The speaker will be our own brother Lawrence Russell. Bethesda Gospel Hall is in Coronation Park in Bangor, off the Old Belfast Road. They should be good meetings, and all visitors will be made very welcome. Thanks.

This link from Herb's Fulfilled Prophecy website. 

One of Tony Blair's last acts as Prime Minister of Great Britain was to sign the new European "Constitution", effectively committing the nation to handing over yet more of its sovereignty to the European Union. The Prime Minister gave the impression that he was opposed to giving Brussels more control over British foreign policy, openly opposing the creation of the role of an EU Foreign Minister (or at least its title) and giving of the EU a permanent seat at the UN Security Council. But according to an EU official, and according to EU Constitution author Giscard d'Estaing, the main text of the "treaty" is essentially unchanged from the original draft of the Constitution. Conservative MP William Hague has lambasted the Labour government for paving the way for the creation of a federal European state, and has called on the new Prime Minister Gordon Brown to permit a public referendum on the new treaty. 

Quote: "Provisions, drawn word for word from the old constitution, giving the EU "foreign minister" speaking rights from Britain's and France's UN seats will be included in a draft treaty to be presented to a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday, diplomats have confirmed. "When the Union has defined a position on a subject which is on the United Nations Security Council agenda, those member states which sit on the Security Council shall request that the Union Minister for Foreign Affairs be asked to present the Union's position," the text states. 

As Solana-watcher Constance Cumbey states, this provision for the EU to take the seat of Britain or France at the United Nations will give Europe a much greater presence on the world stage. Students of Bible Prophecy have long predicted the rise of a final world empire in the form of a European super-state, hundreds of years before the European Union even existed. And the Bible seems to indicate that it will be from this empire that the Antichrist will eventually emerge. We don't know whether Javier Solana will be the man or not, but what we are seeing now is certainly leading up to a time when one man will be able to exercise global authority over the whole earth.

People are generally not interested in such events. They are happy as long as nothing affects how they live their lives. But soon Satan will engineer things in such a way that the whole world will cry out for a man to deliver them and give them peace. The rise in "global terrorism" - something that was virtually unheard of before the year 2000, growing religious "fundamentalism", the disruption of global weather patterns, the coming economic collapse of America, conflict in half a dozen Middle East states... these things are in the news everyday. Satan has his man waiting in the isles, but he can't make a move until we are out of here.

When Christ comes for His Church, will you be caught up to be with Him where He is, or will you be left behind to face the wrath of a righteous God? Either you are for Christ or you are against Him, there is no middle ground. The Bible states that all of those who are not saved will worship the Antichrist, and will seal their doom in the lake of fire...

Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him (Antichrist), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Trust in Jesus Christ for salvation today, He is merciful but His Spirit will not always strive with man.

Source Telegraph, News With Views

By Greer Fay Cashman

President Shimon Peres, Israel's eldest statesman known for his vision of "a new Middle East," proclaimed in his inaugural speech in the Knesset on Sunday that he was leaving divisive politics after six decades to devote himself "to unifying the nation."

But, the 83-year-old declared defiantly, he would not shy away from using the presidency to promote peace in the region.

"When the opportunity for peace is created, it must not be missed," Peres told a packed house after taking the oath of office. "The president must encourage peace processes. At home. With our neighbors. In the entire region."

He then began a flurry of diplomatic meetings, most notably welcoming EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Wednesday. Peres told him that those residents of Gaza who voted Hamas into power must not be allowed to determine the future of the whole Palestinian people.

He commended Solana for the work he has done over the years to try to bring peace to the region and argued that despite the current difficulties, there are "new opportunities."

"Europe can play a major role," he said.
Solana concurred, saying he hoped that the peace that they had discussed "so many times together" would one day become a reality. Then, addressing Peres directly, he said: "Mr. President and my dear friend, it is a moving moment to see you here."

Solana was plainly confident that as president Peres would be able to do much more to advance the peace process than anyone else.

Over the past few decades, indeed, foreign dignitaries have made a point of meeting with Peres, regardless of his political rank at the time. He was considered Israel's man of stature and status, and his title was simply incidental. What mattered was his wisdom and his opinion, which were much more appreciated abroad than at home.

