Brexit and Daniel’s Final World Empire

For several decades, Christians have speculated on whether or not the European Union is the final world empire outlined in the Bible. The Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation point to a revived Roman Empire that will appear in the end times (Daniel 7:23; Revelation 17:10).

Since World War II, prophecy watchers have paid careful attention to the slow and steady unification of western Europe. Along the way, the effort has faced numerous roadblocks. These include squabbles over a single currency, trade protections, debt bailouts, and other issues. One of the latest is an effort to leave the Union.

In a June 2016 referendum, United Kingdom voters opted to leave the European Union. The media labeled the British exit vote “Brexit,” for “British exit,” and many quickly announced the death of the European Union, believing the vote would lead other nations to leave as well. But is this the most likely outcome? No. If anything, Brexit is just another indication bible prophecy students are correct when they compare the EU to Daniel’s revived Roman Empire.

The Latest News on Brexit

Almost three years after the UK shocked the world by voting “yes” to leaving the EU, they still haven’t left. For months, the British parliament has rejected Prime Minister Teresa May’s Brexit package. Some anti-Brexit politicians believe they can indefinitely delay a deal to leave the European Union or engineer another referendum. If so, the United Kingdom might not ever escape the orb of the giant European super state. But even if they do, it doesn’t mean the EU isn’t the revived Roman Empire mentioned in the Bible.

While some people think Brexit is a step backward for bible prophecy, I think it’s just the opposite. To me, Brexit is yet another reason to believe some form of the EU will become Daniel’s prophesied final empire. Why? Because the EU’s characteristics match those of the empire Daniel describes.

For instance, the Bible says this final world empire will be a kingdom:

Of ten nations (Daniel 2:41, Daniel 7:7)
From among the ancient Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26-27)
Made up of weak and strong nations (Daniel 2:42)
Of nations trying to strengthen themselves by forming alliances with each other (Daniel 2:43)
That fails to hold together or “gel,” just as iron and clay don’t stick together (Daniel 2:43)
Divided (Daniel 2:41)

A Global Empire

As I write this article, no empire rules the world. And that includes a global empire of ten nations or ten kings. So the EU in its present form is not the global empire foreseen by Daniel. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t become that empire. Most likely, it’s an early stage of what will become the Antichrist’s global empire. Why? Again, it fits every one of the characteristics outlined above. The Antichrist’s empire will be:

1) A Revived Roman Empire – The global empire from Daniel’s vision is built on the ashes of the ancient Roman Empire. Why do I say this? First, the ruler of this global empire is the Antichrist. According to Daniel, the Antichrist will arise from the nation whose armies destroyed the Temple and Jerusalem in A.D. 70 (Daniel 9:26). That nation was Rome. So the global empire’s ruler will come from Rome.

Second, when explaining Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel described five empires that will rule Israel before Jesus returns. Those empires were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and a ten nation alliance (Daniel 2:36-45). He describes each successive kingdom, but he makes no distinction between the fourth kingdom and the ten nation alliance (Daniel 2:40-43). In other words, the ten nation alliance will be a new form of the fourth kingdom – Rome.

Later, Daniel has another vision. This time, he sees four beasts, each representing a world power that will conquer Israel (Daniel 7). We know the fourth beast is Rome because it conquers the third beast, Greece (Daniel 7:6). But we also know it will come back. Why? Because it “will rule the whole earth” (Daniel 7:23), and it will be ruled by the Antichrist (Daniel 7:24-25). Rome neither ruled the whole earth nor was it ruled by the Antichrist. Also, this empire is yet again described as a ten nation alliance (Daniel 7:20), and the ancient Roman Empire never took the form of a ten nation alliance.

Today, the EU sits on the ashes of the ancient Roman Empire. Ancient Rome occupied nearly every part of the current EU member nations, including Italy – home to Rome itself.

2) An Alliance of Weak and Strong Nations – The global empire Daniel described will be a group of weak and strong nations. Does this describe the EU? Yes. As I write this, the EU contains the world’s 4th, 5th, and 6th largest economies (Germany, the United Kingdom, and France). It also contains the world’s 98th, 102nd, and 124th largest economies (Estonia, Iceland, and Malta).

When it comes to military spending, the EU contains the world’s 6th, 7th, 9th, and 12th largest militaries (France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy). Yet, it also contains the world’s 80th, 87th, 91st, and 93rd (Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia).

Alone, not a single EU nation is a world power. Together, they are the world’s greatest economic power. Combined, their military spending is second only to the United States. In fact, several European politicians have called for an EU army. Don’t doubt it – the EU is a superpower. It’s a revived Roman Empire made up of weak and strong nations. And this is what the Bible says will exist just before Jesus returns.

3) A Divided Alliance, Loosely Held Together – The global empire Daniel described will also be divided (Daniel 2:41). It will struggle to hold itself together, just as iron and clay struggle to hold themselves together (Daniel 2:43). Do we see this type of alliance when we look at the EU? Absolutely!

