Turkey and the EU
Ruins of Smyrna (Izmir, Turkey)
Turkey has lately seemed a bit less pro-Western in some of its policies. Its relationship with the EU also seems to be a bit more strained recently. Today, the following was reported about it and the EU:
Turkey goes cool on joining the European Union as it falls for the lure of the EastTelegraph – July 11, 2010…“If we don’t join, it will be Europe’s problem, not ours,” said Mr Canayaz, 25, who was relieved to be watching the recent Euro-zone crash from the outside rather than the inside…
Fadi Hakura…“For all the talk about that going in that direction, the country they would most like to become like is Germany.”
My wife and I have been to Turkey on three occasions and when we discussed the EU with some Turks, basically we were told that the average Turk had little interest in the EU, but some of the political leaders were determined to move in that direction.
Since the current leadership of Turkey seems a little less pro-Western lately, it may be that little will happen with Turkey as far as being a potential nation to join the EU for some time.
Turkey is important to the Christian world for many reasons, including the fact that most of the books of the New Testament were written to or from people now living in the area which is now part of Turkish territory. And the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3 are all in Turkey (my wife and I have visited all of them at least once).
Items of possibly related interest may include the following:
The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3 from 31 A.D. to present: information on all of the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3.
1. The Ephesus Church Era was predominant from 31 A.D. to circa 135 A.D. The Church of James, Peter, Paul, and John, etc.
2. The Smyrna Church Era was predominant circa 135 A.D. to circa 450 A.D. The Church led by Polycarp, Melito, Polycrates, etc.
3. The Pergamos Church Era was predominant circa 450 A.D. to circa 1050 A.D. An especially persecuted Church.
4. The Thyatira Church Era was predominant circa 1050 A.D. to circa 1600 A.D. The Church during the Inquisition.
5. The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. These are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
The New Testament Canon – From the Bible Itself This article, shows from the Bible and supporting sources, why the early Church knew which books were part of the Bible and which ones were not.
Catholic prophecy tells of a time when they expect the Turks to become Catholic:
Dionysius of Luxemberg (died 1682): a. “After the birth of Antichrist the people of the world will be very wicked and godless. People of real virtue will be very scarce. Pastors in many places will neglect the service of God, and will live with women. Even the religious will crave for worldly things. The churches will be dreary and empty like deserted barns…At the time when Antichrist is about twenty years of age the whole world will be without faith, subjects will be oppressed by rulers and others in authority. In every period of tribulation God aids His Church, and He will do it in the time before the coming of Antichrist. From the midst of His Church He will raise up a Christian ruler who will perform most remarkable deeds. With divine assistance this ruler will not only lead erring souls back to the true Faith but also deal a heavy blow to the foes of the empire; the Turks, to take away their empire and restore it to Christianity (Connor Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.84).
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (died 1837): “described to me the great ordeal ahead. Rome would be battered by revolutions…Millions of men would die by the sword in war and civil strife, other millions would perish in unforeseen death. Then entire nations would return to the unity of the Church, and many Turks, Pagans and Jews would be converted and their fervour cover with confusion the original Christians. In one word she told me that our Lord was intending to cleanse the world and His Church…” (Bessieres A. Wife, Mother and Mystic (Blessed Anna Maria Taigi). Nihil Obstat: Carlos Davis, S.T.L. Imprimatur: E Morrough Bernard, Westmonasteri, die Februari, 1952. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1982, p. 166).
Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): Terrible wars will rage all over Europe. God has long been patient with the corruption of morals; half of mankind He will destroy. Russia will witness many outrages. Great cities and small towns alike will be destroyed in a bloody revolution that will cause the death of half the population. In Istanbul (Constantinople) the Cross will replace the half-moon of Islamism, and Jerusalem will be the seat of a King. The southern Slavs will form a great Catholic Empire and drive out of Europe the Turks (Mohammedans), who will withdraw to North Africa and subsequently embrace the Catholic faith. (Dupont, Yves. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p.76)
This is supposed to happen when the “Great Monarch” rises up and is supposedly to be assisted by Marian apparitions according to other Catholic prophecies. In Turkey, near Ephesus, the Turks (which are almost all Muslims) actually have an annual celebration related to Mary. Mary is actually mentioned in the Koran more often than Jesus. It would not surprise me if some Marian apparition may appear in Turkey in a few years as this may temporarily contribute to cooperation between “Catholic” and Islamic powers in the end time (cf. Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83).
It may be of interest to note that Nostradamus apparently felt that Turkey would end up betraying a coming Islamic leader:
Nostradamus: The Great Arab shall progress well forward, But betrayed shall be by the Byzantines. (Turks).
Comment on above from Catholic writer Yves Dupont: Here, we are told that Turkey will break its faith with the rest of the Arab world. (Dupont, p. 107).
Islamic prophecy tends to call this person the Imam Mahdi while Bible prophecy seems to identify him as the final King of the South. But despite current comments from some in Turkey, the fact is that the Turks are fairly pragmatic and presuming they have reasons (like economic, military, and even possibly including apparitions claiming to be Mary) it is certainly within the realm of possibilities that they may assist the final King of the North overpower the final King of the South as is foretold in Daniel 11:40-43.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi?
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?
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers?
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
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