By COGwriter
Europe gets its name from Europa of Roman/Greek mythology. Essentially all Teutonic languages, except English, call Europe, Europa.
The Church of God (COG) has long taught that the last resurrection of the Roman empire will take place in Europe. And that this empire is represented by as a "beast" throughout the books of Revelation and Daniel. And that there is a woman, representing some type of church, that Revelation shows rides that beast. The Roman Catholic Church also teaches that there will be another resurrection of the "Holy Roman Empire" in Europe, but their view towards it is that it is a tool for good.
This article will discuss some of that as well as certain myths and facts of history that tie Europe into some of the prophecies in the Book of Revelation and other parts of the Bible. (Most of the prophetic section is in the last 1/2 of this article.)
Here is a version of the story of Europa from the San Diego State University website,
One night Europa had a dream. In this dream two continents, which were in the forms of women were arguing over Europa. Asia maintained that since Europa had been born in Asia she belonged to it. The other continent, which was nameless, said that her birth was not important, that Zeus would give her to it. It was early morning, disturbed by the dream Europa did not go back to sleep. She summoned her companions, who were all daughters of nobility and of her age. It was a beautiful day and they went off gathering flowers by the sea. Zeus noticed this charming group, particularly Europa, who was the prettest [sic] of the maidens…Zeus appeared to the group as a white bull. A white bull more beautiful then any other…The bull laid down in front of Europa. She slid on to its back. Instantly, the bull charged off, plunging into the sea, and began to swim rapidly from the shore. Europa saw that a procession had joined them, Nereids riding dolphins, Triton blowing his horn, even Poseidon. From this she realized that the bull must be a god. She pleaded with him to pity her. Zeus spoke to her and explained his love. He took her to Create, where he had been raised. He promised that she would bear him many famous sons (Hunt J.M. Zeus Lovers. http://edweb.sdsu.edu/people/bdodge/scaffold/GG/zeusLover.html, 4/9/04).
Notice that the story claims that Europa was actually born in Asia. This is interesting, because Astarte, the 'queen of heaven', is widely believed to be of Asian origin. Ishtar/Astarte (from where the name Easter is derived) was a Babylonia goddess. This woman was probably originally Semiramis (the mother of Nimrod), who was considered the first queen of Babylon.
Semiramis had herself deified as the mother of the god Damu and installed as the "queen of heaven" pictured in the constellation Cassiopeia. She is sometimes shown as a virgin with child, while she was widely believed to originally have been a harlot.
The connection between Astarte (the 'queen of heaven') and Europa was noticed long ago. The following account was written by one called Lucian in the second century,
In Phoenicia is another great temple which the people of Sidon keep. They say it belongs to Astarte, and Astarte...is Selene the Moon. The Emperor Elagabalus, being the Sun, brought Astarte the Moon from Phoenicia and wedded her. But she was not originally or at any time primarily the moon; and in Babylonia, as Ishtar, she had for Her emblem a star, the planet Venus. But one of the priests told me it belongs to Europa, sister of Cadmus. She was daughter of King Agenor; and after she vanished, Phoenicians honored her with that temple, and told a holy tale about her that says she was beautiful; Zeus desired her and transformed himself into the likeness of a bull, and then snatched her away and bore her on his back to Crete. That same story I heard from other Phoenicians as well; and the coinage which the Sidonians use depicts Europa sitting on the bull that is Zeus. Nonetheless, they do not agree that the temple is that of Europa. The temple itself contained, in later days at least, a painting of the Europa episode. The story was also localized at Tyre, where the house of Agenor and the bower of Europa were shown and where in the eighth century the people still mourned the abduction in a feast called the kake'opsin'. The name Europa is considered Greek; whether this particular myth is Cretan or Phoenician in origin the evidence does not seem sufficient to determine (Peri Tes Syries Theoy De Dea Syria Concerning the Syrian Goddess by Lucian of Samosata 2nd Century C.E., http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Lofts/2938/deasyria1.html 4/08/04).
Here is another view of the story,
According to Greek mythology the chief Greek god Zeus fell in love with the human daughter of the Phoenician king, named Europa; in the shape of a white bull he abducted her, and had three sons through her. In order to 'make up' for his behavior, she was honored by naming a continent after her: Europa. This 'love' affair, though illegal, is 'covenantal behavior.' And giving names to territories is also 'covenantal behavior'. Zeus can be identified as Satan (Rev. 2:13). Has he tried, by establishing a false covenantal relationship with this continent, to have a 'legal' claim on this continent?...As mentioned, Europa was a Phoenician princess. In Syria she was equated with Astarte, an adaptation of the demonic principality named in the bible as the queen of heaven. She is also known as Ishtar. One of Ishtar's sacred symbols was the bull. At Knossos the queen-priestess represented the 'mother goddess,' the queen of heaven. Bulls were sacred; bull-games had a very important...Europe bore him three sons, one of whom was Minos. Then Europe married Asterios, the king of Crete (Bos, Helene. EUROPE, WHAT'S IN THE NAME? February 2004. http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:ercf9u3roXgJ:www.joelnews.nl/NameofEurope.doc+europa+consolation+continent+named&hl=en&i.e.=UTF-8 4/8/04).
Finally, here is another version of the story of Europa from the Greek government,
The final destination was Crete and in particular Gortyna where Zeus was joined in a "sacred marriage" with Europa, beneath a plane tree which has never lost its leaves ever since. It is interesting that the coins of Gortyna found had maintained the memory of this scene. One can see Europa seated on the trunk of the sacred tree, while on the other side of the coin the bull looks at her for one last time…She was worshipped with the name of Hellotis and at the celebrations, the Hellotia a celebration of joy for the blossoming of nature, people used to weave wreaths around her thighs as an indication of fertility. It was believed that Europa was initially a nymph, daughter of Oceanus. This version coincides with the myth of cosmogony in that the lands arose from the ocean. According to another similar version, Europa seems to be the personification of a brilliant meteor or a bright star. Europa, the daughter of Telephassa, "the one who shines from afar", might have been a figure for the moon, each morning eloping with the solar bull and each night appearing brilliant on the dark sky (Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs http://www.mfa.gr/english/greece/through_time/mythology/europa.html 4/10/04).
Apparently then, Europa was a nymph. It should perhaps also be noted that nymphs were unmarried semi-goddesses that frequently were involved in fornication in mythology. Many accounts of Europa also mention that she had a least two kingly husbands. And she seems to be tied in to "the queen of heaven".
It is also interesting to note that Lucian reported that there was an ancient coin pictured Europa riding a beast, as the Greeks currently still do so. The 2 Euro coin in Greece (a couple of which this author actually owns) has a woman riding a beast on one side of it:
Thus the story of Europa riding a beast it still a symbol for modern European.
The Bible
The Bible itself warns about worship of the 'queen of heaven'. Jeremiah 7:18-20 states,
The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?" says the LORD. "Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces?" Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place--on man and on beast, on the trees of the field and on the fruit of the ground. And it will burn and not be quenched.
Lest the comments about female symbology seem to be all negative, it needs to be understood that two different women are represented in the Book of Revelation--one approved, while the other condemned.
Revelation 12 uses the analogy of a woman who brought forth Christ and needs to flee to the wilderness and receive God's protection (she represents the 7 churches of Revelation 2 & 3). The final verse of that chapter concludes with,
And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17).
Thus, it is clear that the offspring of the woman in Revelation 12 includes those in the true Church as they are the ones who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. These must be those in the true church. 2 John also appears to use the analogy of a good woman ("the elect lady" 2 John 1) as a symbol the church. And the Apostle Paul does as well in Ephesians 5:25-32)--and these references cannot all be related to "Mary" as some Catholics seem to wish to believe as the woman is shown to be on the earth and to need physical protection (Revelation 12:13-16).
However, there is also a second woman. The woman in Revelation 17:3 is unfaithful and she rides a scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns. According to Revelation 12:3, there is a dragon that also shares those same characteristics,
"behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads".
It is the dragon in Revelation 12:17 that goes to make war against those who keep God's commandments. The woman that rides this beast in Revelation 17 is not representative of the true church--in a sense it is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation. (It is also "eighth" in the sense that it endorses worship on the "eighth" day. This is documented in the article Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Church of God?).
Thus, there are two distinct women, representing two differing churches, in the Book of Revelation (articles of related interest may be What Does Rome Teach About Early Church History? and Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome). One whose offspring keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:17;19:7). While the other commits fornications with the kings of the earth and rides a dragon-like beast (Revelation 17:1-7).
