Signs of the End of the Age, Part 2 The Emergence of the European Union

We have begun examining, from a Biblical perspective, those events that serve as signs of the coming end of the age. If one is awaiting the next act of a play, he can sometimes, by peering underneath the curtain, partially observe movements on stage as props and actors are positioned into their places. Just so, we can observe certain props on the world stage being jockeyed into position.

In Part 1 I discussed the reemergence of the State of Israel. There could be no climactic end to this age without the existence of the State of Israel. That reality was created on May 14, 1948 when Israel declared its independence and miraculously survived the efforts of its Arab neighbors to destroy it.

Now in Part 2 we examine another development in history that necessarily pre-dates the end of the age. That development is the unification of Europe. Let me explain.

From a Biblical perspective, Israel is the center of the Earth. All other nations are identified as being east or west, north or south of Israel. But the Book of Daniel identified four super powers or empires controlling the Middle East. These are Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome.

In the first article in this series we explored the prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27 in the sixth century B.C., in which an angel predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple. This the Romans did in A.D. 70. But Daniel looked centuries beyond A.D. 70 to a future ruler who would descend from the same peoples who would destroy Jerusalem. We call this future ruler the Antichrist. Some time in the near future, we believe, he will arise out of a revived Roman Empire according to the Bible.

Here is the point of this essay: A future revived Roman Empire requires a unified Europe. Under the Old Roman Empire the southern two thirds of Europe, the Middle East, and all of North Africa were united by force. But throughout European history after the break-up of the Roman Empire, Europe has been utterly fragmented. Many rulers like Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Hitler tried to recreate the old Roman Empire, but were ultimately unsuccessful.

In our lifetime, Europe has been reunited! The European Economic Community was created in 1958 to unite Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. The European Union was established in 1993, and it has expanded to 27 members. Passport restrictions between EU countries have been eliminated, and the Euro is a common currency. For centuries this unification of Europe has been unthinkable, but now it exists voluntarily, without force!

In 2016 the United Kingdom has voted to exit from the European Union. In my opinion, Britain's exit will be relatively short-lived. There is another force at work, I believe, that will unite not only the European Union, but also the Middle East and North Africa. More about that in the next essay.

Another essential prop on the stage of world history is now in its place, and we are nearing the end of the age. The End of the Age will explode into a catastrophic time of war and natural disasters. Your only hope for eternal survival will be that you embrace Jesus of Nazareth as your own Messiah. You will not want the Antichrist! Are you prepared for the end of the age?

Signs of the End of the Age, Part 3: The Emergence of Eurabia

Prepared by James T. Bartsch
February, 2010
Published Online by WordExplain.com

Email Contact: jbartsch@wordexplain.com

Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

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