The Open Scroll

What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'
Mark 13:37

A Firm Covenant with the Many

The title of this study comes from a very popular scripture in the book of Daniel.

The making of the covenant is an event many saints figure they will never see due to their "pre-trib rapture" views. Others look for it to come, expecting to be here afterwards and during the other events described in verse 27. Although it is not stated in the biblical text that the making of this firm covenant is a sign, it is just that. What can we learn about this sign that will help identify it to those who watch? Is it a peace treaty with Israel, as many believe? How can watch more knowledgeably?

There is really not much information to go on if all we have to consider is this passage of scripture taken at face value. More insight is required. Although many link it directly to a few other scriptures, like where a covenant with death is mentioned in Isaiah 28, and most seem to identify it as a peace treaty made with Israel, I don't find the arguments that compelling. What I find more compelling is the evidence that has come from patiently watching for many years armed with some helpful knowledge about times and seasons. Knowledge that the sevens of years called Shemittah have been cycling through the ages since Adam is certainly helpful, especially since they are linked to the turn of the millennia in that both mark the passage of the same basic units of time. Also helpful is the celestial chronometer, the movement of the heavens that the Lord has given as signs to mark seasons and days and years. The "seasons" (according to the Hebrew of the record of the fourth day of creation) are the "moadim," the appointed days, the feast days on the holy day calendar. Access to sources of information of all kinds is required to get insight into such passages as Daniel 9, where what clues appear in the immediate context of the passage itself is so limited. Perhaps there is more insight that will come from the context, but unless or until it does, we still have help most people don't recognize.

Given that I was expecting the Shemittah beginning in the fall of 2005 to be the week of years referred to in Daniel 9:27 I was paying close attention to what happened during the fall holy days. During precious Shemittah I had learned a number of elements to watch. I was very focused on Bill Clinton's activities.

Tuesday September 6, 2005 marked Yom Teruah (the Day of Trumpets) on the Lord's calendar. It was the day of transition from the 858th Shemittah to the 859th, from Adam. Ten days later, Thursday September 15, 2005, marked Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). It was on that day that I saw what I was looking for! Whether this means we entered into the Shemittah that would find Daniel 9:27 fulfilled, I cannot say. I did see what I looked for, although it may be found rather as another foreshadowing, a pre-echo, instead of the final fulfillment of the event prophesied.

What I saw was an event that was the coming together of many "kings of the earth," many of whom would subsequently enter into unique covenant relationships! The entering into of such commitments was known in advance to be the focal agenda of the meeting! This event that spanned three days took place in New York City, the one considered by many watchful students of prophecy to be the great city, Babylon, of Revelation 18. This event was initiated by, hosted by, presided over by, and, is named after the man known by many to be the very "prince" referenced in Daniel's prophetic revelation!

Clinton's Global Initiative

The inaugural meeting took place on September 15-17, 2005 in New York City. Details may be found at the Web site dedicated to the event: www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

The following was copied from the CGI Web site on 8/4/2005.

How serious is Bill about getting results? What does he mean when he says he will be "asking each participant to make a specific commitment to take action in one of the areas discussed"? Excerpts (from TV interviews) from the site's Flash intro give further insight.

What I decided to do is to have a smaller meeting around the opening of the UN, discuss just four topics every year, and then tell everyone that comes at the end of the two days, "You have to make a personal commitment to take some action in one of these four areas."

I figured if I could get really good people who are gonna be able to have a big impact in the world over the next decade to come together once a year for ten years and actually sign a pledge to take action themselves, if we did that every year for ten years we could do a lot of good in the world.

That is serious. That sounds like a covenant with many to me. The stated term for the initiative is ten years with annual meetings. Will it actually be seven years, is this going to fulfill Daniel 9:26, or, as with the Oslo Treaty before it, will it be a teaser? We will see whether this is it, or, whether there is a different yet concurrent covenant with many to be made.

What are the four focal issues on the agenda? Of course, meddling in religious matters, as well as environmental issues. Eliminating extreme poverty is another. Quoting from the site: "Every year, six million children die of malnutrition—that is one child every 3.6 seconds. Yet most experts agree that extreme poverty can be eliminated within a decade with an investment of just one half of one percent of the incomes of the developed countries." That sounds noble, but no matter what Bill does, he can't make Jesus a liar. As it is written:

Extreme poverty will be with us until the Lord Jesus addresses its root cause. It is NOT a matter of money.

Regarding what he calls "Enhancing Governance," I quote again from the site: "Respect for the rule of law must be a vital component of a united vision of a better world." Hmmmmmm. Where do you suppose that's heading?

The UN Millennium+5 Summit

The event Bill referred to in his message as the "Millennium Summit of the U.N. General Assembly" is also relevant. The CGI (September 15-17) overlapped the Millennium+5 Summit (September 14-16) and Bill's stated intention for his event was to complement the Summit.

The Summit is the first plenary meeting of the UN General Assembly 60th Session. The stated agenda for the Millennium+5 Summit is to evaluate the progress made towards the United Nations Millennium Declaration that was adopted by over 150 Heads of State at the September 2000 UN Millennium Summit. In so doing, the world's leaders reaffirmed their "faith in the Organization and its Charter as indispensable foundations of a more peaceful, prosperous and just world." The focus will apparently be on the status of the agreed upon action items, the "Millennium Development Goals."

Some Summit Links

2005 WORLD SUMMIT - 14-16 September 2005
Global Policy Forum - UN Documents, Speeches, Position Papers and Press Releases on the Millennium Summit and Its Follow-Up
United Nations - Non-Governmental Liaison Service

Alliance of Civilizations

Following shortly after the Millennium+5 Summit and the Clinton Global Initiative inaugural meeting, yet another meeting of a similar nature was planned. Spearheaded by the Prime Minister of Spain, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, this meeting was scheduled for November, primarily addressing social issues that were perceived to affect the level of terrorist activity. Spain, Turkey and Great Britain were most prominently involved, as three countries outside of Israel and the USA who have experienced relatively large scale terrorist attacks and chose to make a show of dealing with it. The idea of binding strong independent nations together for the purposes of "Peace and safety" (I Thes. 5:3) is not new. However, the trend we see in this has continued to move forward at an incredible pace and scope. The time has come to bring the world's governments into the prophesied alignments for this final phase of the Lord's plan.

Some "Alliance of Civilizations" links

First Alliance of Civilizations summit to be held in Balearic Islands
Spain proposes cultural alliance

New York City as Babylon

Both the CGI and the Summit took place in New York City (Rev. 18 - the great city Babylon) the center of world trade. It is also home to the UN and home of the World Trade Center (though the towers fell on 9/11/2001, the organizations and activities continue) and home of the Stock Exchange on Wall Street, which is the primary center of economic activity for the worlds largest economy. I have written at some length about the USA as Babylon. NYC is another Babylon, as well as Hollywood, Rome and Jerusalem in other contexts.

Some Babylon Links

America: Rushing Across the Threshold of Daniel Eight
The Ironic Battle of the Babylons
Babylon: New York City, September 11, 2001

Bill Clinton as the Prince

There's a revealing article on WorldNetDaily about Bill's ambition. Bill Clinton to run U.N.? Yes, he openly aspires to hold the seat of highest authority.

Some Bill Clinton Links

President of the World: Bill Clinton's Dream by J. R. Church

The Sign for the Bride
When Will the Lawless One be Revealed?
The Image of Nero

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