German Defense Minister states that Germany is now ready to lead Europe militarily

Symbol of the German Bundeswehr

The German cabinet approved a plan to increase the budget and influence of its military:

July 13, 2016

“Germany is ready to lead,” German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said as she presented the so-called “white paper” on security policy approved by the cabinet earlier on Wednesday. …

Today, as Europe is grappling with the shock of the Brexit referendum and warily eyeing Russia, Germany’s security policy paper sees the country gradually assuming a larger defense role within the frameworks of NATO and the European Union. It also envisions a future defense union of European states.

“Germany is increasingly seen as a key player in Europe,” the document noted. According to the paper, which states that Germany is ready to “assume responsibility” and “help meet current and future security and humanitarian challenges,” the country has a responsibility to actively help shape the world order.

Paradigm shift

The 2016 White Paper marks a major shift for the country.

For decades, post-World War Two Germany was cast in the role of economic giant, but “political dwarf” that long refrained from sending troops abroad in international conflicts. It was not until 1994 that Germany’s highest court allowed the country to take part in multinational peacekeeping missions.

The world expects Germany to take on a greater foreign and security policy role, and that demands “a turnaround,” the German defense minister said. …

The Bundeswehr, seen domestically as overstretched, underfunded and beset by equipment failures, is now set to see its budget boosted and will implement its first increase in troop strength since it was a conscript army in the Cold War. Plans call for recruiting nearly 20,000 additional personnel over seven years.

Pulling its weight

The Defense Ministry’s plan stressed that Germany will act within transatlantic and European frameworks. http://www.dw.com/en/germany-presents-new-military-roadmap/a-19397153

July 13, 2016

Germany and France want to forge closer defense cooperation in the European Union following the departure of Britain, which has “paralyzed” such initiatives in the past, German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen said on Wednesday.

Presenting a report on German security policy, von der Leyen said Germany and France would lead talks with other countries to assess their appetite for common projects and with the long-term aim of moving toward a common security and defense union.

“I can tell you from experience that in the past Britain has said it will not do these things,” she told a news conference.

“This paralyzed the European Union on the issues of foreign and security policy. This cannot mean that the rest of Europe remains inactive, but rather we need to move forward on these big issues.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-military-idUSKCN0ZT1TE

Not all in Germany approve of this as the following shows:

“The ‘white paper’ is nothing but a written demand for more money for more soldiers, for more military operations and more military equipment,” Germany’s Left Party said in a statement. “It’s a ‘white paper’ for armaments and war.” http://www.dw.com/en/germany-presents-new-military-roadmap/a-19397153

Whether or not all approve, the reality is that much of the leadership in Germany wants to increase the size and scope of its military.

In the past, Germany has stated that it wants a military that is independent of the USA (see my posts Germany military looking to be ‘Independent of the USA’ and Germans wants an independent European arms industry).

A couple of months ago, the German Defense Minister said that the new troops she was then asking for would be ” trained in cyber warfare, and other technologically demanding areas of modern war.” As regular readers of this page are aware, I have warned for years that Europe would be able to be successful militarily because of technology.

The moves in Germany are a step in that direction.

The current German military is called the Bundeswehr. A couple of years ago, it was reported that:

The Bundeswehr is among the world’s most technologically advanced and best-supplied militaries (Bundeswehr. Wikipedia, viewed 04/28/14)

And apparently the Bundeswehr wants to be more technologically advanced. The biblical ramifications of a Europe that thinks it can defend itself apart from the USA are enormous.

Here is a report about the Bundeswehr I saw today:

The Bundeswehr is divided into a military part (armed forces or Streitkräfte) and a civil part with the armed forces administration (Wehrverwaltung). The military part of the federal defense force consists of the Heer (Army), Marine (Navy), Luftwaffe (Air Force), Streitkräftebasis (Joint Support Service), and the Zentraler Sanitätsdienst (Joint Medical Service) branches.

As of 30 November 2015, the Bundeswehr has a strength of roughly 178,000 active soldiers,placing it among the 30 largest military forces in the world and making it the second largest in the European Union behind France in terms of personnel.In addition the Bundeswehr has approximately 40,000 reserve personnel (2014).With German military expenditures at €34.4 billion,the Bundeswehr is among the top ten best-funded forces in the world (Bundeswehr. Wikipedia, viewed 07/13/16).

