Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will not be signing additional agreements with the European Union so long as it distinguishes between Israel's activities within and beyond the 'Green Line'. Three weeks ago the European Commission declared that all future agreements between it and the Jewish state must contain a clause specifically excluding their application to Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem. The legislation will impose a blanket ban on all EU funding and co-operation with any Israeli company or institution that maintains links with or operates outside the 1967 armistice lines. The EU decision has caused widespread consternation in Israel, coming on the eve of an American announcement regarding the resumption of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Many believe it will make peace in the Middle East harder by encouraging the Palestinian leadership in their desire of ethnically cleansing the 'West Bank' of Jews. Just days following the resumption of the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, PA President Mahmoud Abbas was already declaring his aspirations for an 'Israeli-free Palestinian state'...

Quote: “"In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli -- civilian or soldier -- on our lands," Abbas told reporters during a visit to Cairo.

So you can see how the EU decision will further delegitimize Israeli sovereignty in east Jerusalem. This new European agreement, as with all EU agreements, is to last for a period of seven years. The legislation is to become law in January 2014 and will come up for renewal in December 2020.

Quote: “Three weeks ago, the EU High Commission announced its intentions to distinguish between Israeli entities working within the 1967 border lines and those operating beyond them. The decision, which is expected to take effect in 2014 until 2020, surprised the cabinet in Jerusalem as well as the Israeli foreign Ministry.

I don't know why EU agreements and budgets always last for this specific length of time. But this news is extremely interesting in the light of Biblical prophecy. We know that according to Daniel's prophecy, a world leader will rise up out of the revived Roman Empire, and will strengthen an agreement with many people for a period of seven years (Daniel 9:27). This period of time is often referred to as Daniel's 70^th week. The prophecy of Daniel accurately predicted the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple following the exile in Babylon (Daniel 9:25), the crucifixion of the Messiah and the destruction of the Second Temple by the hands of the Romans in 70 AD (Daniel 9:26). The events described in the final seven years of this prophecy have yet to occur. These include the rise of the Antichrist, his persecution of the Jewish people, the battle over Jerusalem and the return of the Messiah to reign for 1000 years. But looking at today's news, we believe these events cannot be far off. For I believe that this 'covenant' that is mentioned in Daniel's prophecy, which will be strengthened by the leader of the European Union for a period of seven years, will be to do with the land of Israel. I believe that this agreement will somehow permit the Jewish people to rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem, and will also guarantee Israel 'peace and security' for a period of seven years. Of course we also know that this agreement will be broken in the middle of the seven years, as both the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation indicate that this world leader will subsequently turn against Israel, and that east Jerusalem shall once again fall into the hands of the Gentiles for a period of three and a half years (Revelation 11:2, Zechariah 12:2).

It's interesting that the ancient Hebrew calendar described in the Bible was organized into periods of seven years. Every seventh year the Jewish people were to let the land rest. Every seventh year the slave was to be set free. Of course these years in the Bible did not start in January but at Passover time (around April). It's also extremely interesting that if you take seven Biblical years and divide them in two, you end up with the Feast of Passover falling exactly in the middle. Some believe that the Bible indicates that this final world leader, who will be empowered by Satan and will persecute Israel, will be assassinated and will stage a fake 'resurrection' (Revelation 13:3). It is entirely possible then that this could happen on a Passover date to make the world think that this Antichrist really is the true Messiah. The book of Revelation does state that the whole world will wonder after the Beast, and shall worship Satan, and worship the Beast that had the wound by the sword and did live (Revelation 13:14).

Will this seven year period begin in January? Or will it follow the Biblical pattern? I don't know for certain, but as you can see, Bible prophecy is definitely being fulfilled, and it is only a matter of time before the Lord comes. Are you ready to meet Him? Have you trusted in Him for salvation? Don't wait until it is too late. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today.

Luke 21:36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Source LA Times, YNet News