial markets. French Prime Minister de Villepin said France would be "humiliated" by a no vote. Ministers said that voting no meant French citizens staying in a Europe they did not like. The German vote on the ill-fated document was timed so as to put further pressure on French citizens to toe the line, whereas the euro-sceptic British vote was to be delayed until most other states had ratified the treaty. And last night the government broke their promise to the British public in denying them a say on whether or not we want to live in a European superstate. We proclaim that democracy is the best form of government, yet it seems that Europe does not trust its citizens enough to make their own decisions on how they want to be governed. What sort of democracy is that? It's not democracy at all, it's more like demagoguery.

The Bible prophesies that during the time of the end, a world empire will be set up which shall be different from all other empires that have gone before it. According to Daniel 7:23, this world empire shall devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces. But the writing is on the wall, for the Lord has already numbered the days of this kingdom and finished it (Daniel 5:26, Revelation 13:5). And in the days of this empire, the God of Heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed (Daniel 2:44). Jesus Christ is coming back (John 14:3). Are you a friend of the King (Proverbs 22:11)? Is your citizenship in heaven (Philippians 3:20)? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

John 1:29
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

Source Europa, Reuters