Interestingly, even Roman Catholic scholars admit that the Apostle John's references to Babylon in the Book of Revelation (circa 95 A.D.) are references to Rome. Notice what the commentary in the Rheims' New Testament, the Catholic accepted translation of the Latin Vulgate into English, states:
The author of the Commentaries upon the Apocalypse set forth in St. Ambrose name, writeth thus: This...sometime signifieth Rome, specially which at that time when the Apostle wrote this, did persecute the Church of God. But otherwise it signifieth the whole city of the Devil, that is, the universal corps of the reprobate. Tertullian also taketh it for Rome, thus, Babylon (saith he) in St. John is a figure of the city of Rome, being so great, so proud of the Empire, and the destroyer of the saints. Which is plainly spoken of that city, when it was heathen, the head of the terrene dominion of the world, the persecutor of the Apostles and their successors, the seat of Nero, Domitian, and the like, Christ's special enemies, the sink of idolatry, and false worship of the Pagan gods (Annotations on Chapter 17 of the Apocalypse. The Original And True Rheims New Testament Of Anno Domini 1582. Prepared and Edited by Dr. William G. von Peters. Ph.D. 2004, copyright assigned to VSC Corp. Page 583).
Thus Roman Catholic scholars admit that it was commonly understood from the earliest times that Apostle John'ss biblical references to Babylon are referring to Rome.
Polycarp, the disciple of the Apostle John, is believed to have been the first who may have specifically identified the Roman Empire with the number 666 (please see the article SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666). And Polycarp even once went to Rome in the second century to warn the Roman Bishop Anicetus not to observe Passover on a Sunday as well as to object to the one who first tried to teach that the Christian Godhead existed as three hypostases (Valentinus).
On a related note, in the late second century, Irenaeus, who claimed to have met Polycarp, wrote:
Valentinus came to Rome in the time of Hyginus, flourished under Pius, and remained until Anicetus. Cerdon, too…Marcion, then, succeeding him, flourished under Anicetus...
But Polycarp also was not only instructed by apostles, and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also, by apostles in Asia, appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna…always taught the things which he had learned from the apostles, and which the Church has handed down, and which alone are true. To these things all the Asiatic Churches testify, as do also those men who have succeeded Polycarp down to the present time -- a man who was of much greater weight, and a more stedfast witness of truth, than Valentinus, and Marcion, and the rest of the heretics. He it was who, coming to Rome in the time of Anicetus caused many to turn away from the aforesaid heretics to the Church of God, proclaiming that he had received this one and sole truth from the apostles... (Irenaeus. Adversus Haeres. Book III, Chapter 4, Verse 3 and Chapter 3, Verse 4).
Then also Lateinos (LATEINOS) has the number six hundred and sixty-six; and it is a very probable [solution], this being the name of the last kingdom [of the four seen by Daniel]. For the Latins are they who at present bear rule: I will not, however, make any boast over this (Irenaeus. Against Heresies. Book V, Chapter 30, Verse 3).
It should thus be clear that the idea of tying the Latin kingdom of Rome with 666 and the last worldly kingdom prophesied by Daniel has been around for ages (more details can be found in the article SDA/LCG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).
4th Century Europe and the Beginning of A New Type of Persectution
How are is all this information relevant to the current Europe?
This information shows that the woman (who is most likely a version of Europa) who is associated with the dragon is associated with secular governments (17:2) and also with persecution of the saints:
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 17:6).
Is there any church who has approved of or ordained emperors, kings, and other leaders of Europe throughout history? Is there any church, which rules from the famed 'city of seven hills' (Revelation 17:9), that has instigated persecution of what it calls 'heretics' throughout its history?
And if so, how did this alliance between Europe and a church take place?
It should first be noted that the Roman Catholic Church, and most historians, credit Constantine for making its version of 'Christianity' the religion of the Roman Empire.
But what kind of Christianity?
In the 300s A.D., Constantine was having some dissension within his empire. And although he was a sun-worshiper, he came to the conclusion that many of the most orderly and zealous people around were the so-called 'Christians' he had been persecuting. He also claimed to have received a vision from heaven that he should conquer in the sign of the cross,
In 312, the Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great was in Trier, Germany where he had an unexpected vision of a cross that appeared in the sky with the haunting words, “In hoc signum vinces” (“In this sign you conquer”). The Emperor was buoyed by the apparition and encouraged his 20,000 troops for the upcoming bloody battle against Maxentius and his 100,000 men. Constantine’s soldiers, the majority of whom were pagans, placed the sacred image of the cross on their shields (Mangan C.M. In This Sign You Conquer, 0/15/03 Copyright © 2004 Catholic Online).
Well, the vast majority of so-called 'Christians' liked this, and Constantine brought the few bishops he could find to Rome and exalted them. They in turn exalted him, and he crowned himself Pontifex Maximus (also spelled Pontificus Maximus or Pontifax Maximus). Pontifex Maximus was a title that the earlier Roman emperors had taken for themselves signifying that they were the bridge between God and humankind. With that title one essentially is claiming to be the true physical and spiritual leader of the world.
In 313, Constantine had issued the Edict of Milan which began with,
When I, Constantine Augustus, as well as I Licinius Augustus fortunately met near Mediolanurn (Milan), and were considering everything that pertained to the public welfare and security, we thought -, among other things which we saw would be for the good of many, those regulations pertaining to the reverence of the Divinity ought certainly to be made first, so that we might grant to the Christians and others full authority to observe that religion which each preferred.
That is what most Catholics and many Protestants want remembered--as they have tended to endorse Constantine's version of "Christianity". But this was the sheep's clothing over the true anti-Church of God wolf lying beneath.
Constantine decreed circa March 7, 321,
Let all judges, the people of cities, and those employed in all trades, remain quiet on the Holy Day of Sunday. Persons residing in the country, however, can freely and lawfully proceed with the cultivation of the fields; as it frequently happens that the sowing of grain or the planting of vines cannot be deferred to a more suitable day, and by making concessions to Heaven the advantage of the time may be lost (Code of Justinian, Book III, Title XII, III. THE JUSTINIAN CODE FROM THE CORPUS JURIS CIVILIS. Translated from the original Latin by Samuel P. Scott. Central Trust Company, Cincinnati, 1932).
This edict had a major effect of the Western world.
There is a large body of civil legislation on the Sunday rest side by side with the ecclesiastical. It begins with an Edict of Constantine, the first Christian emperor, who forbade judges to sit and townspeople to work on Sunday (Slater T. Transcribed by Scott Anthony Hibbs. Sunday. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XIV Copyright © 1912 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).
The bolded quote shows one of the first official intertwinings of European politics and Catholic doctrine--even though the foundations were being laid in the mid-late second century (how the Greco-Roman confederation attained the influence to become predominant in the third century is discussed in the article The History of Early Christianity).
When Constantine established Sunday as a day of rest (which Catholics now call the "eighth day"), he and those that followed him apparently wanted to ignore what is written in the Book of Hebrews 4:4,9-11,
For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: "And on the seventh day God rested from all his work."...There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience (NIV).
About one year after conquering the Eastern empire, and thus resurrecting the combined Roman empire, Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea in 325 AD that declared:
1) The Roman Sun-day or day of the Sun was to be the Christian sabbath.
2) Rules regarding seasonal prayers, penance, and indulgences.
3) That the Catholics believed that Jesus was God in some fashion.
4) Passover would be on Sunday and not the biblical date of Nisan 14
The above was somewhat a follow-up to the Quartodeciman controversies where Polycarp assured Ancicetus that Passover was to be celebrated on the 14th of Nisan according to what he had learned from the Bible and the Apostle John (quartodeciman means "fourteenth" a reference to the 14th day of Nisan). And then the dissession decades later between Polycrates and the Catholic Bishop of Rome Victor where Polycrates argued in a letter against accepting a false Sunday date (Polycrates did not accept that Victor had that authority to enforce such a change above the Bible or the practices of the original apostles).
So in 325 A.D., approximately one hundred and thirty years after Polycrates' letter, Emperor Constantine (at the Council of Nicea) made sure that his form of 'Christianity' would not keep the Passover on the correct date--the sun-worshiper insisted on Sunday for his empire.
It should be noted that the Bible clearly shows,
For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast (I Corinthians 5:7b-8a).
Yet it is reported that, "The Council also fixed the time for observing Easter" (Nicene Councils. World Book Encyclopedia, 1966) after again deciding against proper Passover observance (in continuance of the position taken during the quartodeciman controversy).
The Catholic Encyclopedia states,
The emperor himself, writing to the Churches after the Council of Nicaea, exhorts them to adopt its conclusions and says among other things: "At this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of Easter was discussed, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day" (Easter Controversy. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume V Copyright © 1909 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight).
It should be noted that apparently several historians have forgotten that it was not the date of Easter, but the date of Passover that the Council decided. As the Catholic Epiphanius wrote in the mid-4th Century,
...the emperor...convened a council of 318 bishops...in the city of Nicea...They passed certain ecclesiastical canons at the council besides, and at the same time decreed in regard to the Passover that there must be one unanimous concord on the celebration of God's holy and supremely excellent day. For it was variously observed by people..."(Epiphanius. The Panarion of Epiphanius of Salamis, Books II and III (Sects 47-80), De Fide). Section VI, Verses 1,1 and 1,3. Translated by Frank Williams. EJ Brill, New York, 1994, pp.471-472).
