The European Union is rapidly fulfilling prophecy in becoming the much prophesied revived Roman Empire, the final worldly kingdom of human history. According to prophecy, this kingdom will give rise to an ecumenical and apostate religion, a global government (including military), and a global economy. Out of this kingdom will arise the most evil dictator ever known to man — The Beast — Antichrist.
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Revelation 17:12-13
BACKGROUND
The Prophet Daniel, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, provides us with very detailed information on the rise and fall of four worldly kingdoms, from the time of his life, until that glorious day when Jesus Christ will return to reign His millennial kingdom on earth. From the Book of Daniel, the four prophesied kingdoms are as follows:
It is amazing to Christian’s when non-Christian’s challenge the divine inspiration of the Holy Bible. This is just one of thousands of examples where human history has taken place, in hair-splitting detail, exactly as it was foretold.
Secular historian and archaeological evidence consistently supports the fact that the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Macedonian empires were all defeated by their successors, as prophesied in great detail by the Prophet Daniel. Daniel also speaks of the final worldly empire, the revived Roman Empire. He reveals to us that this is the last and terrible beast in his vision. The original Roman Empire was never conquered. It simply fell (also revealed in prophecy). In fact, to this date, its wreckage remains at its original location, just as Daniel said it would.
There have been many unsuccessful attempts to rebuild and revive the Roman Empire. Throughout the centuries, since its fall, many political leaders have dreamed
of resurrecting the Roman Empire. Napoleon Bonaparte, Benito Mussolini, and
Winston Churchill, all for different reasons, and with different motives,
shared the vision of a
“United States of Europe.” The last attempt (not including today’s European Union)
was the failed revival under the evil reign and regime of Adolf Hitler.
Daniel clearly tells us that there will be a future revival of the Roman Empire in the area of Europe and parts of the Middle East. This revived Roman Empire, the fourth beast of Daniel’s prophetic vision, is portrayed as the ten toes of the great image in the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylonia.
These scriptures from Daniel reveal the fourth beast, or kingdom, of his vision:
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.”(Daniel 7:7-8) “Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.”
(Daniel 7:23-24)
In the scriptures, Daniel reveals a fourth beast with 10 horns. The fourth beast is the revived Roman Empire, and the 10 horns represent the Kings of its member nations. The little horn, speaking great words, rises up and conquers three of those nations and their Kings. The little horn is Antichrist, who will rise to power through the revived Roman Empire. Of the 10 horns, three are subdued, because these three will resist the rise to power of Antichrist, and will object to his far-reaching powers. Make no mistake, Antichrist will swat them down like flies. From this kingdom, and the reign of Antichrist, a global system of apostate religion, politics, and economics will come to fruition. Antichrist will temporarily rule over the entire earth during the three and one-half years of the Great Tribulation. But, have no fear. Jesus Christ is coming back. Jesus will return to earth, defeat the Beast, and establish his millennial Kingdom.
A GLOBAL ECONOMY: THE EURO
On the first of January, 1999, the Euro, and the European Monetary Union (EMU) were born. The Euro became the legal currency in eleven EU nations, in addition to national currencies, but was not expected to go into cash circulation until some time later. These nations were Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. Greece joined the currency program on January 2, 2001.
By October, 2001, these twelve member nations required prices to be displayed in both Euros and the national currency. By December of that same year, advanced distribution of Euro notes and coins to the general public began.
The Euro was used, along with the traditional national currency until the end of February 2002. However, consumers only received change back in Euros. The national currencies were no longer valid for bank accounts or cashless transactions. Travelers in the “Euro zone“ were no longer required to exchange money as they moved from one country to another. Prices were then required to be displayed in Euros only.
By the fifth year as a cash currency, (January, 2007) the Euro was trading at a rate of about $1.30 (American Dollars). The appreciation of the Euro against the dollar has taken the currency close to its highest value ever, around $1.35, and the competition continues.
The Euro is modeled after the currency system in America. The European Union has a central bank called the European Central Bank, whereas the United States has its Federal Reserve Bank. When the United States ceases to exist as an economic and military power, perhaps through the rapture, the Euro, and its trade paper, will surely take over as the great new economic power of the world.
