1/ In today's Tweet storm, we are talking about about how the Antichrist might make his "covenant with death" with Israel in the near future. We will be looking at two passages: Daniel 9:27 and Isaiah 28. Then we will see what existing programs (NDICI and PP) might fit them.

2/ "And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week," Daniel 9:27a (NASB). One "week" is 7 years, based on the historical fulfillments of other parts of the prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27). Covenant is w/ Israel, b/c entire prophecy is decreed for Jerusalem and the Jews.

3/ Yet the prophecy goes on, and describes the Antichrist's apparent betrayal of that covenant. Antichrist stops sacrifices in temple and is himself the Abomination of Desolation (because it says one "WHO" makes desolate). Therefore, man sets himself as God in the temple.

4/ "but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” Dan. 9:27b NASB

5/ This covenant is also talked about in Isaiah 28:15 & 18. The Israeli leadership (v. 14) explicitly makes a "covenant with death" and makes falsehood their "refuge." This word for refuge is the same word that is used of God in the Psalms, where God is the psalmist's refuge.

6/ "Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, O scoffers,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem," (Isaiah 28:14) It is the rulers of Jerusalem that make a covenant with death. Interestingly, it is PLURAL "scoffers," maybe representing Israel's situation now, with multiple leaders

7/"Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact.
The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.” (Isaiah 28:15)

8/ "Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies
And the waters will overflow the secret place.
“Your covenant with death will be canceled,
And your pact with Sheol will not stand;
When the overwhelming scourge passes through,
Then you become its trampling place.'(Isa. 28:17b-18)

9/ “As often as it passes through, it will seize you;
For morning after morning it will pass through, anytime during the day or night, And it will be sheer terror to understand what it means.” (Isaiah 28:19)

10/ What is the "overwhelming scourge" which "passes through?" I think this represents invading armies. Daniel 11:40-45 describe how Antichrist is attacked from someone north of Israel. In response, he invades many countries. He sweeps down through Israel and then to North Africa

11/ Waters language also probably represents armies, as it does in Revelation 12, where Satan spews out a flood to overtake the woman (Israel) who is fleeing to the desert. Therefore, the Antichrist is like a "scourge" who will "pass through" Israel.

12/ Israel thinks that they will be exempt from attack as the Antichrist sweeps down. But they are gravely mistaken. The covenant with death will be "cancelled" and hail sweeps away the "refuge of lies." "Refuge" implies protection.

13/ Therefore, Israel believes they are safe from invasion, due to their pact with the grave. Either Antichrist guarantees protection to Israel. Or they have an "understanding" with Antichrist, wherein he (or anyone) doesn't invade them in exchange for keeping the agreement.

14/ Elsewhere, the Bible calls the Antichrist the "shepherd" of Israel. However, he severely mistreats the flock and also "leaves" her (Zech. 11:16-17) In Ezekiel 38-39, Israel dwells securely without walls.

15/ This is why commentators have suggested that the Antichrist provides protection and/or a peace covenant with Israel. Somehow, he functions as a "shepherd" which abandons her. Also, Israel relies on the covenant for safety from invasion.

16/ Now for the fun part. The EU already HAS a 7 year contract with Israel (the first in history), with European Neighborhood Policy. It started in 2007, and is cyclical, renewing every 7 years. The next cycle starts Jan 1 2021 and runs until Dec 31 2027.

17/ However, the next cycle merges most EU foreign aid, as well as the neighborhood policy money into one big mega-fund. As a result, the NDICI will finance EU's relationship to Israel (and other countries) for 7 years.

18/ Yet this doesn't meet the full criteria of the covenant in Isaiah 28:15. This relates to the interesting news yesterday, that the EU plans to resume EU-Israel high level dialogue through the EU-Israel Association Council. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286161

19/ As of 2015, under the Revised ENP, the EU likes to make "Partnership Priorities" documents with certain countries as part of Association Council meetings. This is a MUTUAL agreement adopted by BOTH PARTIES. Egypt is a good example. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/23942/eu-egypt.pdf

20/ Now that the EU-Israel association council is going to start up, they could make a Partnership Priorities Document with Israel (and maybe the Palestinian Authority) which aims to resolve the Israel-PA dispute in a certain amount of time.

21/ There's been talk of making a PP document for Israel, but they have not done so. One person on Twitter also suggested that this might be the direction they go. Partnership Priorities. Perhaps this is the way Israel makes the covenant with death? Stay Tuned!