Eventually, those in parts of Europe changed the name from Passover to Easter. Easter is another name for the Babylonian goddess Ishtar (which can be pronounced as Easter), the so-called 'queen of heaven'. That is also a title that has been given to Europa, for whom the continent of Europe is named!
It is astounding to note it has been reported that,
More Christians were killed (by other Christians!) in the first century after the Council of Nicea than had been killed by pagans in the century before Nicea. Constantine, only one year after convening the Council of Nicea, had his own son (Crispus) put to death. Later he suffocated Fausta (his wife) in an overheated bath. Then he had his sister's son flogged to death and her husband strangled. (1) It was also during the reign of Constantine that the cross became a sacred symbol in Christianity, just as it had been in pagan religions.(2) Throughout his reign, Constantine treated the bishops as political aides. He agreed to enforce whatever opinion the majority of the bishops formulated (Chaimberlin RA. Anti-Judiasm and the Council of Nicea. From Petah Tikvah Magazine Vol. 14, No. 3, http://www.yashanet.com/library/antisem.htm 4/28/04).
Of course, it should be understood that those in the true Church of God do not believe those doing or supporting any of those killings were truly Christian (for more information, please see the article COGs and Military Service).
Also, a year after the Council of Nicea, Constantine sanctioned the confiscation and destruction of all works that challenged orthodox teachings - works by pagan authors that referred to Jesus, as well as works by "heretical" Christians. He also arranged for a fixed income to be allocated to the Church and installed the bishop of Rome in the Lateran Palace. This is clearly the beginning of a new type of persectution: a persecution not for being a Christian, but for being a Constantine Christian.
To enforce persecution against Christians who did not accept Constantine's doctrines, around 332, Constantine issued what is known as the Edict Against the Heretics,
Victor Constantinus, Maximus Augustus, to the heretics. “Understand now, by this present statute, ye Novatians, Valentinians, Marcionites, Paulians, ye who are called Cataphrygians, and all ye who devise and support heresies by means of your private assemblies, with what a tissue of falsehood and vanity, with what destructive and venomous errors, your doctrines are inseparably interwoven; so that through you the healthy soul is stricken with disease, and the living becomes the prey of everlasting death. Ye haters and enemies of truth and life, in league with destruction! All your counsels are opposed to the truth, but familiar with deeds of baseness; full of absurdities and fictions: and by these ye frame falsehoods, oppress the innocent, and withhold the light from them that believe. Ever trespassing under the mask of godliness, ye fill all things with defilement: ye pierce the pure and guileless conscience with deadly wounds, while ye withdraw, one may almost say, the very light of day from the eyes of men. But why should I particularize, when to speak of your criminality as it deserves demands more time and leisure than I can give? For so long and unmeasured is the catalogue of your offenses, so hateful and altogether atrocious are they, that a single day would not suffice to recount them all. And, indeed, it is well to turn one’s ears and eyes from such a subject, lest by a description of each particular evil, the pure sincerity and freshness of one’s own faith be impaired. Why then do I still bear with such abounding evil; especially since this protracted clemency is the cause that some who were sound are become tainted with this pestilent disease? Why not at once strike, as it were, at the root of so great a mischief by a public manifestation of displeasure? (Chapter LXIV.—Constantine’s Edict against the Heretics. This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College).
Some of those referred to as Paulians (Paulicians) and Cataphrygians were part of the true Church of God (please see the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3). Note that they are condemned for private assemblies and being haters of truth. Apparently Constantine felt that supporting the biblical sabbath, the biblical Passover, and other biblical doctrines were against his non-Christian version of the truth.
It is important to understand that Constantine, himself, was not baptized as any type of 'Christian' until he was lying on his deathbed in 337, thus remained declared sun worshiper essentially all his life. Even many of the coins he had produced after he allegedly saw a cross in the sky pictured the sun-god on them.
After Constantine, persecutions against the true COG and others continued (of course, prior to Constantine, the Roman empire did persecute Catholics, those in the COG, as well as others--but after Constantine, persecution was limited to those who did not accept the State form of "Christianity").
In 364 A.D. the Council of Laodicea declared,
CANON XXIX. CHRISTIANS must not judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honouring the Lord's Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ (THE COMPLETE CANONS OF THE SYNOD OF LAODICEA IN PHRYGIA PACATIANA).
Although some Catholics point out that the bishop of Rome did not attend this Council, the fact is that he did nothing to stop the Council's declaration from being implemented. It should be noted that in Daniel 2:31-33, Daniel reports that a great image (which is another way to look at the Beast of Revelation) has two legs, which suggests two halves or two main parts of the Beast. Historically, the "Holy Roman Empire" has had two parts: a Western (Rome) and Eastern (Constantinople) one, with the center of power switching sometimes throughout the ages.
Essentially, the Council of Laodicea was apparently from the eastern leg (often referred to presently as the Orthodox Church) of the image in Daniel 2 (vs. 33). It may be of interest to note that the late Pope John-Paul II once publicly stated that the Roman and Orthodox Churches were the two lungs of the church, which while not quite the same term as legs, suggests that they mutually are supportive, as legs are. Hence Pope John-Paul II has acknowledged that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches are two parts of the same body. They apparently make up the two legs and the two feet (with ten toes) of the image of the Beast warned against in Daniel 2:33.
Specifically, John Paul II stated:
By rediscovering the great cultural treasures of the Christian East, in a new dialogue of communion, we will also allow Christian witness to breathe at this level, with two "lungs", making our rightful contribution to humanity's future (Pope John Paul II. CHRISTIANITY HAS DEEPLY MARKED CULTURE OF PEOPLES. Angelus, 1 September 1996. Taken from: L'Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, 4 September 1996, "L'Osservatore Romano is the newspaper of the Holy See". http://www.ewtn.com/library/PAPALDOC/JP960901.HTM viewed 11/16/07).
The Orthodox apparently agree that they are one of the lungs as the Orthodox Metropolitan John of Pergamon stated to John Paul II:
As Your Holiness has aptly put it some years ago, East and West are the two lungs by which the Church breaths; their unity is essential to the healthy life of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church (Speeches of Pope John Paul II and Metropolitan John of Pergamon. Made in private audience following a Mass to celebrate the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. Rome, 28 June 1998. http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/ecumenical/john_pergamon_john_paul2.htm viewed 11/16/07).
It should also be noted that the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I (whose “official title” is His All Holiness, Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch) wrote:
Today, then, it is our obligation more than ever to reclaim the Christian roots of Europe and the spiritual, sacramental and doctrinal unity that it enjoyed prior to the schism of our two Churches. The re-evangelization of our peoples is “today, more so than ever before, timely and necessary, even within traditional Christian lands,” as we admitted and confessed in common here exactly one year ago.
Thus, we believe that Western and Eastern Europe must cease regarding themselves as foreign to one another...
Elder Rome has the foremost St. Peter as its apostle and patron. New Rome, Constantinople, has the brother of St. Peter, the first-called of the apostles, Andrew. Both invite us to the fraternal unity that they shared with each other and that can only be acquired when the cross becomes our point of reference and experience of approach.
Let us, therefore, beseech these two brothers and greatest of apostles that they may grant peace to the world and lead everyone to unity. (Bartholomew I's Letter to Vatican Delegation. Zenit. December 5, 2007 http://www.zenit.org/article-21198?l=english).
The Patriarch of Constantinople is generally considered the first among equals within the Eastern Orthodox “sees”. Even if this unity with the Romans occur, individually the Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics as unifying will make them part of Babylon (according to both biblical and Roman Catholic prophecy).
I strongly believe the Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics and have had this published in 2007 on the internet and in The Journal: News of the Churches of God.
But sadly, history records that the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics were part of the old Roman Empire, that they both have had efforts to persecute the true Church of God (please see the article Persecutions by Church and State), and the Bible indicates that together they will fulfill prophecies related to Babylon (see rest of article).
Even in the fourth century, Constantine's declarations against "heretics" did not stop everyone from properly observing Passover. Therefore, Theodosius, a later Roman Emperor, decreed the death penalty for those who followed the biblical teachings on this matter:
Edicts of Theodosius against the heretics, A.D. 380-394...Theodosius...decreed that...by the death of the offender; and the same capital punishment was inflicted on the Audians, or Quartodecimans, who should dare to perpetrate the atrocious crime of celebrating on an improper day the festival (Gibbon E. Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume III, Chapter XXVII. ca. 1776-1788).
Is killing those that followed the example of Jesus and John to observe the Passover on the 14th instead of Sunday a sign of a true Christian leader or a sign of supporting antichrist?
Pontifex Maximus
It needs to be understood that after the title Pontifex Maximus was relinquished by Roman Emperor Gratian (apparently because the Catholics did not think the emperors should use the title any more because of its pagan connections), the next 'bishop of Rome' first took the title for himself around 384:
SIRICIUS, ST. (384-399)...was the first to assume the title of pope from the Greek papa meaning father (Lopes A. The Popes: The lives of the pontiffs through 2000 years of history. Futura Edizoni, Roma, 1997, p. 13).
