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UK Prime Minister pushing ‘Windsor Framework’ in Belfast, but …


COGwriter

As the tweets above from UK Prime Minister Sunak suggest, a new deal was reached between the European Union and the United Kingdom related to Northern Ireland:

February 28, 2023

LONDON — The new Brexit deal signed by the U.K. and the European Union on Monday was heralded as a “turning point” for Northern Ireland, but must still pass muster in Belfast.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received a boost on Monday, as opposition leader Keir Starmer confirmed that his Labour Party would vote in favor of the deal — known as the Windsor Framework — which sets out to address a plethora of problems caused by the Northern Ireland Protocol.

This all but secures its passage through the British parliament in Westminster, irrespective of an anticipated opposition from hardline Brexiteers within Sunak’s own Conservative Party.

The sticking point could come from across the Irish Sea in Stormont, near Belfast, where the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended for a year after the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) resigned in protest over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

The DUP argued that the checks on goods travelling between Great Britain — England, Scotland and Wales — had effectively placed a border in the Irish Sea, ostracizing Belfast from the rest of the U.K. and depriving it of autonomy because of its adherence to EU legal systems. …

The Windsor Framework removes checks in goods moving from Great Britain into Northern Ireland that will remain in the U.K., and also enables the same tax and excise changes to apply in Northern Ireland as in the rest of the U.K.

It also introduces a new mechanism dubbed the “Stormont brake,” which gives the Northern Ireland Assembly a say on whether changes to EU goods rules affecting Northern Ireland should apply. Pulling this brake would give the British government a veto over the adoption of a new EU rule.

“The Windsor Framework provides practical solutions to many of the obstacles posed to the free movement of goods under the Northern Ireland Protocol,” said Gaurav Ganguly, senior director of economic research at Moody’s Analytics.

“The deal signals an improvement in relations between the EU and the UK, but it may not be enough to satisfy Unionists in Stormont. Despite the deal, the risk of a political impasse in Northern Ireland remains.” https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/28/risk-of-a-political-impasse-in-northern-ireland-remains-as-dup-pores-over-detail.html

Here is another tweet from UK Prime Minister Sunak about it:


Was “what many said could not be done” actually done?

What was wanted was a deal that the EU, UK, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland all liked. A deal that allowed for no border issues, no cross-border checks, allowed the EU to have regulations/laws it wanted, one that allowed full UK sovereignty, and one that did not require the UK to accept EU laws or regulations.

While this deal is an attempt at that, it does not really accomplish that.

The fact of the “less than 3% … EU laws” remain in place shows that some are in place–that is a blow to UK sovereignty. Plus, the Windsor Framework does allow for (and require) certain cross-border checks.

The BBC reported the following:

Deal not about any party, says Sunak, as he visits Northern Ireland

28 February 2023

  • Rishi Sunak is in Belfast to secure support for his deal with the EU over post-Brexit trading arrangements for Northern Ireland
  • The prime minister told the BBC this morning his deal was a “huge step forward” for the people of NI
  • He said: “This is not necessarily about me or one political party… it’s about what’s best for people and communities”
  • The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is the largest unionist party in NI and its support will be key to restoring power-sharing there
  • DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson tells the BBC the proposals go “some way” to addressing concerns that caused its boycott, but issues remain
  • Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has welcomed the deal and is calling for the DUP to return to devolved government …

Reasonable for EU law to remain in Northern Ireland, says Leadsom

We’ve been hearing from former Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, one of the leading figures in the Vote Leave campaign during the 2016 referendum on EU membership.

She tells BBC News that the EU law remaining in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework is “perfectly reasonable”.

“Northern Ireland businesses do want to have access to the EU single market and so it is that business that will be subject to EU rules, as of course it should be, that’s perfectly reasonable,” she says.

“The reality is Northern Ireland will be an integral and precious part of the UK, which is a free and sovereign independent nation, but it will also have access to the EU single market.” https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-64794293

Reasonableness can be debated, but the accepting of any EU laws (outside of the EU itself) was not what the Brexit plan was supposed to deliver.

Another issue is it is not yet clear if (or how) the main unionist political party in Northern Ireland (the DUP), which has its own problems, will back all of this.

That said, there is a provision in the Windsor Framework called the “Stormont brake.” That provision “gives the Northern Ireland Assembly a say on whether changes to EU goods rules, affecting Northern Ireland, should apply. Pulling this brake would give the British government a veto over the adoption of a new EU rule.”

Presuming it is exercised, what will the EU do?

If the Republic of Ireland favors the change, and perhaps may have initiated it, then what?

The use of the Stormont Brake will cause problems.

Trade issues will be a problem between the Europeans and the United Kingdom.

Furthermore, the time will come when Northern Ireland will be part of the Republic of Ireland.

That view is consistent with something the old Worldwide Church of God published, which also had some historical background on the situation in Ireland:

OF COURSE I want a united Ireland,” said the young teacher in Londonderry. “But not with that lot down South,” she added with scorn.

That expresses one of the tragedies in Northern Ireland today.