Since its inception, the EU has been an odd collection of politicians, governments, economies, currencies, and militaries. From the Schuman Declaration in 1950 to the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, the rise of the EU has been marked by a struggle to agree on important issues.

These include arguments over a single currency (the United Kingdom and Denmark opted out), disagreements over how to handle debt crises (the Greek bailouts), and disputes over open borders (the Syrian refugee crisis). Each step along the way, the EU struggled to survive.

And this is where Brexit comes in. Critics point to Brexit as evidence the EU is not the coming global empire. But the exact opposite is true. Brexit is just the latest example of the EU’s struggle to stay together, “just as iron and clay don’t hold together.” In the June 2016 referendum, citizens of the UK voted to leave. Almost three years later, they still haven’t left.

Will they ever leave? I don’t know. Does it matter? I don’t think so. Because Brexit is a perfect example of why the EU is a “divided alliance” (Daniel 2:41). It’s a union of weak and strong nations struggling to bond together (Daniel 2:43). This is exactly how the Bible described the final world empire.

What Now?

A formal British exit from the European Union was scheduled to occur on March 29. After the British parliament failed to agree on an exit plan yet again, members voted to delay withdrawal until June 30. But it isn’t that simple. Unless the EU agrees to an extension, the March 29 deadline will still apply.

This means the UK could leave the EU without an exit deal in place. Such a scenario could wreak havoc on the UK economy and, quite possibly, the world economy. Because of the threat of economic disaster, some politicians are calling for a new referendum or even a parliamentary vote to overturn the will of the people. If they get their way, Brexit could be cancelled altogether.

All this volatility makes it more likely the EU is an early phase of the alliance Daniel described. It’s the mirror image of the revived Roman Empire the Bible says will appear in the last days (Daniel 2:40-43, Daniel 7:23-24). It’s made up of weak and strong nations (Daniel 2:42). It’s divided against itself (Daniel 2:41), and the effort of these nations to come together and strengthen themselves is volatile and unstable (Daniel 2:43).

These bible verses sound a lot like the EU, don’t they? I sure think so. Brexit isn’t the end of the EU. It’s just the latest event pointing to the rise of Daniel’s global empire. It’s another sign Jesus is coming!

The Clock Is Ticking. Are You Ready?

Awhile back I was getting a lot of robo calls, so I found a feature on my phone that can block them. Before long I was blocking a lot of numbers. Then someone told me, “I called you five times. Why didn’t you answer the phone?”

I was blocking people I actually wanted to hear from because I was getting messages from people I didn’t want to hear from.

In some ways that’s like a lot of people when they hear that events in our world and in our culture today are signs of the times: “Oh, give me a break! I’ve heard that before! They’ve been saying forever that Jesus is coming back, and nothing has really changed.”

Actually, a lot of things have changed. I believe we’re living in the last days.

Just look at the aggression of Russia on so many fronts recently and the provocative statements from President Vladimir Putin about their nuclear capabilities and a willingness to use them.

Russia has developed a new intercontinental ballistic missile that can hit any target they choose. NATO calls it “Satan 2.”

There is the emergence of China, not only as an economic superpower but as a military superpower as well. China is becoming more aggressive, launching massive drills in the South China Sea. Then there is the weaponization of space.

Many of China’s space capabilities are designed to counter U.S. military advantages. In a very technical sense, we’re literally headed to Star Wars.

Add to this rogue nations like Iran and North Korea, the constant threat of Islamic terrorism and ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Not all the advances in technology today are being used for good things. Everything we do is recorded. We’re becoming more aware of this, especially in light of the fact Facebook reported that the data of 87 million people might have been improperly shared.

We realize that our information can be hacked and that someone with sinister motives could use it for some very bad things. One day that person, known as the Antichrist, will come on the scene.

Maybe this is why the famous Doomsday Clock was moved forward in January of last year. It’s now two minutes to midnight, the closest it’s ever been.

The keepers of this so-called clock, a group of atomic scientists, are saying that because of the threat level and recent developments, we’re that close to an all-out nuclear exchange. It isn’t a theologian who’s saying this; it’s atomic scientists.

We scratch our heads and say, “What in the world is going on?”

Are you ready for the answer? We’re racing toward Armageddon.

It’s as though everything has been sped up, moving rapidly toward what the Bible calls the end of days or the last days. Jesus compared it to labor pains: The closer to the moment of delivery, the closer together the labor pains will be. That is how it will be in the end times.

There will be warnings, things that remind us that it’s coming. And as we get closer to the actual unfolding of prophetic events, these “labor pains” will get closer and closer together. I think we’re seeing this happen before us now.

So what are we supposed to do? Jesus said, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). This means we’re to look to Heaven and be reminded of the fact that God is in control.

