Church of God News

Yesterday’s election in Austria resulted in the Freedom Party winning a majority of the vote, at 28.8%

It defeated the ruling ÖVP, at 26.3%

Like the National Rally in France, all other ruling parties are uniting to keep the FPÖ out of government

And, like the AfD, FPO are the… pic.twitter.com/Keb0B7tU8o

— Connor Tomlinson (@Con_Tomlinson) September 30, 2024

COGwriter

There was an election in Austria yesterday. The voters have elected anti-Islamic immigrant leaders:

Austria’s rightward shift puts immigration in crosshairs

September 30, 2024

VIENNA — 

Picknicking with friends in the park after prayers at a Vienna mosque, Saima Arab, a 20-year-old pedicurist originally from Afghanistan, is thankful for her freedoms in Austria.

“We could never do this in Afghanistan, never cook, go out, just sit in public like this,” said Arab, who came to Austria in 2017. “Home is like a prison there.”

Many Austrians, however, are worried about their country’s ability to integrate migrants, especially Muslims, and their desire for stricter immigration laws was a key issue in Sunday’s election which gave victory to the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) for the first time.

Both the FPO and the runner-up, the ruling conservative Austrian People’s Party (OVP), ran on pledges to tighten asylum laws and crack down on illegal immigration.

The FPO victory added to critics’ concerns about the rise of the far right in Europe after electoral gains in recent months by the Alternative for Germany and the National Rally in France.

“Whatever the government looks like after the election, I’m certain it’ll work towards toughening up asylum and immigration law,” Professor Walter Obwexer, an adviser to the government on migration law, said before the vote. …

The number of people in Austria born abroad or whose parents were jumped by more than a third between 2015 and last year, and now account for around 27% of the population of about 9 million.

Together the FPO and the OVP won over 55% of the vote and one of the two is almost certain to lead the next government, feeding expectations that Austria, like neighboring Germany and Hungary, and France, will adopt tougher rules.

Opinion polls showed immigration and inflation were key voter concerns. Such is the worry that Austria is taking in migrants faster than it can integrate them that even some Austrians of Muslim origin feel Austria is stretched.

“I wonder if the system is close to collapse,” said Mehmet Ozay, a Turkish-born Austrian FPO supporter, arguing there were too many asylum seekers not contributing to state coffers.

Taylor Swift concert

The FPO has combined its tough talk on immigration with criticism of Islam.

The issue took center stage last month when police arrested a teenager with North Macedonian roots on suspicion of masterminding a failed Islamic State-inspired attack on a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna.

Running on the campaign slogan “Fortress Austria,” the FPO promoted “remigration,” including returning asylum seekers to their countries of origin, especially if they fail to integrate, and limiting asylum rights.

That has unsettled some who feel the party, which dropped some of its more polarizing slogans in the campaign, is demonizing foreigners.

The FPO, which did not reply to a request for comment, denies this. It says asylum seekers are a drain on state resources, and draws attention to crimes some of them commit. https://www.voanews.com/a/austria-s-rightward-shift-puts-immigration-in-crosshairs/7804238.html

September 30, 2024

Austria’s right-wing Freedom Party scored a historic victory of its own on Sunday, winning the most votes in the country’s national election for the first time after the eurosceptic party campaigned on mass deportation, cracking down on illegal immigration, and halting aid to the giant money laundromat that is Ukraine.

And, just like after AfD’s stunning success on September 1 which was met with a full-court press from establishment parties to prevent it from ruling, so Austria’s traditional political powers have pledged to block the conservative Freedom Party from forming a government, marking the latest effort to stem the rising tide of populism in Europe. …

A three-party coalition would be a first for Austria and finding common ground for a joint government program will be an arduous task. All party leaders — even Kickl — agree that “something has to change” in the country, but they disagree on the particulars.