Most southern Irish dream of a united Ireland while those in the North are bitterly divided over any effort in that direction. Ireland’s divergent groups say they want peace and unity — but on their own terms. …

How Irish Strife Began

Protestants and Catholics in Ireland have distrusted each other for centuries. “The Irish have long memories,” one man told me.

To understand why there is strife in Ulster today, we must understand Irish history. Ireland has a complex history that involves cultural, ethnic, economic, political, temperamental and social differences.

It’s a history filled with conflict between the native Irish and the foreign colonizers — whether they were Danes, Normans, English or Scots. The Irish also fought among themselves. There were feuds between families, battles between tribes and wars between provinces.

In the 12th century, Pope Adrian appealed to England’s King Henry II (1154-89) for help in reforming Ireland by establishing full Papal authority. Pope Adrian’s document said: “You shall enter that island and execute whatever may tend to the honour of God and the welfare of the land; and also that the people of that land shall receive you with honour and revere you as their lord…” (text of Laudabiliter in Irish Historical Documents, edited by Curtis and McDowell, pages 17, 18).

But England did not fully conquer Ireland until the time of Elizabeth I.

Meanwhile, Ireland, in the reign of Edward II (1307-27), was divided between Irish and English who had different languages, habits and laws. Their deep animosity toward each other was evident long before Protestantism. The English and Irish systems of land tenure, property and inheritance increased resentment and bitterness between the two factions. Religious conflict developed only later.

The Ulster Plantations

England’s first Protestant king, Henry VIII, abolished papal authority in Ireland by declaring himself the head of the Irish church. But the Catholic friars were beyond Henry’s power. They continued to preach everywhere among the people. Toward the end of Henry’s reign, the Jesuits came to Ireland under the protection of Con O’Neill, “prince of the Irish of Ulster.” Because they helped keep Roman Catholic traditions alive, most of Ireland remained faithful to Rome.

In 1541, the English Parliament declared Henry VIII “King of this land of Ireland, annexed and knit forever to the imperial crown of the realm of England.” This paved the way for the effective conquest of Ireland by Queen Elizabeth I.

Ulster demanded the immediate attention of Queen Elizabeth. It was here that the Catholic Earl of Tyrone led the last pocket of Gaelic Irish resistance against English conquest and colonization. His army was defeated at Kinsdale in 1601. His lands — comprising six of the nine counties of Ulster — were planted or settled with Scottish Protestants.

Under James I, massive tracts of land were seized from the natives and granted to Scottish and English colonizers. By 1640, Protestants owned three million out of 3.5 million acres.

These “Ulster Plantations” divided Ireland into two antagonistic communities. The conquered and impoverished Catholic natives remained side by side with the Protestant settlers. When Sir George Carew reported on the plantations in 1611, he clearly foresaw that the Irish would rebel again.

The Scots who settled in Ulster were considered by the native Irish as being proud and haughty aliens. To the Scots, the Irish were backward in manners and customs. Thus the scorn of the Scot was met by the curse of the Celt — “the wild Irish” as they appeared to the eyes of the Scots.

In parts of Ireland, English colonists became absorbed by the native population. But in Ulster, Presbyterian Scots didn’t generally intermarry with the devoutly Catholic native Irish.

Irish Catholics resented being ruled by persons of a different ethnic background and a different religion. To them, it was Protestant monarchs in England who had exploited and oppressed them. They felt discriminated against in respect to land tenure, housing, employment and political opportunity. This discrimination led to the uprisings in 1641, 1798 and, most recently, 1969.

Ulster Presbyterians such as Henry Cooke, Thomas Drew and Hugh Hanna became involved in politics as early as 1820. Politics and religion became mingled together, remaining so to this day. …

Discrimination in employment is still a problem in Northern Ireland. Protestant-owned firms employ mainly Protestants. Catholic firms do the same. Employers don’t want to upset their employees by hiring someone of a different religion. They have yet to acquire the courage to be impartial in whom they hire rather than practice sectarian discrimination. …

Will Ireland be united in the foreseeable future? The chasms that divide the island are so deep and wide, it could take years before there is any hope of reconciliation. (Boraker R. When Peace Comes to Ireland. Plain Truth magazine, October 1984)

A type of unity has existed in Ireland for a couple of decades after the signing of the ‘Good Friday’ agreement in 1998.

The border between the Republic of Ireland and the UK’s Northern Ireland was totally open for some time, but now there are issues because of Brexit. My wife Joyce and I crossed over that border a couple of times in May and it was almost no different than driving across state lines in the USA–I said almost no difference because once you cross the speed limit switches from kilometers to miles per hour or vice versa depending on the direction.

Anyway, the UK wants to retain control of Northern Ireland. Most in Northern Ireland (which is mainly nominally Protestant) do not want be to under control of the Republic of Ireland to its south (which is mainly nominally Roman Catholic). But Sinn Fein wants unity with the Republic of Ireland–and it seems to see the Windsor Framework as a small step in that direction–probably because at least some EU laws (which the Republic of Ireland accepts) will remain in place.

Furthermore, the EU and the Republic of Ireland have their agenda and keep pushing for it.

