IMF & Greece still talking tough, but…

Part of Athens (Photo By Joyce Thiel)

IMF and Greece continue to negotiate, though both sides are talking tough:

June 18, 2015

International creditors demanded Thursday that Greece propose economic reforms that could break the impasse in bailout talks.

Greece was unequivocally denied any possibility for a delay or a grace period to repay the International Monetary Fund, as finance ministers from the Eurozone and the heads of the IMF and European Central Bank prepare for a much anticipated crisis meeting in Luxembourg.

“…On that particular issue, timeline: 30th of June is the day when the lump sum payment is due to the IMF and there is no grace period or two-month delay, as I have seen here and there,” said IMF Managing Director Christine LaGarde.

Eurozone President Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Greece has to take “further steps” to obtain a lasting deal that “needs to hold up in the coming years to be credible.”

Optimism remains

Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, whose country is Greece’s main creditor, told German lawmakers in the parliament earlier Thursday that she was “still confident” a deal was possible.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he was optimistic Greece will deliver new proposals, which would be considered immediately.

“We are very optimistic that we will finally get the proposals and then we will review them immediately,” said Schaeuble.

Schaeuble had maintained a strong stance from the onset that Greece should fulfill its obligation to international creditors before any additional financial help is considered.

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis indicated he would not present new proposals Thursday to break the impasse. But said he hoped his “ideas” would be received favorably. “The purpose is to replace costly discord with effective consensus.”

The meeting of finance ministers of 19 Eurozone countries planned for next week is crucial in determining whether international creditors would unlock another $8.2 billion in bailout funding ahead of a June 30 deadline, by which Greece has to repay $1.8 billion to the IMF. http://www.voanews.com/content/imf-chief-says-no-grace-period-no-delay-for-greece/2828019.html

The situation with Greece is difficult and may cause problems not only there, but elsewhere. The departure of Greece from either the Eurozone or the European Union has been labeled a Grexit and a default could possibly trigger some type of departure.

The Eurozone itself consists of the nations that use the Euro as their currency (which are most of the nations in the European Union, plus a couple of others). Technically, Greece could default, possibly be pushed out of the Eurozone, but still remain part of the European Union.

The European Union does not want Greece to default nor turn possibly turn to Russia for financial assistance. Europe does not want Greece to leave the Eurozone. This situation is tough for the Germans and the Greeks. The Germans feel that they have lent Greece money in good faith and that they are not being paid back as agreed, but they do not want Greece to default and not pay the rest back.

Yet, the leaders that are currently in charge of Greece seem to feel that the EU has left them little choice but to either default or turn to possibly Russia or some other nation outside the European Union.

Although when Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he did not get all that he wanted (see Fighting, despite ‘ceasefire’ in Ukraine; Greece and Russia talk, but…), his plans were not rebuffed. So, another attempt to make a deal with Russia could be something Greece feels it may do. Despite the fact that Alexis Tsipras said he was not going to ask Russia for money before.

Of course, if the EU can afford to bail out Greece (and other struggling nations) that is better for the Euro as a single currency.

As far as Greece does, Greece joined the predecessor to to the European Union in 1981. For historical and prophetic reasons, Greece will be a supporter of the final Beast power that will arise in Europe. At least two of the empires mentioned in Daniel 7 included all or part of Greece.

Greece is on the ‘Great Sea’ (Daniel 7:2; which is the Mediterranean Sea according to other scriptures) and the final Beast power is called the Beast from the sea (Revelation 13:1).

I have written for years that there could be problems with the Euro, and that it even could get replaced. No matter what happens to the Euro, the reality is that something is being built in Europe.

There will be problems in Europe (Daniel 2:41-43), maybe massive ones and civil unrest. Europe itself will be affected by the biblical Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-16; 19:17-21), but the Eurozone issues with Greece are not part of that.

Despite problems in Europe, after some reorganizations a powerful leader there will arise (Revelation 17:12-13). And his empire will include Greece.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Germany in Bible Prophecy. Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?