Austrian coalition negotiations have traditionally taken months, not weeks, so the talks could stretch into next year. Nehammer’s existing team — made up of the People’s Party and the Greens — will continue to govern in the meantime. https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/austrian-right-wing-freedom-party-scores-historic-victory-national-elections

Years ago, Austria’s then Chancellor Sebastian Kurz wanted the European Union to battle illegal immigration:

Austrian Chancellor Says Battling Illegal Immigration Is Just As Important As Climate Change

January 17, 2020

Despite losing a confidence vote in May that led to the collapse of Austria’s ruling coalition, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the youngest Chancellor in Austria’s history, won a decisive re-election in September.

But instead of reviving his conservative People’s Party’s alliance with the ultra-conservative Freedom Party, Kurz has bounced back from a bribery scandal perpetrated by his former coalition partner and decided to try forming a new coalition with the center-left Green Party.

The marriage of conservative and liberal has led to some interesting policy priorities.

For example, in his first interview with the international press since officially taking office last week, Kurz told the FT that his new government’s top priorities will be fighting climate change and curbing immigration.

As Kurz explained, while protecting the environment is an important priority, fighting immigration is just as important. Because Austria’s Judeo-Christian identity will continue to be eroded if Europe doesn’t get its arms around illegal migration.

“It is important to protect our environment but it is also important to decide who will live in our country…if we do not fight against illegal migration, Europe will not be the same in five, 10 or 20 years,” he told the Financial Times. “If we do not control who is allowed to come we will not be able to live in security…and we will not be able to keep our identity.”

Kurz promised to continue pushing in Europe for tougher policing of illegal immigration in the Mediterranean. He criticized the current system as a “ticket to the European Union” that incentivized crossings and smugglers. …

He said he was proud that Austria was a “Christian-dominated country” marked by its shared Judeo-Christian heritage.

Many in Europe are praising Kurz for his pact with the Greens, arguing that it could provide a modern template for conservatives hoping to govern in Europe. Kurz called it the “right coalition for the moment.” https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/we-must-keep-our-identity-austrian-chancellors-top-priorities-are-fighting-immigration

Let it be noted that it is more than illegal immigration that Sebastian Kurz wanted to deal with–it is Islam. Notice the following from back in 2017:

Austria’s far-Right Freedom Party, who says ‘Islam has no place in Europe’, is sworn in to power with country’s new conservative leader Sebastian Kurz, 31, as protesters wave ‘No Nazi pigs’ signs in Vienna

18 December 2017

Austria’s far-Right Freedom Party has been sworn in to power amid a heavy police presence as protesters waved ‘No Nazi pigs’ signs in Vienna this morning.

The party’s coalition with the conservative People’s Party (OeVP) was agreed on Friday along with pledges to stop illegal immigration and resist EU centralisation.

It will be led by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who took over the OeVP in May and moved it to the right, securing his party first place in October elections. …

At Kurz’s side for the investiture by Austria’s president in the Hapsburg dynasty’s imperial palace in Vienna was FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, now vice-chancellor, and FPOe general secretary Herbert Kickl, the new interior minister.

Strache has said Islam ‘has no place in Europe’ and last year called German Chancellor Angela Merkel ‘the most dangerous woman in Europe’ for her open-door refugee policy.

On Sunday, Strache trumpeted to his 750,000 followers on Facebook that the new government would slash social benefits for asylum-seekers.

‘It will no longer happen that migrants who have never worked here a single day or paid anything into the social system will get thousands of euros in welfare!’ he said in a post that has gained 9,000 ‘likes’. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5190597/Austrias-far-Right-Freedom-Party-sworn-power.html#ixzz51cnVxzlT

December 18, 2017

Austria’s new coalition government, which includes the far-right Freedom Party, was sworn in on Monday as demonstrators protested outside. …

When the Freedom Party joined the coalition in 2000, the European Union slapped sanctions on Vienna to protest the presence of the far-right in the birthplace of Adolf Hitler. …

The new Austrian government’s program includes pledges to stop illegal immigration and slash taxes as well as oppose further EU political and economic integration. In a coalition statement following agreement on Friday the new government said it wanted to “steer the EU back in the right direction towards its fundamental ideas,” meaning less centralized decision-making.