The EU wants Northern Ireland to act like it is part of the EU, whereas Ireland wants Northern Ireland to decide it should really be part of it and not the UK.

Despite British hopes for its future, Northern Ireland will one day cease to be part of the UK. British loss of territories will one day include Northern Ireland. Notice a few prophetic warnings that are consistent with that:

24 ‘Do not defile yourselves with any of these things; for by all these the nations are defiled, which I am casting out before you. 25 For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants. 26 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations, either any of your own nation or any stranger who dwells among you 27 (for all these abominations the men of the land have done, who were before you, and thus the land is defiled), 28 lest the land vomit you out also when you defile it, as it vomited out the nations that were before you. (Leviticus 18:24-29)

23 ‘And if by these things you are not reformed by Me, but walk contrary to Me, 24 then I also will walk contrary to you, and I will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword against you that will execute the vengeance of the covenant; when you are gathered together within your cities I will send pestilence among you; and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. (Leviticus 26:23-25)

58 “If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD, 59 then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues — great and prolonged plagues — and serious and prolonged sicknesses. 60 Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. 62 You shall be left few in number, whereas you were as the stars of heaven in multitude, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63 And it shall be, that just as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. (Deuteronomy 28:58-63)

These territorial losses will include Northern Ireland and Gibraltar, as well as England, Wales, and Scotland (and also its naval presence in Cyprus and other places). Yes, one day, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be no more.

I expect that the Republic of Ireland (or at least an Irish leader) will have control over Northern Ireland and probably other lands as well within the next decade or so.

Notice what Article 3 the Irish Constitution states:

It is the firm will of the Irish Nation, in harmony and friendship, to unite all the people who share the territory of the island of Ireland, in all the diversity of their identities and traditions, recognising that a united Ireland shall be brought about only by peaceful means with the consent of a majority of the people, democratically expressed, in both jurisdictions in the island. Until then, the laws enacted by the Parliament established by this Constitution shall have the like area and extent of application as the laws enacted by the Parliament that existed immediately before the coming into operation of this Constitution.

While the democratic way is one way, if that does not work, military pressure will accomplish this (cf. Daniel 8:24-25, 11:39).

Northern Ireland will be united with the rest of the island and become dominated by Europe.

Biblical prophecies are coming to pass.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Brexit and the fate of Northern Ireland, Gibraltar, the UK, and the USA On April 29, 2017, 27 of the nations of the European Union agreed to certain guidelines for the negotiations with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which gave its notice to leave on March 29, 2017. These guidelines are contrary to what the UK wants. Does the EU intend the UK to pay a price for leaving the EU? What does Spain want? What does the Republic of Ireland want? Will Northern Ireland and Gibraltar eventually fall under European control? Will the UK and USA be conquered? What does the Bible teach? Dr. Thiel answer these questions and more in this video.
Brexit Happened: Now What? At 11:00 pm January 31, 2020, the United Kingdom formally left the European Union. Many celebrated, while many mourned. Nigel Farage stated, “This is the greatest moment in modern British history.” What will happen to the United Kingdom? Will the UK be involved in trade deals with the United States of America and the Europeans? Will the UK regret the BRitish Exit (Brexit) from the EU?What will happen with the European Union? Is Europe prophesied to have a great army and many ships? Does the Bible prophesy a reorganization of Europe? Does it prophesy that the Europeans will become a conquering military power? Is the United Kingdom prophesied to be conquered? How does the Bible name the British-descended peoples? Was the British Empire the largest in world history? Was Brexit predicted by Church of God leaders in 1970 and the early 1990s? Will the European Union be negatively affected financially by the departure of the UK? Will this turn out well for the UK or the Europeans? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.
Will the UK Lose Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands? Spain wants Gibraltar and Argentina wants the Falklands (also known as the Malvinas). Does the Bible give clues as to what will happen with these ‘sea gates’? A version of the article in the Spanish language would be ¿Perderá el Reino Unido a Gibraltar y las Islas Falkland (Malvinas)?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be: Are Chinese threats against Australia for real?
Will the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
Canada in Prophecy: What Does Bible Prophecy, Catholic Prophecy, and other Predictions Suggest About the Future of Canada? There are prophecies that suggest involvement with Canada. And many are not positive about its future. A sermon of related interest is also available: Canada in Prophecy.
Australia and New Zealand in Prophecy Do biblical prophecies help explain the wealth blessings for Australia and New Zealand? Might cursings from disobedience come in the 21st century? Here is a link to a related sermon: Australia and New Zealand: Origins and Prophecy.
Greco-Roman 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.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
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 are links to three related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For. The Future King of the North, and Rise of the Prophesied King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Jesus Returning, David’s Throne, and the Stone of Destiny Will Jesus return to the throne of David? What about the Stone of Scone? What is the Lia Fail? Here are links to related videos: Stone of Destiny and Jesus’ Return and Lia Fail and the British Monarchy.
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. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
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?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon;  When Will the End of the Age Come?;  Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 at 7:30 am and is filed under Prophecy.



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