The title pope (papa)...It was apparently in the fourth century that it began to become a distinctive title of the Roman Pontiff. Pope Siricius (d. 398) seems so to use it (Ep. vi in P. L., XIII, 1164) (Joyce G. H. Transcribed by Gerard Haffner. The Pope. The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII. Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company. Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by Kevin Knight. Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York).
The office of the Pope is informally called the Papacy and formally called the Pontificate; his ecclesiastical jurisdiction is called the Holy See...The Pope's name is frequently accompanied in inscriptions by the abbreviation "Pont. Max." or "P.M." (abbreviation of the ancient title Pontifex Maximus...)...Contrary to popular belief, it is the Pope's ecclesiastical jurisdiction (the Holy See) and not his secular jurisdiction (Vatican City) which conducts international relations...With the Christianisation of the Roman Empire in the Fourth century, the Popes received civil authority within the state as well as spiritual authority within the Church (Pope. From Wikipedia. Last modified 23:08, 15 Apr 2004).
The title Pontifex Maximus it is currently still used by the bishops of Rome. Actually, if you visit Rome, you can see a variety of monuments that have the letters P.M. on them, and signifying that the Bishop of Rome is the Pontifex Maximus. Since Pontifex Maximus was a term used to show that the pagan emperors should be worshiped and were a bridge between God and man, no true Christian would want their leader to use such a title (the first century heretic Simon Magus was perhaps the first associated with Christianity to want to hold a similar position).
Various ones with the title Pontifex Maximus have been responsible for the persecution of true Christians.
Later Persecutions Also Occurred
Various forms and waves of persecution of true Christians have occurred throughout European history, with perhaps the Spanish Inquisition of the late middle ages the most famous.
One Protestant scholar noted this about "Pontifex Maximus" Innocent III and those who followed him:
The next major step in the establishment of the Inquisition was taken by Innocent III...In the West, the same pope launched a "Crusade" against the Cathars, or Albigenses, of Southern France in 1208...In the second century of the Christian Era, most Christians refused to take up arms at all.. One millennium later, Christians were not only fighting for the church against "infidels" who had conquered ancient biblical lands, but against other Christians, heretical ones, who only asked to be able to live in peace on their ancestral soil...No matter how dreadful the use of violence against the dualistic Albigenses was, it must be acknowledged that their heresy is incompatible with Christianity, indeed with biblical religion as such...Perhaps for medieval popes the crucial factor that caused them to condemn dissidents was really the dissidents' rejection of papal authority (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, p. 260-261).
Notice that the Protestant scholar seems to feel that murdering Cathars and Albigenses who simply wanted to live in peace (but were not trinitarian) is more compatible with Catholic/Protestant "Christianity" than being faithful to the teachings of Christ and the early Christians who were against warfare. Are the real heretics those who were faithful to New Testament teachings against warfare or those who changed those teachings and killed?
Later, the famous inquisition also in southern France, began in earnest in 1233 when Pope Gregory IX charged the Dominican order with wiping out Cathari (their name mean Puritan, and that is where the Puritan developed from) and others they considered to be heretics. There is a long history of European church leaders attempting to eliminate those part of, or sympathetic to, the Church of God (some of this is discussed in the article The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).
And while it is true that the Catholic Church sometimes had problems with some protesting European leaders, most of these persecutions against the Church of God had some type of blessing from those claiming to be representatives the Roman Catholic Church or its Eastern Orthodox relative.
Many countries, especially in Latin America, officially became Catholic in the 1800s or so, thus making it difficult for true Christians to exist without social and other difficulties.
Some persecutions have been direct, but most have been implementations based upon interpretations by politicians of statements made by Catholic leaders. Yet, these persecutions do not seem to be over yet.
In the early 21st century, a Roman Catholic supporter wrote,
I believe, heart and soul, that we must begin a REAL Crusade, the First Crusade of the 21st Century. Now, by calling for a crusade, I mean one in which all are united under the banner "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (In His Sign we shall conquer). The "sign" is that of the Cross of Christ. Under this banner there can be but one voice (Una voce) crying out to God to bring harmony, unity within Holy Mother Church through the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II (In this Sign you will conquer with One Voice. Cyndi Cain's SYMPHONY OF SUFFERING column www.DailyCatholic.org September 3-5, 2001 volume 12, no. 148).
Since many died the first time "In Hoc Signo Vinces" was raised as a battle cry, how many would die now if political leaders started to heed these types of statements?
What church, or combination of churches, fits the description of the woman that rides the beast who is "drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus"? Sadly carnal warfare is endorsed by Catholic leaders.
Even the current pontiff considers that the military is part of the Roman Church's teaching of peace:
The Church's teaching on the subject of peace is an essential aspect of her social doctrine. Grafted onto very ancient roots, it continued to develop in the past century in a sort of "crescendo" which culminated in the Pastoral Constitution "Gaudium et Spes," in the Encyclicals of Bl. John XXIII and of the Servants of God Paul VI and John Paul II, as well as in their Addresses to the United Nations Organization and their Messages for each World Day of Peace.
This insistent appeal for peace has influenced Western culture, fostering the ideal that the Armed Forces are "an exclusive service for the security and freedom of peoples" (John Paul II, Address, Third International Convention of Military Ordinariates; ORE, 23 March 1994, n. 5, p. 6). (Benedict XVI. Giving Priority to the Soldier's Christian Formation. Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered in the Vatican on Oct. 26 to the participants in the 5th International Congress of Military Ordinariates. From http://www.zenit.org/english/ 11/13/06 ).
Notice that in the above, the current pontiff equates the use of the military part the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on peace. And while not all associated with the Roman Church endorse war or persecutions, sadly history continually demonstrates that some leaders associated with it often have. (Two articles of possibly related interest may include Persecutions by Church and State and Military Service and the Churches of God.)
Does the Bible or other evidence show any relationship between Rome, Europe, and the Queen of Heaven?
In Jeremiah 44:25-28, the Bible states,
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, "We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!' "Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: 'Behold, I have sworn by My great name,' says the LORD, 'that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "The Lord GOD lives."'Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them.
In other words, God was not happy that people wanted to worship the queen of heaven and He would punish them for it.
He also has other warnings about her modern versions.
Revelation 17:1-6 states,
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
There still is a queen of heaven worshiped throughout the world. And she has become an interesting part of the symbol of the European Union.
Who, according to the Roman Catholics is the queen of heaven?
Mary, of course. There is even a praise song with the expression:
Ave regina caelorum (Hail, Queen of Heaven). It is one of the four Antiphons of the Blessed Virgin sung in the Divine Office in turn throughout the year (Ave Regina. Catholic Encyclopedia, 1907).
Interestingly, there was even a Catholic order founded in 1889 called The Daughters of the Queen of Heaven (Queen's Daughters. The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1914). Hence, this queen of heaven has official daughters (there are many unofficial ones {the other churches that descended from Rome} as well).
Regarding symbols, did you realize that although there were 15 nations in 1953 involved in the Council of Europe, a twelve star flag was adopted in 1955?
But why use twelve stars? Why hasn't the Council of Europe (which has 45 member states, including the EU--which has 27 member nations) used another number or changed it?
There seem to be two reasons.
The first is that Mary is prominent in an unusual way in the new European Union as she was the "inspiration" for its flag. According to the Times Online (November 16, 2005),
"The chosen flag was designed by Arsene Heitz, a German Roman Catholic who said that he had been inspired by a line in the Book of Revelation about the Virgin Mary wearing a crown of 12 stars, a common depiction in Christian iconography."
Hence we see a clear tie between Mary (called the "Queen of Heaven" by the Roman Catholics) and the flag for the European Union.
Note: Catholics now believe that the reason that Mary has been shown with the twelve stars is that she is the one specifically mentioned in Revelation 12:1. However, this interpretation of Revelation 12:1 is a change of Catholic tradition as in the third century,
"Victorinus said this is "the ancient church of fathers, and prophets, and saints, and apostles" (Ante-Nicene Fathers, VII, 355) {Source: from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1962 by Moody Press}.
Mary worship, etc. was not a major factor in the Roman Catholic Church for quite some time as even The Catholic Encyclopedia even admits "we do not meet with any clear traces of the cultus of the Blessed Virgin in the first Christian centuries".
The second reason for 12 stars may be because of private Catholic prophecies concerning 12 kings at the end.
Notice:
St. Francis of Paola (Born in Italy, 15th century). "By the grace of the Almighty, the Great Monarch will annihilate heretics and unbelievers. He will have a great army, and angels will fight at his side. He will be like the sun among the stars. His influence will spread over the whole earth. All in all, there will be on earth twelve Kings, one Emperor, one Pope and a few Princes. They will all lead holy lives." (Dupont, p.38)
The above shows that Roman Catholics will believe that God is on the side of the one the Book of Revelation calls the beast--who they call "the Great Monarch" (additional specific prophecies are listed in the article Who is the King of the North?).
Hence the flag seems to tie Roman Catholic symbols in with a "Queen of Heaven" and a the future European Emperor.