A GLOBAL POLITICAL SYSTEM
The United States of America has been a role model of freedom and prosperity for the entire world. Many believe that she has been blessed, because she is a Judeo-Christian nation, but that blessing may soon be lifted, as America crumbles into moral decline, turning her back on the God of the Universe.
Even so, just as America began with thirteen colonies, and grew to become a republic encompassing fifty individual states, the European Union has used her example to rapidly become a geopolitical super power, a “United States of Europe,” now encompassing some twenty-seven member nations. Those nations include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
Of its member nations, ten nations, known as the Western European Union, have a separate and special status as full members, while others only have an associate membership, or observer status. Members of the Western European Union are Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. This is significant, prophetically, because the Bible tells us that it will be a 10 nation confederacy that Antichrist and his False Prophet will rule from. However, their days in power are numbered. Jesus Christ, the Lamb, the Lord of lords, and King of kings, shall overcome them. Here is the scriptural evidence for that statement:
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”(Revelation 17:12-14.)
The following excerpt is from an article dated December 6, 2000 from The Times website titled "Secret plan for an EU 'Superstate."
In this article it states, "In a confidential joint paper sent to France, which holds the EU's rotating Presidency, Berlin and Rome said the summit should agree to hold an inter-governmental conference (IGC) in 2004 'with a view to the further development of European integration'...It says the IGC should consider 'a simplification of the treaties with a view to achieving improved legibility and clarity.' British Eurosceptics have long regarded 'treaty simplification' - which would create a separate document for the EU's core principles - as a back-door route to a European constitution."
This second excerpt is from a BBC News article, dated Thursday, December 7, 2000, titled "Fears of a European Superstate."
In this article it states, "The European Court of Justice, based in Luxembourg, enforces EU laws across the whole union. To those suspicious about an emerging superstate, the court represents a sinister threat to the old nation-states of Europe. Yet even the president of France, with all its Gallic pride, has declared his support for a formal constitution for the European Union - real proof to some that a superstate is being hatched....In this great debate on Europe's future, the German Foreign Minister, Joschka Fischer, has proposed the most radical ideas. He says the EU must in the end become a single federation, with its political leader chosen by direct elections among all of Europe's citizens."
These two articles mention a future European constitution and a single federation with one political leader, all chosen by all European citizens. This future leader of the European Union will be Antichrist himself.
As previously discussed, Revelation 17:12-13 describes a situation wherein the 10 kings have not yet received a kingdom. Instead, they receive their power as Kings— one hour with the beast. Even though the European Union has not yet received its power, the spirit of Antichrist, and the groundwork of his evil plans, are already being laid down for acceptance by the masses. The delusion and apostasy begins.
The following quote is from an article that appeared in the electronic Telegraph, dated March 10, 2001, titled, "Euro-court outlaws criticism of EU."
"The European Court of Justice ruled that the European Union can lawfully suppress political criticism of its institutions and of leading figures, sweeping aside English Common Law and 50 years of European precedents on civil liberties. The EU's top court found that the European Commission was entitled to sack Bernard Connolly, a British economist, dismissed in 1995, for writing a critique of European monetary integration titled, ‘The Rotten Heart of Europe.’ The ruling stated that the commission could restrict dissent in order to 'protect the rights of others' and punish individuals who 'damaged the institution's image and reputation.' The case has wider implications for free speech that could extend to EU citizens who do not work for the Brussels bureaucracy.”
From this article, we learn how the highest court in the European Union has eliminated free speech rights from the economist, Bernard Connolly, when he spoke against the EU. Knowing this, what do you think would happen to a spirit-filled Christian, preaching against the EU or the Revived Roman Empire from the Holy Bible in the future? Chilling, isn’t it?
AN ECUMENICAL AND APOSTATE RELIGION: WORSHIP ENFORCED THROUGH MILITARY POWER?
Let us begin with God’s Holy Word.
“And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.”(Revelation 6:2) “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?”
(Revelation 13:3-4)
From these scriptures we learn that Antichrist, in the Great Tribulation period, will have a military. In some recent news reports, we are starting to see the beginning developments of a military in the European Union or Revived Roman Empire.
The following quote is from an article in The Oregonian Newspaper, dated June 4, 1999, titled "European Union agrees to form military."