The Bible tells of a time when a final Beast power will rise up in Europe. That Beast of the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10) is also called the King of the North in the Bible (Daniel 11:39-40). Other scriptures point to the final King of the North being Assyrian (Isaiah 10:12), therefore possessing at least some Germanic ancestry.

Now that the UK is planning on leaving the EU, apparently Germany feels that this is the time to agree to increase its military role and influence–not realizing what this will fully lead to.

Because of real divisions between the USA and Europe, Europe eventually will attack and takeover the USA. The ‘he’ in Daniel 11:39 is identified as the King of the North in Daniel 11:40:

5 O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. 6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. 7 Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. 8 For he saith, Are not my princes altogether kings? 9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus? 10 As my hand hath found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria; 11 Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols? (Isaiah 10:5-11, KJV)

12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Lord has performed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks.”

13 For he says:

“By the strength of my hand I have done it,
And by my wisdom, for I am prudent;
Also I have removed the boundaries of the people,
And have robbed their treasuries;
So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people,
And as one gathers eggs that are left,
I have gathered all the earth;
And there was no one who moved his wing,
Nor opened his mouth with even a peep.” (Isaiah 10:12-14, NKJV)

39 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)

There are historical and prophetic reasons to tie in Assyria with those in Germany and central Europe today (see Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History and Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy).

The Bible talks about a beast of the sea that had a deadly wound to one of its heads that was healed:

3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:3)

Germany lost two world wars.

Notice the verse that comes after Revelation 13:3:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him? (Revelation 13:4)

Notice that this beast has military ability. Consider that Germany is taking the lead of the military in Europe.

The view that Germany would rise up militarily in Europe is not a new one. Church of God writers have warned of this for decades. Notice, for example, two items from the late Herbert W. Armstrong:

I have been telling you all along that Russia is not going to plunge us into World War III now. Russia is not going to attack the United States. I have been telling you, even though we look on Germany as an ally, that Germany is the nation for us to WATCH. (Armstrong HW. Biggest World New Happening in Germany. Plain Truth. August 1959, p. 3)

Now the Germans are not the master race. They are a race of orderly people who are very great producers of certain mechanical things, have very great talents in certain directions. They are a people who have been down and out after World War I. And Hitler came around and raised them up with the idea that they are better than any other people on earth, and he practically had them hypnotized. I think a great many people in Germany today realize that, and I don’t think you find very much of Hitlerism in Germany today. However, it’s coming in a little different way today. Once again, they are right on the verge of raising this thing up once again. (Armstrong HW. Mark of the Beast. Sermon, December 11, 1982. http://www.hwalibrary.com/cgi-bin/get/hwa.cgi?action=getsermon&InfoID=1333986018)

Notice also the following from 1962 by the late Radio Church of God evangelist Dr. Herman Hoeh:

Consider also that Germany has set itself up as the bulwark of European civilization for well over a thousand years. Germany for centuries has claimed to stand as the eastern wall of defense against the barbarism of Asia. It was on German soil that the hordes of Asia, sweeping across eastern Europe, were more than once stopped.

The German Reich long endured as the oldest political institution in Europe — older than the government of France or England by centuries. The German people called their Reich the Holy Roman Empire. It bore rule over Europe for a thousand years. This “Holy Roman Empire of the German People” was officially designated by the Church in the Middle Ages as “The Kingdom of God” on earth. Its citizens, the Germans, felt themselves true Romans and bearers of the Christian Reich or Kingdom. THEY were therefore the CHOSEN PEOPLE of the Christian era, entrusted with a world-mission to be the protectors of Christianity.

The German leaders and philosophers have never forgotten this notion of the Middle Ages that the German, in place of the Jew, has a special mission from God. German politicians know that their dream of a world Empire can be created only if they maintain this claim of a world-mission.

This strange concept, which lies behind political thinking in Germany today, is plainly stated in a German work which I have before me as I write this article. The book is entitled “Die Tragödie des Heiligen Reiches,” or, translated, “The Tragedy of the Holy Roman Empire.” It is by Friedrich Heer. It is a remarkable volume. It lays bare the reason for the SECRET MOVES OF THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TOWARD A UNITED STATES OF EUROPE….