And he (antichrist) shall confirm a covenant with many (Israel and her Arab neighbours) for one week (seven years).... Daniel 9:27

Source Jerusalem Post

Middle East quartet envoy Tony Blair will not be charged with mediating in the Middle East conflict, but with channeling aid towards the construction of a Palestinian state, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana was quoted as saying on June 29.
Former British Premier Blair, whose appointment has been met with skepticism in parts of the region, will not conduct a peace process, the Spanish daily El Pais quoted Solana as saying in Lisbon. Blair’s task will be to mobilise political and economic aid, "will and solidarity" to create a government structure for a Palestinian state, Solana explained. The current situation in the Palestinian territories, with the confrontation between Fatah and Hamas, did not make Blair’s task easy, Solana added. Solana has been viewed as the EU’s chief negotiator for thorny tasks in the region and around the world, but there was no word from the Mideast Quartet on whether Blair’s responsibilities would clash with Solana’s.......

Once again Tony Blair sets himself against the God of Israel, by seeking to create a government structure for a "Palestinian State."  Blair also wants to channel aid to the Fatah organization, this aid will in no doubt include weapons that will ultimately be used against the State of Israel. On the other hand we have Javier Solana being described as the "chief negotiator for thorny tasks" in the region. Could this thorny task be the long awaited "Preace Treaty".

Source European Weekly 

An anonymous Iranian source writing for the Lebanese Asharq Alawsat newspaper has stated that President Ahmadinejad has "bought off" President Assad of Syria in a $1 billion dollar deal. According to the report, Iran has promised to restore a pro-Syrian government in Lebanon in exchange for Syria's refusal to enter into negotiations with Israel, and will fund Syrian arms acquisitions from Russia and North Korea. Ahmadinejad had met with Assad on Thursday following his re-election as President of Syria for another seven year term. The Syrian government had been threatening war if Israel did not hand back the Golan Heights by September of this year. Newly elected President Shimon Peres recently stated that if Syria was serious about peace, that there was no alternative for direct negotiations between the two nations. But if today's report is accurate, it is extremely doubtful that any such negotiations will occur.

Quote: "The report went on to say that aside from economic, cultural and scientific cooperation, Iran will help to fund Syria's purchase of Russian and North Korean weapons. These weapons reportedly will include 400 advanced Russian T-72 tanks, 18 Russian Mig 31s, as well as eight M-8 helicopters and other military equipment. In addition, Iran will reportedly help Syria build factories that would manufacture medium-range missiles, and will also supply Syria with Iranian-made tanks and armored personnel carriers. The Syrian navy will also reportedly be rearmed with Chinese-made C-801 and C-802 missiles, which are presently being manufactured in Iran.

The idea of a peace agreement between Israel and Syria has also been derided by Jordan. Foreign Minister Abdelelah Al-Khatib has stated that peace between Israel and the Palestinians must come first before there can be peace between Israel and Syria. Al-Khatib's comments constitute an effort by Arab states to maintain a united front against Israel, and tar the Jewish state as the sole cause of conflict in the region. Al-Khatib also blamed Israel for the situation in Gaza.

Quote: ""The situation in the Gaza Strip is fragile and complicated, but its origins - which many Israelis also say - lie in the unilateralism and lack of coordination with the Palestinian Authority over the withdrawal." Khatib made it clear that he objects to further unilateral steps that Israel may be planning.

And that's the absurdity of this position. The Arab states demand that Israel withdraw to the pre-1967 armistice lines, but they must not withdraw without the prior consent of the Arab states. So in other words, no matter what Israel does it is in the wrong. If Israel does not make any unilateral disengagements, it is still occupying "Palestinian" land. If Israel tries to "get rid of the territories" and the Arab states refuse to give it their blessing, Israel will once again get the blame. As we can see with today's news on Syria strengthening its ties with Iran, Arab states will never agree to peace with Israel, and it is this situation that will eventually bring about the destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) and the time of Jacob's trouble.

Ezekiel 36:4-8
Therefore, ye mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD; Thus saith the Lord GOD to the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, to the desolate wastes, and to the cities that are forsaken, which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about; Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey. Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; I have lifted up mine hand, Surely the heathen that are about you, they shall bear their shame. But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come.

Source Jerusalem Post, Haaretz