PCG Gerald Flurry: EU to be Smaller

Gerald Flurry of the Philadelphia Church of God
Gerald Flurry

Gerald Flurry, the self-appointed prophet of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God, wrote the following in the February 2010 edition of the Philadelphia Trumpet:

The EU is now comprised of 27 nations. But your Bible says it will have 10 kings. That means this political-religious union is about to be radically reduced. Perhaps another financial crisis, or some other disaster, will produce that result.

Making the EU smaller will make it much less democratic, more unified, and more powerful—so powerful that it will start World War iii!

It is high time people understand what is happening in Europe!

Here is what the passage Gerald Flurry alluded to about “10 kings” actually states:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

The above passage tells of ten kings who had no kingdom, but they each apparently get one and pass their authority on to the Beast leader.

The word for kingdom does not need to mean an individual country. And while some countries might leave the EU, it is not likely that it will pare down to only ten. Instead, there is likely to be a structural change in the EU that will group certain nations (and/or parts of them) together into some type of configuration of ten (which ultimately, since the EU flag has 12 stars on it, will likely be considered as a group of 12 by the Europeans).

The idea that the 10 nations may be regions or groups of nations is not unique to me. Notice the following comments from the old WCG Bible Correspondence Course (bolding mine):

COMMENT: Notice that the “ten horns” pictured on the seventh “head” of the Beast of Rev. 17 “are ten kings” who have no kingdom as yet — therefore they are political and military rulers who will receive ruling power “one hour (a very short time) with the Beast.”

They will all be of one mind, one purpose…

These ten nations, or groups of nations, comprising the modern revived Beast, are to fight Christ at His coming. This shows the time for the fulfillment of this prophecy…

Remember that there must be TEN NATIONS or groups of nations to comprise the final resurrection of the modern “Holy Roman Empire”! (AMBASSADOR COLLEGE, BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSE. LESSON 32 (1963, 1965, 1967, 1969)).

So, even decades ago, the old WCG realized that it may be 10 groups of nations, or perhaps even regional groups.

Furthermore, while Europe will become more unified, this unity will not be total. Notice what Daniel wrote:

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 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. 44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:41-44)

Now even though Gerald Flurry is correct to indicate that Europe will have some type of crisis that will result in a structural change, if Gerald Flurry is concluding that the number of countries must be “radically reduced” for the sake of unity, this is not consistent with what the Bible seems to be teaching in Daniel or the Book of Revelation.

The Bible teaches about some type of consolidation. Yet, it is highly likely that most of the countries now in the EU will become part of the final Beast power (some are likely to leave, though).

Two articles of possibly related interest may include:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
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?