German leaders once again — just as in centuries past — openly are attempting to unite all Europe in a United States of Europe — and, through Europe, to reshape the world in order to fasten German leadership and culture on all nations and peoples. (Hoeh H. Germany in Prophecy! Plain Truth, December 1962)

We should watch Germany and in the 21st century, Germany has given prophecy believers many reasons to watch. Notice also the following from 2009 and 2013:

I received an email that asked (the rest that follows these two questions was my response):

How is Europe, Germany in particular, going to defeat the US, Britain, Canada etc. with the weapons they now have? I don’t doubt it will happen, but in your opinion I would like to know how. Other than France, does any country in Europe have nuclear weapons?

While we do not know all the details, Jesus repeatedly told His followers to watch (Mark 13:33-37). And I believe that this means looking at world events in the light on Bible prophecy. Here are some facts and conjecture to consider:

The Europeans have the Large Hadron Collider which will likely enable them to develop unique military capabilities to fulfill Revelation 13:3-4. This is the leading physics project in the entire world and leading-edge military weaponry tends to come out of such projects.

Starting in 2013, the Europeans intend to implement their own Galileo “GPS” system for military applications. This will give the Europeans something that I believe only the USA, Russia, and China now have–an independent targeting and tracking system.

The US GAO announced in May 2009, that the USA may need to rely partially on the European system next decade as its own GPS is deteriorating. Other reports have claimed that even the replacement units have problems. If Europe was to launch a surprise attack (which having Galileo would facilitate), it could interfere with USA military communications and weaponry, thus greatly impeded the highly technical USA military from having a quick ability to respond

It is my understanding that there are US nuclear weapons in the Netherlands, Germany, and elsewhere that are under European control. The Europeans would likely launch some of them (as well as perhaps French ones) against the USA (probably from aircraft).

The USA and UK are reducing their own nuclear weapons. Most in the UK want to eliminate them. Reportedly “a survey by ICM for the Guardian newspaper suggested, and 54 per cent of those questioned wanted the UK’s nuclear weapons axed entirely” (Majority ‘want Trident nuclear missiles scrapped’. Telegraph – July 14, 2009 ).

The USA has stated that it will buy less new advanced weaponry for budget reasons.

The Europeans have stated that they will increase their military spending.

The Bible tells of a time where the King of the North will make a deal with the King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83) in order to destroy Israel (which for this purpose seems to be the USA, UK, the nation of Israel, etc.).

The Europeans have long tended to use surprise (blitzkrieg was the term in WWII) to start invasions.

Natural disasters, economic problems, and other woes (like pestilences, disease epidemics, food shortages, cf. Matthew 24:7) will likely weaken the USA and its Anglo-allies even more and make them more vulnerable to attack.

The fact that the USA has the highest total debt of any nation and the UK may have the highest per capita debt means that they will likely fulfill Habakkuk 2:6-7, “Woe to him who increases What is not his–how long? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.” This will mean that there will be international support for the attack and some other nations may support the Europeans. The USA and UK eventually (probably next decade) run out of the ability to increase their debt.

I believe that a combination of terrorist attacks (by the King of the South), combined with a surprise attack (possibly due to a joint NATO exercise in North America), ethnic & civil issues, and possibly ground troops from south of the USA border, will possibly be how the attack will start. Essentially delivering a “knock-out punch” as this is a scenario that the USA military simply will not have planned for. For a short while, I think the USA military will be confused as to who the enemy actually is. That will give the Europeans enough time to win relatively quickly.

In my view, all of that shows how the rising European Beast power will have the ability to take over the USA and UK, possibly some time next decade. And since this is consistent with Bible prophecy, many of the items are listed are likely to be factors. (Thiel B. How Can Europe Defeat the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand? Church of God News, June 24, 2009)

While many believe that Germany’s intentions are peaceful (and the Bible teaches that many in Germany truly think they are per Isaiah 10:7), they will not remain that way. Preparing their people to better respect and support their military, while increasing its technical abilities will lead to war–and several of them (cf. Daniel 11:39, 40-43) will be so successful that the world will marvel (cf. Revelation 13:4). … Additionally, I should add that Germany has control of a fair amount of USA military technology and I believe it will use that against the USA and its allies as well. In addition to nuclear weapons of the USA, Europe’s upcoming Galileo satellite system will give Germany and the Europeans the ability to interfere with the USA’s ability to respond to an attack.(Thiel B. Germany’s elites want more acceptance of its military; How can the coming European power defeat the USA? Church of God News, June 25, 2013)

While the USA does have a tendency to excessively spy, it may very well be that it does believe that the Germans are working on projects that the USA considers to be militarily dangerous to the USA. Yet few Americans consider that any real threat will come from Germany and Europe. But according to biblical prophecy the final Beast power (Revelation 13; Daniel 11) will arise in Europe, and this will result in the takeover of the USA and its Anglo-descended allies (cf. Daniel 11:39). … By the way, one I am watching as a potential final King of the North, Karl Guttenberg has a position in the European Union related to the internet and governmental control of it (Thiel B. Germany: USA is engaged in ‘cold war’ against us, Europe furious. Church of God News, June 30, 2013).

