The treaty that just won't die |
Europe |
Written by Chris Perver |
Saturday, 14 June 2008 04:51 |
"It's life, Jim, but not as we know it". It's been rejected by France, the Netherlands and now the Republic of Ireland, but in spite of the overwhelming opposition to the European Constitution, EU leaders are adamant that the Lisbon Treaty is not dead. Quote: "France and Germany have described the "No" vote as a serious blow but urged the EU to press ahead with the project. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said ratifications must carry on so that the Irish vote did not "become a crisis". Ireland was the only country that promised to hold a public referendum on the EU Constitution, for Irish law stipulates that any changes to its constitution must be approved by its citizens. The British government promised to hold a public referendum on the EU Constitution, after facing stiff opposition over the matter. But this referendum was never going to be legally binding, and the government could have gone against the will of the British public in the interests of the 'greater good' of Europe. But the government later reneged on its promises following the redrafting of the original treaty. Following its rejection by France and the Netherlands in 2005, the document was redrafted in two sections, an Amending Treaty and a Charter of Fundamental Rights. The government claimed that the reason why Britain did not need to hold a referendum on the issue was because British law would not be affected since we are not signing up to the Charter at this point in time. British law might not be affected, but British foreign policy most certainly will be, following the ratification of this document. The Lisbon Treaty gives the European Union its own legal identity on the world stage. It will establish the permanent posts of EU President and Foreign Minister. European foreign policy will essentially become British foreign policy. Already many British embassies around the world are merging with embassies of other European nations. And the treaty will permit the European Union to take the seats of Britain and France on the UN Security Council if and when a consensus is agreed between these nations. Apart from a few aesthetic differences, namely the European flag and the national anthem, the Lisbon Treaty is essentially unchanged from the original EU Constitution. Even constitution author Giscard d'Estaing claimed that everything that was in the original document was present in the new treaty. In January a British parliamentary committee stated that there are no substantial differences between the EU Constitution and the Lisbon Treaty, and that the ratification of this document would actually be harmful to Britain's position in Europe. They begged the government to come clean about this fact, but the British government is still pressing ahead. It's hard to know exactly what will happen over the next few months in regards to the ratification of this treaty. But we do know where all of this is all leading. For we know that this final world empire is destined to grow to engulf the whole world (Daniel 7:23, Revelation 13:3). And this final world empire will be headed by a man. Dr. Paul-Henri Spaak, the former Prime Minister of Belgium, was also a former Secretary General of NATO and the first president of the United Nations General Assembly. He was instrumental in bringing about the establishment of the European Common Market, the forerunner of the European Union. He said in 1957, "We do not want another committee, we have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he God or devil, we will receive him". This man that will head the final world empire will be a 'devil'. The Bible says of the Antichrist that "the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority", Revelation 13:2. God has already sent His Man and they rejected Him. Jesus Christ said, "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive", John 5:43. Just as Henri Spaak predicted, another man will come who will appear to offer mankind all the solutions to their problems, and they will receive him. But the Man who was despised and rejected of men (Isaiah 53:3) will be glorified in a coming day... Psalm 2 Do you know the Son of God? His name is Jesus Christ. Have you put your trust in Him for salvation? He died for you that your sins might be forgiven (Isaiah 53:11). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved (Acts 16:31). Source BBC |
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