EU super-president on the way?

	In a recent meeting of the exclusive "EU Club" (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain), the group discussed merging the current positions of President of the European Council (Herman Van Rompuy) and President of the European Commission (José Manuel Barroso). Additional leadership roles by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and the President of the Council of the EU (six-month rotating presidency currently held by Denmark), create a "messy" and confusing leadership structure. Meanwhile, EU leaders are calling for more secrecy in their internal affairs (EU Observer, April 12, 2012). One senior EU official noted that the new super-president post "would have more power than either Herman Van Rompuy or Jose Manuel Barroso do today, but also more 'democratic legitimacy' because he or she would be elected by MEPs" (EU Observer, April 20, 2012). Streamlining the EU's leadership structure makes sense from a practical and governance perspective, and it also fits with Bible prophecy. Revelation 13 and 17 describe a future European Beast power guided by a powerful political leader and an influential religious leader. Revelation 20:10 labels these two individuals as the "beast" and the "false prophet". The political leader known as the "beast" has yet to clearly arise on the world scene. The move to create a single post for an "EU Super-President" could pave the way for this to happen. For more information on this intriguing topic, review our free booklet The Beast of Revelation.
	Korean peninsula heats up.
	Source: CIA World Factbook Last week, North Korea celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of the nation's founding president, Kim Il-Sung. The centerpiece of the celebrations was a rocket launch to put a satellite into orbit. However, the rocket disintegrated a few minutes after lift-off. South Korean president Lee criticized the launch, and "said the estimated $850 million cost of a rocket launch... could have bought 2.5 million tons of corn" for the starving, food-aid dependent nation. The South also unveiled a "new cruise missile said to be able to reach any target in the North." In retaliation for what it called "defamation of its leadership," "North Korea's military Monday threatened 'special actions' soon to turn parts of the South Korean capital to ashes... It said the actions 'will reduce all... to ashes in three or four minutes... by unprecedented peculiar means and methods of our own style'" (Agence France-Presse, April 23, 2012). Whether tensions on the Korean peninsula escalate to the highest level remains to be seen. Bible prophecy indicates that at the time of the end, a 200-million-man Asiatic army will advance on Jerusalem from the East (Daniel 11:44; Revelation 9:13-19; 16:12). To support such an army, there must be a certain level of unity among Asiatic nations--including Russia and China--a situation that currently does not exist. We need to watch where the dynamic events in Asia are going to lead. For more information on end-time prophecy, review our booklet Revelation: The Mystery Unveiled!
	Sweden's gender equality push.
	In Sweden, "gender equality" begins in preschool. Sweden's national preschool curriculum states, "Preschools should counteract traditional gender patterns and gender roles. In preschools, girls and boys should have the same opportunities to test and develop abilities and interests without being limited by stereotypical gender roles." Gender neutrality proponents claim identifying girls and boys by their birth genders forces them into a role that will limit them. One preschool director noted, "Children ought to be allowed to be children, but we should not cement them in roles that we carry with us from the past." Opponents state, "It is important to have your gender confirmed to you as a child. This does not limit children; it makes them confident about their identity.... Children ought to be allowed to mature slowly and naturally." Said one author, in regard to those pushing gender neutrality, "... they clearly despise traditional people--that is, the... heterosexuals living in nuclear families" (Christian Science Monitor, April 7, 2012). The Bible instructs parents to rear their children in the "training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). Older men are to be examples and older women are instructed to specifically instruct younger women in their gender-roles related to home and family (Titus 2:1-5). The Bible reveals that God "created [human beings] male and female" (Genesis 5:2), with roles designed to bring about true fulfillment--a truth that some today increasingly hate and reject.