A peculiar part of the above prophecy is that the Roman Catholics believe that there will be twelve kings associated with the beast (who they often seem to look forward to as "the Great Monarch"), yet the Bible states that there are ten kings (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12). However, this is not necessarily a contradiction. Daniel 7:24 says the last kingdom arises from ten kings, while Revelation 17:12 states that ten kings will give their power to the beast. However, it may be that after the beast power is fully formed, that he may add two additional kings and perhaps some princes.
And interestingly, some Catholic private prophecies tie Mary in with a future leader of Europe. Here are two that seem to do that:
St. Louis-Marie Grignion De Montfort (18th century). "The power of Mary over all the devils will be particularly outstanding in the last period of time. She will extend the Kingdom of Christ over the idolaters and Moslems, and there will come glorious era when Mary is the Ruler and Queen of Hearts." (Dupont Yves. Catholic Prophecy. TAN Books, 1973, p. 33).
Anna-Katarina Emmerick...July 12, 1820. "I had a vision of the holy Emperor Henry. I saw him at night kneeling alone at the foot of the main alter in a great and beautiful church...and I saw the Blessed Virgin coming down all alone...The wine was as red as blood, and there was also some water. The Mass was short. The Gospel of St. John was not read at the end. When the Mass had ended, Mary came up to Henry (the Emperor), and she extended her right hand towards him, saying that it was in recognition of his purity. Then, she urged him not to falter..." (Dupont, p.62)
Essentially, the above prophecies suggest that Mary will support the future emperor of Europe (sometimes called "the Great Monarch" in Catholic prophecies and "the Beast" in biblical ones). It seems likely that it will be apparitions supposedly of Mary combined with the performance of "signs and lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9), that will help persuade the otherwise irreligious Europeans to unite behind a future ecumenical Catholic leader.
The Bible itself does more than just warn against the "queen of heaven". Revelation 17:9,18 states,
Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits…And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.
It is universally recognized that Rome is the city of seven mountains. This fact is also noted by various Protestant and even Catholic theologians. One such Catholic writer would be Yves Dupont who wrote in his book Catholic Prophecies,
The seven headed city is probably Rome (septicolis-- seven hills) (Dupont Yves. Catholic Prophecy. TAN Books, 1973, p.24).
Other than Ammon Jordan, Rome is apparently also the only great city in the world to have precisely seven hills/mountains (though there may be some less important cities with seven mountains, and there may be seven near Constantinople/Istanbul). While Rome itself was the ruling city of the Western world for several centuries, the Roman Catholic Church, whose headquarters is completely within the boundaries of Rome, has maintained tremendous influence over kings and governments of the earth for even more centuries. And still does today. Furthermore notice that the Bible specifically warns about a certain city ruling--Vatican City is the only city that appears to have possibly had such rule since John penned the Book of Revelation.
It should be noted that even the Roman Catholics admit,
The historical lists of the popes, from those drawn up in the second century to those of the present day, form in themselves a considerable body of literature...Lightfoot has argued that this list originally contained nothing but the names of the bishops and the duration of their episcopates, the remaining notes being additions by a later hand...The "Liber Pontificalis", long accepted as an authority of the highest value, is now acknowledged to have been originally composed at the beginning of the fifth century, and, as regards the early popes, to be dependent on the "Liberian Catalogue" (The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume XII Copyright © 1911 by Robert Appleton Company Online Edition Copyright © 2003 by K. Knight Nihil Obstat, June 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York ).
The above statements mean that researchers in the Roman Catholic Church know that their list of papal succession was finalized long after the fact, hence it is not a reliable guide that the Roman Catholic Church had an unbroken succession of popes (though various ones associated with their beliefs have existed throughout history). This is also consistent with the previously cited reference that the first known 'bishop of Rome' to take the title "Pontifex Maximus" was not until in 384 A.D.
This Union Began Small, Will Build to Become Mighty, But Will Not Last
Interestingly, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would develop into what apparently is becoming a European entity. Actually what is now the EU began as a small organization involving three small countries located in the northern and western regions of Europe (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, called the Benelux nations)--they then helped form the European Economic Community. Which expanded into the European Union.
Notice that, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would mainly expand South and East:
And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered (Daniel 8:9-12).
And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39). Anyway, the European Union has mainly expanded south and east of the Benelux nations. With the signing of the Lisbon Treaty on December 13, 450 million people are now under a new, single government, called the European Union, headquartered in Brussels.
While some Protestants are finally starting to wake up to the reality of an emerging European superpower being the revival of the old Roman Empire to represent the Beast of Revelation, the true Church of God has known this since Polycarp. Furthermore even when Europe was still recovering from being devasted in World War II, in the December 1948 issue of The Plain Truth Herbert W. Armstrong predicted a coming "United States of Europe" (Armstrong HW. Now It Can Be Told...The Plain Truth,December 1948, p. 5). Interestingly in October 2002, French politician Valery Giscard d'Estaing suggested that the name of the European Community should be changed to United States of Europe--and while that precise name is not necessary, it does show that the Church of God's basic view has long been correct. We in the Living Church of God, of course, continue to warn about this emerging European Beast power in our telecasts and literature.
It may be of interest to realize that the current Pontiff admits that his version of Europe (as is apparently the foundation of the beliefs of his church) is built upon the combination of Greek philosophy and the Bible. Notice what he stated:
This inner rapprochement between Biblical faith and Greek philosophical inquiry was an event of decisive importance not only from the standpoint of the history of religions, but also from that of world history - it is an event which concerns us even today. Given this convergence, it is not surprising that Christianity, despite its origins and some significant developments in the East, finally took on its historically decisive character in Europe. We can also express this the other way around: this convergence, with the subsequent addition of the Roman heritage, created Europe and remains the foundation of what can rightly be called Europe (Benedict XVI. REGENSBURG, Germany, SEPT. 12, 2006 (Zenit.org). Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered to scientists at the University of Regensburg).
Do you recall hearing why Cardinal Ratzinger chose the name of "Pope Benedict"? The Catholic News Agency reported:
"He said he also chose the name because Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictine order, is one of the patron saints of Europe. "St Benedict is therefore much venerated in Germany and in particular, in Bavaria, my native land; constituting a fundamental point of reference for the unity of Europe, and a strong call to the inalienable Christian roots of its culture and civilisation."" (Source http://www.cathnews.com/news/504/151.php)
Has any other major religious group's leader claimed a name for the purpose of representing European unity?
Does Rome have plans for Europe?
Doug Winnail, of the Living Church of God, reported,
In July of 2003, the Vatican approved the release of Pope John Paul’s proposed Decalogue for constructing a new Europe—10 points the Catholic Church has formulated to guide the current efforts to unify Europe. The document carries the theme of "Ecclesia in Europe" [the Church in Europe] and expresses the papal hope that Europeans will build a "Europe of values" and not just a "Europe of merchants." The proposed Decalogue states that "Christianity is the religion of all Europeans" and that the [Catholic] Christian faith provides the only solid foundation and the only guarantee for making Europe "a family of nations" and " a model for other nations of the world." According to the Pope, "this is why in the future European Constitution reference must be made to the religious heritage" of Europe—particularly Christianity—and why the Catholic Church must play a major role in building the new Europe.
Since the above was written, the constitution has sort of been renamed. And it is of interest to note that the Germans seem to have found an incredibly clever way to get the Vatican indirectly mentioned. Notice the following news accounts:
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 3, 2007 (Zenit) - Here is the address Benedict XVI delivered today to the bishops of the Korean episcopal conference and Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in Rome for their five-yearly visit.
Dear Brother Bishops,
As servants of the Gospel, you have come to see Peter (cf. Gal 1:18) and to strengthen the bonds of collegiality which express the Church’s unity in diversity and safeguard the tradition handed down by the Apostles (Benedict XVI’s Address to Korean Bishops. http://www.zenit.org/article-21179?l=english).
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Germany seeks to enshrine EU flagTelegraph - Dec 12, 2007
Germany has mounted a last-ditch effort to get the European Union flag, anthem, motto and single currency recognised in the new EU Reform Treaty.
Along with 15 other nations, Germany is attempting to add a new clause that enshrines those symbols of the EU that were not included in the original treaty. Gordon Brown had specifically been against them being included.
It comes just days before the controversial treaty - which is almost identical to the rejected EU Constitution - is signed in Lisbon…
Germany wants the document to support the EU “Stars” flag, the anthem Ode to Joy, and its motto “United in Diversity“...
The other countries backing the plan are Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Austria, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and the Slovak Republic.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/11/wflag111.xml
Both the flag and the expression “united in diversity” are interesting ways to bring Catholicism (which means universalism) into the EU officially, without actually mentioning religion. I suspect that when the future King of the North emerges he will tell the Europeans that with a Catholic derived flag and unity among diversity, that the EU always was intended to be Catholic and following him will help make this happen.
But irrespective of how the Catholic Vatican becomes viewed by the EU, this union between church and state will not be permanent--nor will the states truly be closely bound together.