In this article it states, "The leaders of 15 European countries decided Thursday to make the European Union a military power for the first time in its history, with command headquarters, staffs and forces of its own for peacekeeping and peacemaking missions in future crises, like those in Kosovo or Bosnia."
Another article, published in the Telegraph on April 7, 2001, titled, "EU agrees to a satellite system to rival US," states, “European Union ministers agreed yesterday to begin developing a European satellite navigation system. At present, the EU relies on access to the American Global Positioning System (GPS), which was developed for military purposes and is still controlled by the US Defense Department. The new £2 billion system, known as Galileo, would give the EU its own network of 30 satellites for use in managing air traffic control, mobile telephones, land surveys, crime fighting and a host of other functions that rely on pin-point positioning....'Galileo allows Europe to achieve self-sufficiency in the field of satellite navigation, whatever the use: civilian, military, or scientific.' Brigadier Geoffrey Van Orden, MEP, Tory spokesman on European defense, said the project was part of the EU's drive to become a strategic player in the world, and would complement the 60,000-man rapid reaction force.... The plan is to launch the first satellite by the end of 2005."
We learn from these articles, with command headquarters, staff, and a new satellite system, this future military could be increased to any size, with the ability to dominate the world with Antichrist in power.
RELIGIOUS WAR IN THE END OF DAYS?
The final form of the revived Roman Empire, in its spiritual birth, will take place after the time of the rapture, the disappearance of all believers and followers of Christ Jesus. The rapture, and the early months of the Tribulation will cause a great spiritual awakening. This awakening will divide the remaining inhabitants on planet earth. It will bring many into the eternal Kingdom of God. These folks will come to be known as the Tribulation Saints. But, it will also serve as the platform for a universal world church, the harlot, who will commit fornication with demonic religions for the sake of religious unity. Many will deny the One and Only Holy God, and forever be damned.
The Beast— Antichrist— and his False Prophet, will at that time claim that Jesus is a lesser deity. This will begin the time of persecution spoken of in Revelation and Daniel for all of the Tribulation Saints. In this time of their fiery trial, many will be martyred for their faith, yet in doing so, gain eternal life in Christ Jesus.
Those who are spiritually blinded, will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire with their King—Satan Himself.
SUMMARY
The stage is being set, today, for a Revived Roman Empire, within the modern day rise of the European Union:
What should I do now?
From Daniel Chapter 2
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and, behold, a great image. This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was terrible.
32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
33 its legs of iron, its feet part of iron, and part of clay.
34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon its feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them in pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken in pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing-floors; and the wind carried them away, so that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
37 Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;
38 and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold.
39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee; and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron, forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron that crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush.
41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
43 And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron doth not mingle with clay.
44 And in the days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary
Daniel 2:32 Da 2:32 As for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of brass,
Verse 32. Head was of fine gold - The Babylonish Empire, the first and greatest.
Breast and his arms of silver -The Medo-Persian Empire, under Cyrus, &c.
His belly and his thighs of brass - The Macedonian Empire, under Alexander the Great, and his successors.
Geneva Bible Notes
By gold, silver, brass, and iron are meant the Chaldean, Persian, Macedonian, and Roman kingdoms, which would successively rule all the world until Christ (who is here called the stone) himself comes, and destroys the last.
From Daniel Chapter 7
7:7 After this I saw in the night-visions, and, behold, a fourth beast, terrible and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
7:11 I beheld at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
7:19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was
diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its
nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with
its feet;
7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other [horn] which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
7:24 And as for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
From Revelation 12, 13, 16, 17, 19, and 20
12:3 And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems.
13:1 and he stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns, and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy.
16:13 And I saw [coming] out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs:
17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
17:12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image: they two were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:
20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where are also the beast and the false prophet; and they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
From Ezekiel Chapter 38
18 And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord Jehovah, that my wrath shall come up into my nostrils.
19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;
20 so that the fishes of the sea, and the birds of the heavens, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
21 And I will call for a sword against him unto all my mountains, saith the Lord Jehovah: every man's sword shall be against his brother.
22 And with pestilence and with blood will I enter into judgment with him; and I will rain upon him, and upon his hordes, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
23 And I will magnify myself, and sanctify myself, and I will make myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am Jehovah.
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