Europe Is At It Again by Rev. Raymond Parnell

“The Europe Union bridged the Cold War’s lingering divide at a historic summit Friday, embracing 10 new countries and creating a potential economic and political powerhouse” (Indianapolis Star). This very recent pronouncement sends warnings to the United States relative to supremacy both militarily and financially. But, it also gives cause for reflection to the Lord’s church!

Italy was supreme when Jesus was born in 4 B.C., ruling the world from its capitol, Rome. The Roman Empire has had many leaders, many of them cruel, heartless, even insane. In 26 A.D. Tiberius Caesar was the emperor and permitted the ruthless Herod, tetrarch of Galilee, to decapitate John the Baptist. This gives a chilling example of the kinds of people Europe employed.

They met their match, however, and were soundly defeated by barbaric people in 476 A.D. Nevertheless, the prophet John foretold that Europe would rise again. Using animal imagery, Europe was so vicious that no animal alive could represent her. So, the seer put together an animal unlike any other. It had “seven heads and ten horns, was like a leopard, with feet resembling a bear, but his mouth was as the mouth of a lion.” (Revelation 13:1,2)

Beast of Daniel 7:7

In-depth study shows that John was referring to an empire just as Daniel had done in similar fashion in 537 B.C. (Daniel 7:7-28). Daniel referred to this terrible beast and said that the ten horns were “ten kings that shall arise, and another shall rise after them. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”

Inasmuch as Daniel’s and John’s prophecies have not yet been fulfilled, such articles as the Star’s force serious preachers to ponder: Could these ten nations of Europe be the beginning of prophetic fulfillment? The ten “new countries formed a 15-member group who agreed to unite with three former Soviet Baltic republics, five other countries that once were part of the communist block and two Mediterranean island nations. Its largest expansion ever will create an economy worth more that $9 trillion, rivaling the United States.”

“We have closed one of the bloodiest and darkest chapters in the history of Europe,” said Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Denmark’s prime minister. “Our new Europe is born.” Those countries would add 75 million citizens to the EU’s population of nearly 389 million.

It was note-worthy to observe president Bush as he recognized the prime minister of England, Tony Blair, while speaking against world terrorism. The United States is a daughter of that empire, and it does not seem to be a problem for their united efforts to create great military and economic might, again! Solomon said that money answers all things. It is money, money, money.

Professor Charles A. Kupchan, Georgetown University, sees a “political giant taking form in Copenhagen, one that will serve as a powerful counterweight to the United States.” He further said, “ I think it is a negative development for the exercise of American primacy, but I also think it is inevitable. Europe is emerging on the global scene much as America did a century ago. The U.S. will have to make room for the EU just as Europe’s great powers had to make room for America.”

Just how soon before the next bloodthirsty, ruthless, heartless, world dictator will make his appearance is unknown. Too many make the mistake of trying to become prophets when we should just read the facts, accept them, and act upon them. There is one thing we must do; we have to be prepared for Jesus’ coming!