Daniel 2:42-44 states,
And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
It may be of interest to note that the crown of the first "Holy Roman Empire" includes iron and clay amongst its materials:
...one of Europe's great symbols of power the Iron Crown of the first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne...The Iron Crown, made of gold and iron and set with precious stones, is held in the Cathedral at Monza, near Milan, in Italy...a recent refurbishment of the crown it was discovered that its precious stones were held in place by a mixture of beeswax and clay, a common adhesive of the times...
Charlemagne was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor, reputedly with the Iron Crown, by Pope Leo III in Rome on Christmas Night, 800 AD. He lived from 782-814 and, as King of the Franks, established and ruled over a kingdom that spanned virtually all the Christian States of western Europe, including what is now France, Switzerland, Belgium, The Netherlands, half of Italy and Germany, part of Austria and a small part of Spain. His role in uniting much of Europe is regarded as having an impact that remains until today (source Australian Government: http://old-www.ansto.gov.au/info/press/pr1.html 11/30/07).
Europe not only fits the prophecies related to the Beast, its relics seem to as well.
The Bible, in Revelation 17:15-17, states,
Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."
The European Union now consists of around 27 nations (plus it has associate members), numerous languages, numerous peoples and various multitudes and well fits verse 15. It also is partly strong and partly fragile as Daniel 2:42-44 shows--and at some point in time it will be led by a strong leader--the biblical beast.
Note that in a sense, one could consider Zeus as the beast of Revelation as in mythology he commits fornication with Europa, plus he turns on her in mythology--perhaps raping her--while the beast of Revelation turns on the false church. For, as verses 16 and 17 show, the time will come when the ten horns (some version of the European Union) of the beast will no longer wish to be ridden by the woman (Babylonish Catholicism) and will destroy her as it will decide that even that woman's form of religion interferes with its political ambitions.
The Babylonian religion, began by Nimrod under Satan's influence, became (in modified form) the religion of ancient Greece and Rome, and has been transformed to call itself Christianity in the forms that support many teachings of Catholicism and the Orthodox Church. Thus, the Bible, who identifies Satan as 'the god of this world' (I Corinthians 4:4 KJV), also identifies for those who wish to see it, that the European Union fits the description of the Beast power in the Book of Revelation.
Notice that even the European Union identifies itself with the tower of Babel that Nimrod formed:
The above poster was produced by the Europeans over a decade ago. It may be of interest to note that the above inverted stars are pentagrams, a satanic symbol. The poster tower was based upon a painting of the Tower of Babel by a European, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, in 1563 .
In ancient times, Nimrod began his kingdom with the city of Babel (Genesis 10:10). The Tower of Babel was began in that city as a human attempt at unity (Genesis 11:1-4) in direct opposition to God's command for humans to disperse around the world (Genesis 9:1). God insured that project came to naught (Genesis 11:5-7) and His will would be done (Genesis 11:8-9). He will do the same with the current European attempts for its empire when it is God's time, though with different methods (see Revelation 17-19).
The European power will invade and take over the United States and its Anglo allies:
Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain (Daniel 11:39).
It is the USA and its Anglo-allies that currently have "the strongest fortresses".
Once this European power destroys the United States and its Anglo-allies, it will have upset the world's economic system (the US dollar will be perhaps worse than worthless then).
It may then see the acquisition of the "gold of Egypt" (Egypt became a major gold producing region in the past two years) as necessary to stabilize its currency. Shortly after taking over the USA, there and immediately after a battle with the King of the South (Daniel 11:40):
...the king of the North... 43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.
So, the European power will have more gold. And actually, supporting the Euro, is the reason that the European banks are holding so much gold now:
Bundesbank said... "National gold reserves have a confidence and stability-building function for the single currency in a monetary union. This function has become even more important given the geopolitical situation and the risks present in financial market developments." (Gold reserves more important than before-Bundesbank Reuters - Aug 22, 2008. http://www.iii.co.uk/shares/?type=news&articleid=6861332&subject=markets&action=article)
If the above is true now, how much more so, once the United States dollar becomes worthless?
The Europeans will want to keep their currency valuable once they break all connections to paper/electronic USA dollars. This will make them quite powerful economically.
But even though this power will grow it will not last. The Bible shows that the leader of the final Babylonian European Empire will be called "the King of the North" and that he will be troubled by those from the north (Russia) and the east (China and other Asians):
44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Dan 11:40,43-45).
The Bible also shows that this "Babylonian" empire will be destroyed by a northern power (apparently Russia and its allies as Russia is really the only powerful nation north of Europe):
50:1 The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 "Declare among the nations,
Proclaim, and set up a standard;
Proclaim--do not conceal it--
Say, 'Babylon is taken, Bel is shamed.
Merodach is broken in pieces;
Her idols are humiliated,
Her images are broken in pieces.'
3 For out of the north a nation comes up against her,
Which shall make her land desolate,
And no one shall dwell therein.
They shall move, they shall depart,
Both man and beast (Jeremiah 50:1-3).
Thus, the European empire is to be destroyed by a Russian led force (for more information, please see Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future).
How Many Headed Beast?
Astoundingly, Europe is not ashamed of its mythological/pagan roots.
It may be of interest to note that in the European Union, there are many depictions of the woman Europa riding a beast. There is, for example, a 20th Century sculpture in front of the Council of Ministers Office in Brussels, Belgium of an immodest female Europa on a beast. Actually, all the modern pictures of Europa on a beast that I have seen seem to be that of a non-modest woman. Larry Blake sent me several pictures of the woman (Europa) riding the bull (a beast) as symbols of European Union which are linked for additional proof.
Revelation 17:3 states:
And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (NKJV).
Even the Roman Catholic priest and Jesuit scholar William Kurz understands that this woman is Rome:
The woman sits on a scarlet beast, which is full of blasphemous names and has seven heads and ten horns (illustrating the close relationship between the historical city of Rome and the beast, symbol of the Roman Empire, see Revelation 17:3). This woman (Rome) has been called Babylon the great and is drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs Kurz W. What Does the Bible Say About the End Times? A Catholic View. Servant Books, Cincinnati. Nihil Obstat: Kistner H., Schehr T.P. Imprimi Potest: Link F., Paul J.M. Imprimatur: Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxillary Bishop, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004. Servant Books, Cincinnati, 2004, p. 165-166).
Hence, even Catholics seem to understand that the woman that rides the beast is some type of connection between Rome and some type of Roman Empire. Would that not be the relationship between the Vatican and the European Union?
Now perhaps the biggest problem with tying all the pictures and the story of Europa to the account of the woman in the Bible is that the Book of Revelation shows that the woman rides a seven-headed scarlet beast, while the available pictures show Europa as only riding a one-headed beast (of various colors).
It is important to note that Nebuchadnezzar's image is declared by Daniel to be an arising (or multiple resurrections) of ruling human governments (Daniel 2:31-43), which have many of the same physical characteristics as the individual beasts of Daniel 7:2-25. And the apparently one-headed fourth beast (7:19-25) has ten horns the same as beast in Revelation 17:3,12 does.
Therefore, the Bible does show the beast as one composite creature with multiple heads as well as as individual beast entities. Furthermore, while the Bible shows the ancient Greek empire as a four-headed leopard-like beast (Daniel 7:6), it also shows the same Greek empire as a single-headed goat beast with four horns (Daniel 8:21-22). Thus, the Bible allows for the concept of showing the woman (Europa) riding a single-headed beast as various arisings of the beast empire.
Is it only a coincidence that even anciently Europa was believed to be another representation of the Babylonia goddess Ishtar? Is it only a coincidence Constantine and then the 'bishops of Rome' took the title of Pontificus Maximus, as a continuance of the old Roman empire? Is it only a coincidence that the symbol of Europe is an immodest woman riding a beast? Is it only a coincidence that the only major church headquartered in the only great city with seven mountains also oversaw the ordination of European emperors (including, for example, Napoleon)? Is it only a coincidence that this alliance of the Roman church and the European state persecuted and killed those who kept the same Sabbath day as Jesus did throughout its history?
If anyone claims to believe the Bible and also believes these are coincidences, can they point out what other church the woman of Revelation 17 represents? What other great ruling city has seven mountains? What other political entity other than the European Union uses a symbol of a woman riding a beast? What other alliance of church and state has so persecuted the COG throughout history?
Some Catholic Prophecies
However, there are reasons that many Roman Catholics do not well understand what Revelation actually teaches. And that is because that church tends to rely on tradition and private prophetic understandings in preference to the Bible.
One prophecy, that was given no later than 1202, by Abbott Joachim states:
A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels. Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church...This holy Pope shall be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world. Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace...At the beginning, in order to bring these happy results, having need of a powerful assistance, this holy Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France (Great Monarch). (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 31-32).
This suggests that some Roman Catholics believe that they have to reunite with the Eastern Orthodox as well as support the reuniting of the Europeans (the "temporal powers" is a term used by Catholics to mean the political leaders in the world) and that Babylon will then be the head of the world!
