Revived Roman Empire
The European Union is rapidly fulfilling prophecy in
becoming the 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, and a global economy.
Out of this kingdom will arise the most evil dictator ever known to man - the
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:
- The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar
- The Medo-Persian Empire
- The Macedonian Empire under Alexander The Great
- The Roman Empire
Daniel 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.
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, likely because these three will
resist the rise to power of Antichrist, and will object to his far-reaching
powers. 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.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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, will overcome them.
"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.
AN ECUMENICAL AND APOSTATE RELIGION
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 in
Jesus Christ. The rapture, will create an enormous spiritual vacuum on this
planet. As those left behind suffer through the early months of the Tribulation,
a great spiritual awakening will occur. This awakening will divide the remaining
inhabitants on planet earth. It will bring many into the eternal Kingdom of God, 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.
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.
"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.
If the European Union is the
revived Roman Empire that will bring about the rise of Antichrist, then it is
important to look at its religious symbolism. According to Revelation,
Chapter 17, riding on the beast's back will be the harlot that represents a
global pagan religious system that will unite the world and play a part in the
persecution of the tribulation saints.
"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness:
and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of
blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in
purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls,
having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her
fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Revelation
17:3-5.
THE WOMAN RIDING THE BEAST
A demonic biblical symbol from the above scriptures is
being used in conjunction with the European Union today. This is where the
great harlot is depicted riding a beast. When Britain issued a stamp to
commemorate the first European Parliament elections in 1979, the picture on the
stamp depicted this symbol.
According to the Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley, a Northern Ireland
Protestant minister and member of the European Parliament, the woman on a beast
is now the official picture of the European Union. He points out that the
multi-million dollar new parliament building in Brussels, Belgium, contains a dome with a colossal painting, three times life size, of a woman riding a beast.
In Strasbourg, France, the rival parliamentary building
(which contains a large replica of the unfinished Tower of Babel) features a mural of a naked woman riding a beast. Likewise, the new Brussels
headquarters of the Council of Europe contains a bronze statue of a woman
riding a beast, and the beast is depicted riding on waves, just as described in
Revelation 17.
THE ANTHEM
The anthem of the European Union, "Ode
to Joy," also contains religious symbolism. This song is the prelude to
the last movement of Beethoven"s Ninth Symphony, which has religious
implications. European Union publications claim that the anthem really is
an "ode to freedom, � to a sense of community and to peace between
the countries which have decided to unite, and to others which will freely
decide to join them.
However, "Ode To Joy" is not quite that innocent. The
lyrics, written by Friedrich von Schiller, concern the entering of the shrine
of a pagan goddess and the uniting of all men in brotherhood, by the power of
magic.
THE FLAG
The flag of the European Union consists of twelve
stars, inspired by the halo of twelve stars appearing
around the Madonna, as depicted in Catholic pictures of her. Leon Marchal,
former secretary general of the Council of Europe, confirmed that the stars are
representative of "the woman of the Apocalypse." With great enthusiasm,
he explained, "It's wonderful that we have gotten back to the Introit of
the new Mass of the Assumption. It's the corona stellarum duodecim (the crown
of the twelve stars) of the woman of the Apocalypse." He
is referencing the woman in Revelation 12, who appears with a crown of twelve
stars. The Bible uses this symbolism to represent Israel. In contrast, the Catholic
Church has always claimed that she represents the Virgin Mary, "the mother of
God."
THE TOWER OF BABEL
Further
evidence of a religious side to the European Union is a poster they issued, showing
the tower of Babel, carrying the slogan: "Many tongues, one voice." Above the Tower of Babel were shown the eurostars, inverted, as in witchcraft, with the central
points downwards.
As if the celebration of the pagan
tower that led God to confuse the languages of a defiant people wasn"t enough (Genesis
11:9), a crane in the background is shown rebuilding the tower. Once
again, a rebellious people are rebuilding mystery Babylon. As previously
mentioned, in a parliament building in Strasbourg, France, you will find an
enormous replica of the unfinished tower of Babel, whose significance didn"t
even escape the secular press. They have named it "Eurobabel."
THE EUROPEAN UNION CONSTITUTION
The European Union constitution
bans the mention of Christianity as part of Europe"s cultural heritage, while
at the same time, including references to the civilizations of Greece and Rome, and the philosophical heritage of the Enlightenment. European Union government
representatives defend this view of history by claiming any mention of
Christian values would upset the Muslim population.
SUMMARY
Scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes, for those with
eyes to see. The stage is being set for the emergence
of a global political system through the European Union, a global economic
system with the Euro, and a global religious system. The European Union would
seem to fulfill many of the prophesies of the fourth kingdom that is to come,
from which will arise the Antichrist of the end-times. Only time will
tell, but we are encouraged by Jesus Himself, to watch, and be aware of the
signs. We should all be looking up. We may soon be with our Lord.
"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up,
and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28.
SOURCES:
Daniel, 2: 31-45
Daniel 7: 7, 11, 19-20, 23-24
Revelation 12:3; 13:1; 16:13; 17:3-5, 7, 12, 16; 19:20; 20:10
Ezekiel 38:18-23
Genesis 11:9
Luke 21:28
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