It also plans a clamp down on asylum seekers offering only temporary protection.

“Immigration into the Austrian social welfare state… must be stopped,” the coalition said.

The coalition said it was prepared to close Islamic schools to prevent what it described as “the creation of parallel societies.” http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5190597/Austrias-far-Right-Freedom-Party-sworn-power.html

Many in Europe are having concerns about immigrants–particularly Islamic ones. Yet, some see the rise of an anti-immigrant Austria reminiscent of Adolf Hitler.

Europe will change: a reorganized Europe is prophesied (Revelation 17:12-13), it will develop a ‘great army’ (Daniel 11:25), betray its ‘friend’ (Lamentations 1:1-2), destroy the USA (Daniel 11:39), and destroy a power based in the Islamic-dominated lands in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

Notice something published by the old Worldwide Church of God:

Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north” — called in Bible symbolism “the beast” — who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south” — an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi! And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation … which will ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East! …

(Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the coming Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations … this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11 — the leader of the German-led European union — will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,” with disastrous consequences for the entire Middle East — both Jew and Arab alike. The entire region will be subjected to armed invasion! (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 11-12)

The Bible clearly teaches that Europe will reorganize and give power to a strongman, referred to as the Beast:

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 final European Beast leader, who is also known as the final King of the North, will ultimately promote his religion (Daniel 11:36-38; which will not be Islam, he will at first feign and claim a form of Roman Catholicism), destroy the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies (Daniel 11:39), and then takeover the predominantly Islamic nations in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43).

Islamic issues will be a factor in the rise of this Beast leader.

Greco-Roman Catholic writings tell of a time when a ruler will push Islam out of Europe and push a changed form of Catholicism:

St. Francis de Paul (1470):…From your lordship shall be born the great leader of the holy militia…the Great Monarch…He shall be a great captain and prince of holy men, who shall be called ‘the holy Cross-bearers of Jesus Christ,’ with whom he will destroy the Mahometan sect and the rest of the infidels…He shall be the great founder of a new religious order different from all the others…This shall be the last religious order in the Church and shall do more good for our holy religion than all other religious institutes. By force of arms he shall take possession of a great kingdom. He shall destroy the sect of Mahomet…There will be one fold, one shepherd. He shall reign until the end of time. On the whole earth there will be twelve kings, one emperor and one pope. (Culleton, p. 157-161).

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (died 1658):…”Are we not to fear, during this period, that the Mohammedans will come again, working out their sinister schemes against the Latin Church? (Dupont, p.39).

Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (died 1658):…”When everything has been ruined by war; when Catholics are hard pressed by traitorous co-religionists and heretics; when the Church and her servants are denied their rights, the monarchies have been abolished and their rulers murdered…There will rise a valiant monarch anointed … “He will root out false doctrines and destroy the rule of the Moslemism. (Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp.35-36)

Bernhardt Rembordt (18th century). “Cologne will be the site of a terrible battle … At that time France will be divided. The German Empire will choose a simple man as the Emperor, who will rule for a short time. His successor will be the man for whom the world has longed. He will be called a “Roman Emperor,” and he will give peace to the world. A good and happy era will follow. God will be praised on earth, and war will be no more.” (Dupont, pp.34-35)

Werdin d’ Otrante (13th century): “The Great Monarch and the Great Pope will precede Antichrist … All the sects will vanish. The capital of the world will fall … The Great Monarch will come and restore peace and the Pope will share in the victory.” (Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 33).

Melanie Calvat (The Seeress of La Salette, 19th century). “After a frightful war a Great King will arise and his reign will be marked by a wonderful peace and a great religious revival.” (Dupont, p.13).

Pseudo-Methodius (7th century): Muslims will be killed and they will know the tribulation…The Lord will give them to the powers of the Christians whose empire will be elevated above all empires…The Roman King (Great Monarch) will show a great indignation against those who will have denied Christ in Egypt or in Arabia (Araujo, Fabio R. Selected Prophecies and Prophets. BookSurge LLC, Charlestown (SC), 2007, p. 103).