Amazingly, at least one Catholic prophecy teaches,
Antichrist will be an iconoclast...Most of the world will adore him. He will teach that the Christian religion is false, confiscation of Christian property is legal, Saturday is to be observed instead of Sunday, and he will change the ten commandments. All his wonders could not be written in a book. They will be more wonderful than the Old and New Testaments! ... He will read people's minds, raise the dead, reward his followers and punish the rest (Dionysius of Luxemburg, died 1682. as quoted in Prophecy For Today. TAN Books, 1984 version, p. 85. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, C.Ss, D.D. Bishop of Monterey-Fresno).
An iconoclast is one who is strongly against the use of idols. The last verse of 1 John 5:21 states,
Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.
Yet, every Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church this author has been in have been filled with idols (in the Orthodox churches, the idols are called icons, and are more like paintings than sculptures; those icons the serve the same purpose as the idols do in Roman Catholic Churches and often have raised, sculpted, silver covering much of the painting).
As mentioned before, certain private Catholic/Orthodox prophecies (the Orthodox Church did not have its great schism with the Roman Catholic Church until 1054 A.D.) seem to suggest that the returning Christ will be the Antichrist. The comment about changing the ten commandments is probably because the Roman Catholics (as well as those in the Orthodox churches) combine what is commonly considered to be the first and second commandments (which helps them justify their use of idols/icons), while splitting the tenth commandment into two commands--hence when Christ returns and repeats the ten commandments as God intended (because He is against IDOLS), those supporting Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches will not approve.
Also, the monk by stating that Christ will teach against the 'Christian religion', he means the religion of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches--not necessarily the true religion established by Christ.
What other church is trying to set up the world to resist the returning Christ?
But prior to Christ's return, many biblical and Catholic prophecies say Europe would be reunited--which is happening now. This is one of the reasons that those who support the Vatican are working towards increasing the strength of the current European Union.
The main difference between the biblical and Catholic version of prophecy is that those in the biblically-based Churches of God see this as a fulfillment of terrifying end-time prophecies, whereas the Catholics teach that this re-formation of a European empire is a good thing.
For example, a monk by the name of Adso in the 10th century wrote,
Some of our teachers say that a King of the Franks will possess the entire Roman Empire. He will be the greatest and last of all the Monarchs. After having wisely governed his kingdom, he will go to the end in Jerusalem and will lay down his sceptre and his crown upon the Mount of Olives. Immediately afterwards, Antichrist will come (Monk Adso, 10th century. as quoted in Catholic Prophecy. TAN Books, p. 18).
Yet in the Bible, Jesus warns,
15 Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:16-21).
It should be noted that those in the Churches of God believe that the expression " 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" refers to a major Vatican presence (probably including the Pope) in Jerusalem and that this will probably come to pass sometime after a major European leader makes come type of treaty with Israel and the Europeans will later violate (see Daniel 9:27).
And although Roman Catholics realize that the expression, " Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!" (Revelation 18:2) is referring to Rome and that the Bible says this happens after the Antichrist comes, their prophets, as well as the Catholic doctor Robert Bellarmine, teach that before the coming of the Antichrist will be "the devastation of the Roman Empire" (as quoted in Birch D.A. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph. Queenship Publishing, Goleta (CA), 1996, p. 474).
Is it not obvious that these Catholic teachers are confused and in conflict with scripture?
Is it any wonder that the average Roman Catholic is confused?
For what its worth, as one raised as a Roman Catholic, I too accepted the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in all areas that I understood when I was a child. However, after I "searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11), I felt led to follow the truth as revealed in the Bible (recall that Jesus taught that the word of God is truth and that God sanctifies, sets apart, those who live by the truth--John 17:17).
I then concluded that although I believed that the typical Roman Catholic member, priest, and even Pope was/is dedicated and sincere, that they have been misled by some of the early leaders who they never should not have listened to (Justin Martyr and Irenaeus are examples of two such persons). The typical Roman Catholic is unaware of the historical role of Europa and the Queen of Heaven throughout European history. And unaware of the major persecutions against true Christians (they are aware of battles involving Protestants, but that is not the same--the true Church of God is not Protestant--as it does not claim to have descended from the Reformation, but from the beginning of the Church on the first Pentecost in the Book of Acts--please see the articles Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome and The Churches of Revelation 2 & 3).
The Bible is clear that in the end-times, it is needed to for all to have a "love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11).
Are you one who has a love of the truth more than a lover for the traditions of men? (See also Matthew 15:9).
While the average European does not think much about world or economic domination, the European Union has been taking steps that appear to be preparing it to fulfill its prophesied roles.
Europe has been developing its own military, its own replacement of the GPS location system (called Galileo and do to be live by 2013), and definitely its own economic system. In addition to its own currency, the EU has been working for years to develop various standards for manufacturing and manufactured goods.
The EU appears to be positioning itself to be a leader in the world.
Notice the following about physics (note the CERN is the new superconducting super-colloider, often called the Large Hadron Colloider, that Europe began to test on September 11, 2008):
Europe leaps ahead on physics frontier...
The buzz of activity at CERN's Swiss campus dramatically illustrates a changing of the guard on the frontier of physics, with Europe taking over from the United States. For the past 14 years, Europeans have taken the lead role in building and financing the $10 billion Large Hadron Collider, which was started up on Wednesday. The U.S. federal government kicked in $531 million for construction.
The LHC is just this week's most obvious example of Eurocentrism in science: Less than 200 miles (300 kilometers) away, an even costlier international physics project, the $13 billion ITER fusion research center, is just getting started in southern France. And European officials are currently considering how to move forward with yet another fusion project, the $1 billion HiPER laser-fusion facility (Boyle A. Europe leaps ahead on physics frontier. MSNBC, September 11, 2008).
Notice the following about pollution:
BERLIN, March 10 (Reuters) - The European Union's adoption of measures to fight climate change this week could set an example for the United States, China and India, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday.
Under Germany's presidency, EU leaders set a binding target on Friday for renewable sources to make up 20 percent of EU energy consumption by 2020 and agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the same amount in the same period.
"We think that Europe could set an example for others to implement more attractive and better climate protection goals," Merkel said in her in weekly video "podcast" available for download on her Internet site.
"By this I mean, for example, the United States and developing countries India and China. We want to discuss this at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm in June."...
The EU produces about 14 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, while the United States, the world's largest polluter, produces some 25 percent. © 2007 Reuters
Since the EU has a larger population than the USA, that means on a per person basis, it produces about 1/2 as much greenhouse gas emissions as the USA. However the bigger picture is that this is likely to be part of the rational as to why the entire world should adopt the EU's standards for everything.
It was recently announced that it is the EU's intent to make its standards the standards that the rest of the world should follow:
EU wants rest of world to adopt its rules
Financial Times - Feb 18, 2007
Brussels wants the rest of the world to adopt the European Union’s regulations, the European Commission will say this week . A Commission policy paper that examines the future of the Union’s single market says European single market rules have inspired global standard-setting in areas such as product safety, the environment, securities and corporate governance.“Increasingly the world is looking to Europe and adopts the standards that are set here,” the paper, seen by the Financial Times, says.
The paper calls on the EU to encourage other jurisdictions to follow suit – for example by “promoting European standards internationally through international organisation and bilateral agreements.”
This strategy, it claims, will help European businesses beat their rivals abroad since it “works to the advantage of those already geared up to meet these standards”.
The EU’s drive to establish itself as the pacesetter for worldwide business regulation could well lead the bloc into conflict with the US and other trading partners...
Some critics of the European approach argue that the Union’s stance on issues such as GM foods may also reflect a desire to protect the region’s commercial interests.
However, as the Commission paper points out, the sheer size and wealth of the Union’s single market mean that few corporations can afford to ignore it. By harmonising the rules for a market boasting 500m consumers, the Union has set standards “which partners then have to meet if they are to benefit from the single market”, it says.
“[The single market] gives the EU the potential to shape global norms and to ensure that fair rules are applied to worldwide trade and investment. The single market of the future should be the launch pad of an ambitious global agenda.” The Commission paper forms part of an ambitious review of the Union’s single market – widely seen as one of the proudest achievement of European integration. Thanks to product harmonisation, common business rules and the erosion of national trade barriers, the single market means that goods, services, capital and people can move freely among the EU’s 27 member states.http://www.ft.com/cms/s/af609b2c-bf72-11db-9ac2-000b5df10621.html
The above standards will help the stage for the EU to fulfill many prophecies. Notice the following two that this type of system may help fulfill:
... that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name (Revelation 13:17).
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury (Revelation 18:3).