We need to know what is happening in our world, and studying Bible prophecy helps us remember that God is in control of all events in the world today. It can be very scary. We wonder what will happen. God is in control. Things are going according to schedule.

Studying Bible prophecy also gives us a heavenly perspective. I think we often lose that. I remember going to visit a 30-year-old woman from our church who was in the hospital. They were running all kinds of tests, trying to figure out what was going on and what they could do for her.

As I talked with this woman and her husband, she ministered to me more than I ministered to them. She told me that God was with them, and they were trusting him. Then she said, “Pastor Greg, I’m very excited about what is happening. The Lord is at work.”

She could say something like that because when you’re a Christian in a time of difficulty, God is with you in a special way. Maybe you’re more aware of how God is with you, and you’re hanging on to him more tightly. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, the Bible says. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9.)

I think we all need that in our lives, because we can go through an entire day without a single thought about Heaven. We can go through an entire week without even thinking about eternal things. But when you’re on your back in a hospital bed, the only way you can look is up.

We need a heavenly perspective, and we need to be reminded of this simple fact: Jesus Christ is coming back, and he’s coming back soon. Are you ready? If you really believe that Christ could return at any time, it will impact the way you live.

In a single moment in time, you can make a decision that affects your entire life. The most important decision of all is Jesus Christ – whether you accept him or reject him. The biggest decision of all is what you do with Jesus Christ.

Jesus makes radical claims. He claims to be the only way to the Father. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus died for you on the cross and rose from the dead. He stands at the door of your life and knocks. If you’ll hear his voice and open the door, he will come in.

A lot is at stake. I really believe that Jesus is coming back. He could return today, tonight, or tomorrow. Will you be ready?

Get right with God. Get right … or get left.

Bible-Snatching Police Confirm Their Anti-Christ Agenda

THE establishment pays lip service to Christianity, parading on special occasions in cathedrals and producing ‘safe’ Christian programmes such as Songs of Praise. But when it runs into unabashed Christianity prepared to deny progressive pieties, the mask slips. There is growing alienation between Christians holding a biblical worldview and the establishment in our increasingly secular society.

Video of the arrest of Oluwole Ilesanmi, a street preacher in Wood Green, north London, has gone viral. Arrests of street preachers for causing offence have become routine. This instance reveals the underlying prejudices of the establishment.

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Mr Ilesanmi was arrested by police under Section 5 of the Public Order Act for ‘using threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour . . . within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress’.

During his sermon he argued there was a connection between terrorism and the text of the Quran. Two white non-Muslim political activists approached and accused him of preaching lies, and of being Islamophobic. He responded that the Bible speaks the only truth and that people need to give their lives to the Lord Jesus. Mr Ilesanmi was reported to the police for supposed Islamophobia.

Most commentators have focused on the initial attempt to stop Mr Ilesanmi from preaching. However, the most chilling part of the video comes almost unnoticed at the very end.

As the police handcuff and arrest Mr Ilesanmi, they rip his Bible from his hands.

Mr Ilesanmi pleads, ‘Don’t take my Bible away. Don’t take my Bible away.’

The police officer replies, ‘You should have thought about that before being racist!’

The handcuffed preacher is then marched off. He was later released without charge.

Many have pointed out the double standards employed by the police. The Metropolitan Police is the force which provided protection for hate-preacher Abu Hamza when he addressed hundreds of followers outside Finsbury Park mosque, later notorious as a haven for terrorists.

Others have focused on the importance of free speech for society. Unless we are free to say things others might find offensive, free speech is meaningless and conformity is enforced. An increasing number in Britain find the gospel offensive. Christians are obliged to spread the gospel in private, and in public.

However, what is of profound concern is the open hostility towards the Christian message displayed by the police officers. A police officer automatically assuming that preaching that Jesus is the only way of salvation amounts to ‘racism’ is something which should be of great concern to every Christian.

Unfortunately, this is neither new, a matter of ignorance amongst low-level police officers, nor confined to London. In Scotland the same antipathy toward biblical Christianity is apparent on a governmental and official police level.

You can read the full article here

The Book No Socialist Dares Read

WHEN a visitor to the Soviet Union returned to his home country, he declared: ‘I have seen the future, and it works’. While this sounds as though it could have come from the numerous British socialists who made the pilgrimage to the USSR during the 1930s, it was in fact uttered by an American investigative journalist called Lincoln Steffens.

He made the remark in 1919, after returning from Petrograd. According to his biography, Steffens was put up in a heated palace with servants, from which he ventured, stepping over emaciated corpses in the streets, to observe the starving local inhabitants at work in a communist society.

Of this, he wrote: ‘Soviet Russia was a revolutionary government with an evolutionary plan‘ and that the dreadful conditions were ‘a temporary condition of evil, which is made tolerable by hope and a plan’. Meanwhile the Red Terror was in full swing. Steffens had willingly mistaken a ‘boot stamping on a human face for ever’ for a future that works.

You can read the full article here.

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