The ‘Great Monarch’ that is spoken of above is quite similar to the final King of the North that the Bible warns against. Both Catholic and biblical prophecy teach that this leader will be a European, probably at least partially of German heritage, and he will fight those of the Arab/Muslim lands. As the 21st century proceeds, do not be surprised that Islam will be pushed out of Europe to a major degree (Daniel 11:36-38; Revelation 13:4,8,11-17).

There will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the video sermonette: War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

Notice both a Roman Catholic and a biblical prophecy:

Rudolph Gekner (died 1675). “A great prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe, uproot all republics, and exterminate all rebels. His sword moved by Divine power will most valiantly defend the Church of Jesus Christ. He will combat on behalf of the true orthodox faith, and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire.” (Cited in Connor, Edward. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p.36).

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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. (Daniel 11:40-43)

Notice that the ‘great prince of the North’ is expected to subdue an Islamic Empire. Notice that the Bible teaches that the ‘king of the North‘ will go into the Middle East and North Africa and eliminate the leader called the ‘king of the South.’ The lands of the ‘king of the South’ are currently Islamic. Perhaps it should be mentioned that Syria is expected to support the confederation of the king of the South (see also Ezekiel 30:2-8), though the time will come that its capital will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

The destruction of a coming Islamic confederation (see The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation) will be part of the result of what is happening in the Middle East and in the West.

The Bible shows that a European power will defeat the predominantly Islamic nations of the Middle East and North Africa per Daniel 11:40-43 and Ezekiel 30:2-8.

Yet, the Bible also shows that the Islamic nations there will first make deals with the Europeans (Daniel 11:27; Psalm 83)–these deals will NOT turn out well for the USA in the long run (cf. Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses), nor ultimately many of the Arabic nations.

Islamic migrant issues will be one of the triggers to get Europe to ultimately reorganize as the Bible teaches it will in Revelation 17:12-13, Daniel 11:21-38, Daniel 2:41-43, and other passages (see also Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?).

Civil unrest and likely civil war will happen, but a temporal peace will also come before the Islamic forces are defeated (Daniel 9:27; see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

Notice also the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:

17:19

Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

On June 8, 2018, Austria’s Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced the closing of seven Islamic mosques in an effort to reduce “political Islam.” In the past several years, at least 6 European nations have banned the wearing of a commonly used garment by Islamic females. Heinz-Christian Strache (later Vice Chancellor of Austria) has declared that Islam has no place in Europe. Did Germany’s Angela Merkel call multiculturalism a failure? Will there be deals between the Muslims and the Europeans? Will a European Beast leader rise up after a reorganization that will eliminate nationalism? Will Europe push out Islam? What does Catholic prophecy teach? What does the Bible teach in Daniel and Revelation? Is Islam prophesied to be pushed out of Europe? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more.

Here is a link: Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe?

As the Bible shows (cf. Daniel 11:40-43), there will be conflict between the Europeans and the Arabs (watch also the short videos Will Islam be Pushed Out of Europe? and War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs).

Now the actual biblical war prophesied in the Bible between Europe and the Arabs will not come until more than 3 1/2 years after a ‘peace deal’ has been confirmed by a ‘prince’ (Daniel 9:26-27) who later will become the final King of the North (Daniel 11:31-44). This leader will be European, and eventually destroy the nation with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39), which in the 21st century would be the USA. He will proclaim peace and safety:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

This leader will encourage proclamations of peace, yet sudden destruction will come (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:3). He may rise up, partially, to deal with issues related to Islamic immigrants. Once he has power, he will destroy the USA, etc. (Daniel 11:39), and then he will turn against a power in the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43)–a power consisting of a lot of Muslims.

What is proposed in Austria is only a small signal that Europe will confront Islam.

Several items of possibly related interest may include:

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 30th, 2024 at 7:00 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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