The Living Church of God reported the following news item in its February 28, 2008 Weekly Update:
Coming: A New Trade Block. Fifty-five U.S. Senators and Congressmen currently serve as advisors to a “working group” for the Transatlantic Common Market between the U.S. and the European Union. “An economist from the World Bank has argued in print that the formation of the Transatlantic Common Market is designed to follow the blueprint of Jean Monet, a key intellectual architect of the European Union, recognizing that economic integration must inevitably lead to political integration.” The idea of this union came to light in April 2007, when President Bush, German Chancellor Merkel, and European Commission President Barroso launched the Transatlantic Economic Council. Efforts are already underway to create a North American Community, including the U.S., Mexico and Canada. This community is to be based on security and economic issues and is intended to be in place by 2010 (WorldNetDaily.com, July 20, 2005; September 25, 2006). The Transatlantic Common Market is intended to combine the North American Community with the EU, creating the world’s most formidable trade bloc—a trade bloc that would be so large that its trading policies would automatically become policies for the world. Plans for this new “common market” are proceeding and are intended to pass through in a “treaty” form, much like the most recent EU Treaty, in order to avoid the scrutiny and debate that often come with more “formal” agreements (January 16, 2008). Revelation 18 warns of a future Beast, known as Babylon the Great, through which “the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury” (v. 3).
This type of proposed agreement has been expected for some time.
These negotiations will continue and some type of loose agreements will happen. Many of the "standards" of the European Union will be adopted by nearly all of the countries of the world.
However, over time, it will become increasingly clear that the British will be in more agreement with the Canadians and Americans and that the European Union in more agreement with the Mexicans than the EU will have with the English-speaking nations.
Trade wars and/or serious trade disputes will most likely arise.
The Brits will decide that they are more supportive of the Americans and Canadians. They will be so much more supportive that they will end up in a trading agreement with them (with the Australians and New Zealanders probably also becoming part of that agreement).
The EU will decide that Mexico and the rest of Latin America are in more agreement with it and thus make some type of serious trading agreement with most (or all) of Latin America. Additionally, because of widespread declining European birthrates, it is likely that there will be increase immigration from Latin America to Europe in the future. The Vatican will also have influence with all of this as Latin America is highly Roman Catholic.
The Europeans and Americans, however, will continue to have military agreements, though many will be tense about them.
Eventually, the Europeans (probably under the cover of pretending that they are involved in a "NATO-like" exercise in North America) will eventually launch a surprise attack against the United States in fulfillment of both biblical and Catholic prophecies. The Mexicans will most likely be allied with the Europeans for this to happen.
Additional Biblical Prophecies
For at least 70 years, and perhaps for much, much longer, the Church of God has generally understood that when the Bible refers to Assyria in end-time prophecy, it is referring to the Germanic peoples that will be the main force behind the Vatican supporting European superstate.
Here are two such writings from the late John Ogwyn and Dr. Douglas Winnail:
Coming threats of catastrophic economic and social collapse will set the stage for some soon-coming events, according to Bible prophecy. In answer to growing fears, there will suddenly emerge onto the world scene a powerful and charismatic leader in Europe. In alliance with a religious leader who will ignite an emotional mass hysteria through what the scripture terms "lying wonders" (2 Thessalonians 2:9), this military-political leader will use deceit to achieve great power. He will lead a revived Holy Roman Empire, called in scripture "Babylon the Great" (Revelation 17; 18).
This European union of church and state will promise universal prosperity and will exercise worldwide economic dominance for a short while. Ezekiel 27, using the figure of the ancient commercial city of Tyre, speaks of this global economic combine which will include nations of Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia along with Israel and Judah (v. 17). Portions of Ezekiel 27 are paraphrased or quoted in Revelation 18 where the end-time system, called Babylon the Great, is described.
The English-speaking nations will not prosper for long in connection with this system, however. In fact, they will ultimately be overpowered and destroyed by it militarily. Prior to military attack and occupation, devastating weather problems, combined with internal civil strife ("tumults in the midst" cf. Amos 3:9) will bring our nations to the point of internal collapse. (Ogywn J. The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy. LCG Booklet, Charlotte (NC)).
A great worldwide trading combine will seem to offer incredible profits to international cartels. Later, responding to crises involving both the Middle East and the English-speaking nations, this leader will move with lightning speed and iron determination. Annulling a treaty previously made with the Jewish state, his armies will overwhelm Jerusalem and will take half of the city into captivity (Zechariah 14:2). At the same time, an attack of overwhelming force will be launched on America, Britain, Canada and related nations (Ogwyn J. The Beast of Revelation Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality? LCG Booklet, Charlotte (NC)).
The Bible indicates that at the end of this age, the Israelite nations’ chief antagonist will be Assyria (Isaiah 10). God will use Assyria and its allies to punish Israelite nations that have forgotten their God (Isaiah 10:5–7; 24–25). Just like their ancient ancestors, the modern Assyrians have espoused a "master race" philosophy, have acquired a reputation for a certain aloofness and arrogance and have executed military operations with deadly precision and efficiency (Isaiah 10:8–14). Though few modern scholars look to the Bible for clues to understand geopolitics, the Bible’s prophetic references to Assyria in the "last days" do indeed point to modern Germany. (Winnail D. Modern Nations and God’s Ancient Plan. Tomorrow's World. Jul-Aug 2006).
While some historians do not believe that ancient Assyria is now essentially modern Germany, suffice it to state for this article that there is evidence that is still available for public view in Germany that suggests otherwise (it is also of interest to note that Germany also has the physical gates of entrance to ancient Babylonian, which is interesting for the Bible warns of Babylon, as this article mentioned before).
Anyway, notice some of what God had the prophet Isaiah write about Assyria:
"Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to destroy, And cut off not a few nations. (Isaiah 10:5-7.)
Notice that the Assyrian does not mean to do so. But will do it anyway. Notice that even now, the groundwork to consider the USA a potential enemy is being publicly indicated:
Helmut Schmidt, the former German chancellor who initiated the US arms buildup against the Soviet Union during his term in office, considers today's Russia to be less dangerous than the United States...
Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt ...says: "Russia poses far less of a threat to world peace today than, for example, the United States. You can go ahead and print that." These were the words Schmidt uttered in an interview with his own paper, the weekly Die Zeit (How Dangerous Is America? Spiegel - Nov 20, 2007 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,518399,00.html).
So even though most Germans are not intending at this instant to destroy the USA and its English-speaking allies, the fact that some consider the USA a threat should be sobering to all (for more about who the Anglo-American peoples are descended from and why God may allow them to receive this attack, please see the article Where Are the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel?).
With all that is going on with the Middle East, perhaps this article should mention that the Bible suggests that the Arab nations will make eventually make a deal to destroy Israel. Notice the following:
They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, "Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more." For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. (Psalm 83:3-8.)
Many Moslem nations have been contacting the Europeans in order to make various deals supposedly for peace in the Middle East. And as Psalm 83 shows, a deal to destroy will be made.
The Roman Catholics suggest this is a time of peace, but the Bible shows that it will not be a time of peace. Also notice what Jeremiah was inspired to write:
14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down," says the LORD (Jeremiah 6:14-15).
Jeremiah also was inspired to write that God will punish end-time Babylon, who is the European King of the North, for God will remember what was done to Israel (which includes the USA and many of its major English-speaking allies) and Judah:
Thus says the LORD:
"Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, Against those who dwell in Leb Kamai, A destroying wind. 2 And I will send winnowers to Babylon, Who shall winnow her and empty her land. For in the day of doom they shall be against her all around. 3 Against her let the archer bend his bow, And lift himself up against her in his armor. Do not spare her young men; Utterly destroy all her army. 4 Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, And those thrust through in her streets. 5 For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, By his God, the LORD of hosts, Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel."
6 Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; He shall recompense her...
49 As Babylon has caused the slain of Israel to fall, So at Babylon the slain of all the earth shall fall (Jeremiah 51:1-6).
Furthermore, it needs to be understood that the idea of a revived "Holy Roman Empire" in Europe being led by a Great Monarch who attacks the English-descended peoples is NOT simply a viewpoint of the Living Church of God. Roman Catholic private prophecies also teach this. Here is one related Catholic "prophecy":
Saint Cataldus of Tarentino (c. 500): "The Great Monarch will be in war till he is forty years of age....he will assemble great armies and expel tyrants from his empire. He will conquer England and other island empires" (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.30; also Culleton , p.118-119).
The island empires would seem to include Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand (also the term translated as England above would probably be better translated as the English because of the time that "prophecy" was given, hence the "prophecy" would seem to include the United States). There are other Catholic prophecies, biblical, and Church of God writings that indicate that this same European leader will conquer the United States (for more information, please see the article Who is the King of the North?).
Conclusion
What does all this mean?
It means that the current Roman Church does not now properly seem to understand biblical prophecy related to itself and Europe. Europe will make one or more dangerous deals with the Arabs. It means that Europe has pagan roots. It means that when the Roman Church have had a lot of power, true Christians have tended to suffer persecution.
The current European Union has the trappings of the old Holy Roman Empire and Catholics believe that it will be reborn as a peaceful Holy Roman Empire. Europe has always had a woman as its symbol. It still has a woman as its symbol now.
When the European Union gets its full power, true Christians will have persecution, the U.S.A. and its English-speaking allies conquered, and the world ultimately, tribulation, like never before. Many will get caught up in it. But you do not have to.
Jesus taught,
