Austria vote may turn to the ‘right’
Norbert Hofer (© Bwag/Wikimedia)
Austrians went to the polls Sunday:
December 4, 2016
VIENNA —Austrians went to the polls Sunday in a re-run election that could see front-runner Norbert Hofer elected, making him Austria’s first far-right president since World War II.
Voters are driven largely by anti-establishment sentiments and anger over issues of immigration, the financial burden of refugees and migrants who are collecting benefits from Austria’s welfare system, and Europe’s wave of terrorist attacks over the last year following the start of the migrant crisis.
Sunday’s poll is a second round, after the results of the first vote in June were annulled because of irregularities.
Analysts said Sunday’s race between far-right candidate Hofer of the anti-Islamist Freedom Party, and his opponent, Alexander Van Der Bellen, a Green Party member, was too close to predict in the hours before polls opened Sunday, with some polls showing Hofer, a former aeronautical engineer, slightly ahead.
The campaign has been long and angry. …
Anti-establishment mood
This time, analysts say Hofer could benefit from the anti-establishment mood sweeping across the U.S. and Europe that has been partly inspired by Britain’s decision to leave the European Union and the victory of Donald Trump in the United States.
The sentiments have also been fomented by a series of terror attacks in Paris, Brussels and in parts of France, all since the start of the migrant crisis.
“The feeling among people is one of change, because of fear of terror attacks. People are getting afraid,” said Robert Marschall, head of Austria’s EU Exit Party, a tiny party that last year organized a massive but ultimately unsuccessful signature drive to begin a process of discussing Austria’s exit from the European Union.
The campaign has been ugly. Hofer’s campaign posters across central Vienna were defaced with swastikas and mustaches that made Hofer resemble Adolf Hitler. …
Hofer’s Freedom Party was founded in the 1950s by former members of Hitler’s National Socialist party, but its current members deny any ideological connection to the Third Reich and deny they are racist or anti-Semitic.
A supporter of Hofer, a banker who asked to be identified only by his initials, M.A., called the defacing of Hofer’s campaign posters a sign of intolerance.
“I think it’s very cheap because what leftist parties stand out for apparently, such as freedom of speech, such as democracy, it contradicts it,” he said.
M.A., who said he is Jewish, takes exception to any suggestion that those who favor curbs on immigration are racist or anti-Semitic. “We opened our gates irresponsibly to people of whom we don’t know their background,” he said. …
Voters who changed their minds
Sunday’s election hinges largely on voters who have changed their minds since June. Among them is Siegfried, a 68-year-old retiree who voted for Van Der Bellen six months ago but who said he will vote for Hofer Sunday.
Siegfried said it is Hofer’s promises to curb immigration that have won his vote after the EU tried to mandate that Austria and other member nations accept refugees.
Siegfried said his attitude was always one of welcoming the refugees.
“At the beginning it was totally to help them because they were people who had nothing. We had to help them,” he said. “But what happened now I cannot stand it anymore. It was an invasion. It was like we are occupied and somebody else controlled it and we are not even allowed to say anything.” http://www.voanews.com/a/austria-wraps-up-ugly-divisive-presidential-campaign/3622231.html
Contrary to how the above article starts out, let me state that Norbert Hofer has been the acting president of Austria since July 2016.
Now, the idea that the ‘tolerant’ people of Europe have had about enough of the Islamic refugees is real.
No matter who wins the election in Austria, understand that Europe will take steps to eliminate Islam from the continent. Voter sentiment in Austria and elsewhere in Europe is showing that.
Notice some items I posted about this back in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2015:
The reality is that the Muslims will force Europe to wake-up and re-establish themselves. Historically, when Europe has been strongly opposed to Islam it has had greater ties to the Vatican.
This is what will occur. The Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Rome) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam. (Thiel B. Muslims: European Wake-Up Call. COGwriter, August 9, 2009)
The reality is that the Muslims will be a major factor to get Europe to wake-up and re-establish itself. Historically, when Europe has been strongly opposed to Islam it has had greater ties to the Vatican.
This is what will occur. The Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Rome) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam. (Thiel B. Anti-Islamic PVV Gaining in the Netherlands. COGwriter, March 4, 2010)
A divide between Islam and the nominally-Christian Europe is going to become more and more real. Though there will be apparent cooperation (cf. Psalm 83; Daniel 11:27), the two will turn against each other (Daniel 11:40-43). (Thiel B. France Begins Burqa Ban. COGwriter, April 11, 2011)
Yet, there are changes happening in Europe. And according to the Bible, more economic (Revelation 13: 14-17) and political ones must come to pass (Revelation 17:12-13). A currency change from the Euro is a possible, but not biblically-required, change.
As far as the anti-Islamists go, the Bible shows that a European military leader will line up with a religious leader from the city of seven hills (Revelation 17) and ultimately defeat the forces of Islam (Daniel 11:40-43), despite having earlier made one of more deals with the Islamists (cf. Psalm 83:3-8; Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:27).