While many believe that Germany’s intentions are peaceful (and the Bible teaches that many in Germany truly think they are per Isaiah 10:7), they will not remain that way. Preparing their people to better respect and support their military, while increasing its technical abilities will lead to war–and several of them (cf. Daniel 11:39, 40-43) will be so successful that the world will marvel (cf. Revelation 13:4). (Thiel B. Germany in Biblical Prophecy. COGwriter, 2013)

Germany still wants to lead all of Europe–the Bible supports that this will happen. The fact that the Germans are getting more and more open about wanting to strengthen a European military shows that the goal of such a military is intended.

Last month, Lech Walesa, one of Poland’s most famous leaders (and former president) called for German leadership of Europe if there was a Brexit:

6/16/16

Poland’s freedom icon Lech Walesa believes powerhouse Germany should lead either a deeply reformed, or an entirely rebuilt European Union, in the wake of a possible Brexit.

Walesa’s comments come as a series of opinion polls show a growing lead for the campaign rallying British voters to leave the 28-nation EU in a landmark referendum on 23 June.

“Germany in particular must calculate what would be better for development (of the EU): do we create a completely new organisation… or do we fix the old EU?” Walesa told AFP during an interview in Gdansk, the cradle of Poland’s 1980s anti-communist Solidarity movement.

“It’s up to the Germans to decide because they are the leaders and they must also decide with whom they want to build” the new EU, he added. …

The Nobel Peace Prize winner — renowned for negotiating a bloodless end to communism in Poland in 1989 — also insisted that Germany, along with EU partners France and Italy, “should have a contingency scenario prepared to put in place 15 minutes after the EU falls apart.”

“After the current European Union falls apart, a new union must be created, but it must be thought out much better in order to avoid the kind of problems we have now.

“Whoever wants to join it, can join, while those who don’t, can just say ‘no thanks’,” Walesa said. https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/walesa-germany-should-lead-new-eu-after-possible-brexit/

Because of the Brexit, the debt and other matters in the USA, Ukraine, etc. the Europeans are getting a wake-up call that they have to develop their own military–and the Bible shows that they will (Revelation 13:4; Daniel 11:39-43).

Germany wants to lead Europe militarily and one of its leaders made that clear today.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the former German Defense Minister (who is also the former German Minister for Economics and Technology) one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest? A video of related interest would be: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg and Europe’s Future.
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 and Catholic 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?
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? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
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.
Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? The Book of Revelation tells of a beast power that will rise up. Some think that this must be Russia or could be Islamic, while others say that this power is European. The Book of Daniel tells of the rise of an end time King of the North that some think must be referring to a Russian leader, while others say that this power is European. How can you be sure? This YouTube video has all the scriptural proofs that you should need to prove that this power must be a European one.
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
British are the Covenant People What do ‘British’ and ‘Britain’ mean in Hebrew? Are the descendants of the Anglo-Saxons people of the covenant? Does the British royal family connect to the throne of David? What does the Bible teach? What does history show us? Is there any DNA evidence related to British-Israelism? When did Christianity make it to the British Isles? Could Jeremiah have made it to the British Isles? What type of Christians made it to the British Isles? Did the last King of England believe in British Israelism?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Can those in the USA/UK see the Handwriting on the Wall? Is everything fine in the USA/UK or is it like the days of Noah? Can we learn from the handwriting that appeared on a wall thousands of years ago? Here is a link to a related YouTube video Can you see the ‘Handwriting on the Wall’?
The Snowden Leaks are Leading to the Destruction of the USA Can what happened with the leaks of what the NSA has done help the USA to be taken over? What does the Bible teach that seems to be related to this? Here is a related YouTube video titled Are the Snowden NSA leaks leading to the destruction of the USA?
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?