1/ "And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week" (Dan. 9:27a ESV) A lot hinges on the word "gabar." It is a VERB which means "strong, mighty." This is not the normal word used to make (cut) a covenant used throughout the Bible. It means something else.

2/ Instead, BDB Lexicon says "confirm", like NIV, NET & KJV. Wycliffe commentary says "and he shall cause to prevail." Another says it literally means "shall cause a covenant to be strong." NET Bible translator notes say that it involves making strong or confirming a covenant.

3/ Furthermore, gabar is in the Hiphil tense, which implies causation of an action. Which is why commentators above are saying "CAUSE to prevail." All this strongly implies that a PRE-EXISTING covenant may be involved, which Antichrist causes to be strong, or causes to prevail.

4/ This is important from the standpoint of the EU's relationship to Israel. Consistent with Dan. 9:27, EU already HAS a 7-year arrangement w/ Israel. It is cyclical, renewing every 7 years. Next iteration starts on Jan 1. Yet it is anything but "strong." Nor does it "prevail."

5/ EU's ENP, which is financed by the 7 year program, was meant to make a "ring of friends" around Europe. But instead, there is a "ring of fire" around Europe. Which is why one think-tanker even wrote a whole book about how the ENP program is OBSOLETE.

6/ However, if the Antichrist came along, he could use the "Partnership Priorities" document, which is a mutually agreed document, to cause the ENP to be strong or to prevail. This is an ENP doc which is already made for Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, etc. But not Israel.

7/ Perhaps he could use the Partnership Priorities to make a mutually binding agreement with Israel and also with the Palestinians. By making peace using the PP document. It could also include provisions about security. This would cause ENP to "prevail" or cause it to be strong.

8/ But now, EU is talking about resuming high level talks with Israel. Normally, these talks yield a PP doc, after it is negotiated. Some of the PP docs with other countries are going to expire in 2020. Maybe they will make a bunch more, including w/ Israel, before next 7 years?

9/ Will the Antichrist cause a covenant to be strong or cause the ENP to prevail, before January 1, 2021? Stay tuned!

10/ CORRECTION of first tweet. Gabar is a verb which means"to BE strong, mighty." Twitter doesn't have an edit button