Irrespective of one or more temporary political deals with those of the Islamic faith, the anti-Islamic sentiment that Geert Wilders and others have tapped into in Europe is real. And according to the Bible, it will be resolved in ways differently than Geert Wilders and others like him publicly state (Daniel 11:40-42). (Thiel B. Political Turmoil in the Netherlands. COGwriter, April 23, 2012)
Will the refugee problem break apart Europe?
Well, it is likely to be a factor that will result in the UK splitting from the continental Europeans.
But what about the continental Europeans, will they split up or unite closer?
Well, although the Bible states that they will have unification problems (Daniel 2:41-43), it also shows that they will reorganize and put in a dictator, the Beast of Revelation (Revelation 17:12-13; see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?). A Europe will arise with a powerful militaristic leader (Revelation 13:4; see also Europa, the Beast, and Revelation) who will enter with peaceful sounding words (Daniel 8:25; 9:27; 11:21-24; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27), yet he will be the prophesied King of the North. …
Although there is a pontiff who currently is endorsing the acceptance of these migrants into Europe (see Pope Francis tells tens of thousands of European Catholic facilities to accept one migrant family per church/monastery), expect changes to come.
Islamic migrants into Europe will cause problems, but ultimately will result in a dictator rising up in Europe.
Not only will that not end up well for Islam (Daniel 11:40-43; see also Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?), it will also not end up well for the UK or the USA (Daniel 11:39; see also the article Anglo – America in Prophecy). (Thiel B. Will ‘Islamic Invasion’ by migrants break up the European Union? COGwriter, September 13, 2015)
The above items were posted based upon my knowledge and understanding of biblical prophecy. And astute readers will realize that the Brexit vote confirmed what I wrote in September 2015–the immigrant situation was a factor in the UK voting to leave the European Union on June 23, 2016.
And the migrant issue is a major one in Austria.
As I mentioned in an earlier article about burqas many years ago (see Belgium To Ban the Burka?), Europe is starting to get fed-up with Islam (see also Anti-Islamic PVV Gaining in the Netherlands and Switzerland Votes to Ban Minarets).
A divide between Islam and the nominally-Christian Europe is going to become more and more real.
And yes, the election of Donald Trump will encourage Europe to get its own ‘strong’ leader some day (cf. Revelation 17:12-13). Notice something I wrote on March 4, 2016:
It does matter that Europe hates Donald Trump. If he becomes president, Europeans will intensify their desire to arm themselves. The time will come when Europe will turn to a ‘strongman’ of its own (cf. Revelation 17:12-13; see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?) (Thiel B. BBC: ‘Europe hates Trump. Does it matter?’ COGwriter, March 4, 2016)
While the Austrian election is NOT the election for the final European Beast power, it is an election that demonstrates that many voters are leaning more towards an anti-Islamic strongman. And Bible prophecy shows one will arise in Europe (cf. Revelation 13:1-10; 17:12-13).
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs Is war really coming between the Arabs and the Europeans? What does Bible prophecy say about that? Do the Central Europeans (Assyria in prophecy) make a deal with the Arabs that will hurt the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Do Catholic or Islamic prophecies discuss a war between Europe and Islam? If so, what is the sequence of events that the Bible reveals? Who does the Bible, Catholic, and Islamic prophecy teach will win such a war?
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here are links to two sermon videos Germany in Bible Prophecy and The Rise of the Germanic Beast Power of Prophecy.
Christian Repentance Do you know what repentance is? Is it really necessary for salvation? A related sermon is Real Christian Repentance.
Should a Christian Vote? This article gives some of the Biblical rationale on this subject. Would Jesus vote for president/prime minister? Is voting in the Bible? This is a subject Christians need to understand. A video of related interest is available titled: Should Christians Vote?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Forbes’ Brexit Monster is the Beast of Revelation Various ones have been properly convinced that there is a plan for a European superstate. Forbes’ writer Tom Worstall wrote that the Brexit vote was about the United Kingdom “not joining the monster of the European Union to come.” The Bible tells of a Beast monster that will arise in the end times in Europe. Dr. Thiel cites news reports, as well as the Old and New Testaments, to show that the monster many fear will arise in Europe, despite the vote by the British to exit the European Union.
Post Brexit Prophecy On June 23, 2016, the voters of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) chose to leave the European Union. Now with this BRitish EXIT (Brexit) vote, what is prophesied to happen to the UK? Will the UK do well or be taken over and made slaves? Dr. Thiel explains from biblical prophecies what is ahead for the UK, Europe, and even the USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This is a video.
Donald Trump in Prophecy Prophecy, Donald Trump? Are there prophecies that Donald Trump may fulfill? Are there any prophecies that he has already helped fulfill? Could a Donald Trump presidency be apocalyptic? A related video is titled: 13 Ways President-Elect Trump is Apocalyptic.
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