Thousands Mourn Otto von Habsburg

Crown of the Beast of Revelation?
Crown of the “Holy Roman Empire”

Otto von Habsburg’s death is being mourned today:

Reuters – July 16, 2011

VIENNA – Thousands of mourners joined European royalty on Saturday for the funeral of Otto Habsburg-Lothringen, the eldest son of the last Austrian emperor...“He always knew that there is much more which unites us on the European continent than divides us. It was a most important message for all of us,” Poland’s Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, told Austrian television.

Habsburg was a member of the European Parliament for the German state of Bavaria for two decades and gave lecture tours around the world on politics. http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/16/thousands-mourn-son-of-last-austrian-emperor

Habsburg eulogized in elaborate funeral ceremony

AP – July 16, 2011 excerpt

In a message read by Papal Nunzio Peter Stephan Zurbriggen, Pope Benedict XVI praised the gaunt, bespectacled scion of the Austrian empire who was also a member of the European Parliament as a “great European … who engaged himself tirelessly for the peace and coexistence of peoples and for a fair system on this continent.” http://m.ctv.ca/topstories/20110716/funeral-otto-von-habsburg-110716.html

The late Herbert W. Armstrong used to believe that Otto von Habsburg was one to watch as a leader in Europe. Otto von Habsburg was quite influential in helping put together what is now the 500,000,000 person empire called the European Union.

In the 21st century there are Habsburg’s (sometimes spelled Hapsburg) with political influence in at least Austria, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Sweden, Ukraine, and the European Parliament. Perhaps I should mention that many of the queens of France and Portugal were daughters of Habsburgs (as well as some in other lands as well) (see also Habsburg Family Still Influential in and Near Europe for more details).

Here is some of what Rod McNair of the Living Church of God reported:

Otto von Hapsburg Dies at 98. The oldest son of Austria-Hungary’s last emperor died last Monday. Otto von Hapsburg became the head of the Hapsburg family in 1922, at the age of nine, when Charles I, his father, died. In the latter half of the 20th century, Otto von Hapsburg became a key force for the European integration we are seeing today. European Commission President Barroso called him “a great European… who gave an important impetus to the European project throughout his rich life” (www.abc6.com). As an acquaintance and guest of Mr. Herbert Armstrong, Otto von Hapsburg visited Ambassador College in the 1980s and shared his vision of a united Europe in interviews published in The Plain Truth magazine.

The passing of this fascinating and influential man—the son of an emperor—reminds us of the pivotal times we are living in. The world is waiting for one final king to rise over a united Europe, who will exercise great authority and will “continue a short time” (Revelation 17:10). Ten other “kings” will give their sovereignty to him and fight against the returning Jesus Christ (verses 12-14). But the “called, chosen, and faithful” saints will be with Christ, and share in His victory over this coming dictator. Brethren, these are incredible and historic times! As these events unfold, we must never lose sight of who we are, why we are here, and what’s just ahead!

All the emperors of the old “Holy Roman Empire” were part of what has been known as the Habsburg line. Charlemagne was crowned the first Holy Roman Emperor, reputedly with the crown shown above, by Pope Leo III in Rome on Christmas Night, 800 AD. And now, over 1200 years later, the descendants of that family are still influential in and near Europe.

Although he does not have the word “Habsburg” in his incredibly long name, Baron Karl Theodor Maria Nikolaus Johann Jacob Philipp Franz Joseph Sylvester Freiherr von und zu Guttenberg’s mother was a Habsburg which means that the Baron is a descendant of that line too. He is one to watch in European politics as I have often written. He, for example, may just become the final one that the Bible refers to as the King of the North (Daniel 11:21-45) and Beast (Revelation 13). If the Baron is the one, Having influential distant relatives may assist his attainment to power.

The legacy of Otto von Habsburg is likely to be favorable towards Karl zu Guttenberg.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies 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?
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?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?