|
|
|
Europes Bitter Roots
As prophesied, there were four Gentile superpowers: Babylon, the
Medes and Persians, Greco-Macedonian, and Rome (Dan. 2:31-45).
THESE are the roots Europe would do well to research!
Nebuchadnezzar, the first leader in this series of human
governments, had a most impressive and perplexing dream. This
was no normal dream or fanciful flight of imagination - it was a
prophetic message from GOD!
But none of the king's priests or pagan magicians could tell him
what was going on! They didn't have a clue or represent God!
Since "Neb" saw they were on the payroll for nothing, just
wasting his time and taking up space, he sentenced them to
death! They stood exposed as worthless charlatans, left shaking
in their boots! But God saved the day and spared them all.
GOD intervened for Daniel, a prisoner in the palace, and used
him to clarify what the nightmare meant. This Jewish ambassador
disclaimed any extraordinary credentials, but attributed His
God-given understanding to Israel's God. He testified before the
king and court, that the Most High God far transcends the pagan
superstitions! He then proceeded to offer the inspired
explanation.
The king had seen this monstrous statue of a man, with different
body parts composed of different materials. Daniel interpreted
the "members" as representative of successive governments. Each
kingdom would have its own characteristics and reflect the
disposition of their ruler. Different men are made of different
mettle! Each emperor would leave his imprint on history. Just as
the huge statue had two legs, coming down in time sequence to
mankind's last throes of misrule, the original Roman empire was
broken in two - between east and west. Power was split between
Rome and Constantinople.
Are You Where God IsFaith Fellowship Church'PO Box 1586'Broken Arrow, OK 74013'Pastor Terry Dashner 'Am I Where God Is'' Where He leads me, I .....
After Rome fell (in 476), it's spirit was determined to
transform itself ten times, seven under the Catholic Church's
influence. The three former entities of the Germanic tribes (the
Ostrogoths, Vandals, and Heruli) embodied the Roman form of
government, but they were Arian kings - not Catholic or Italian
(Dan. 8:24). Justinian's "Imperial Restoration," in AD 554,
healed Rome's "deadly wound" inflicted by these barbarian
invaders (Rev. 13:3), and exorcised Italy of her foreign
occupation. It lasted, as foretold, for 1260 years.
In AD 800, Charlemagne was crowned as imperator Romanorum, an
"heir" to the Western Roman Empire. He was truly considered the
"King Father of Europe." It was this Christian Caesar who firmly
established the "ideal" of a unified Christian Empire in
Europe's heart and mind.
In 962, Otto the Great's "Holy Roman Empire of the German
Nation" conjured up images of Charlemagne's Empire. Germany
became the new power center, the heart and core, of the Roman
Empire. After all, it was their kings, throughout the Middle
Ages, who held a steel grip on the imperial title. They were the
"Protector of Europe."
In the early 1500's, Charles V dedicated himself to reconstruct
the Gothic style of Church-State union. He wanted to bring back
(from the dead) a coalition of nations that would keep their own
identity, but share a common faith. Although his project didn't
get off the ground, or his dream house materialize, its grand
design stirred the imaginations of others.
Dr. Habsburg, his descendant, has predicted: "Our generation
will find its historical inspiration in the concepts last
embodied in the person, mind and political views of Charles
V.... Inasmuch as he represents an eternal ideal, the Emperor
(Charles V)... is still living among us - not only as our
European ancestor, but as a guide towards the centuries to
come." Can't you feel his "presence" in the pope's plea?
Napoleon considered himself Caesar's heir apparent. Early on,
during a pilgrimage to Charlemagne's tomb, he intoned: "There
will be no peace in Europe until the whole Continent is under
one suzerain, an Emperor whose chief officers are kings, whose
generals have become monarchs."
Just WarIn an age of terrorism, guerilla and total warfare the medieval doctrine of Just War needs to be re-defined. Moreover, issues of legitimacy, ..... This vision for European unity and peace is being seen again.
Did Napoleon have a sneak preview? Later, unable to achieve his
grand design, he bemoaned: "I wanted to found a European system,
a European code of laws, a European judiciary. There would have
been but one people throughout Europe."
Mussolini fantasized about a modern version of the Roman Empire.
To fulfill it, he began his venture by enlisting the Vatican.
After he restored Italy's honor by defeating Ethiopia, he
declared it a "Roman triumph" and proclaimed "the reappearance
of the empire on the fated hills of Rome." His almost
non-existent empire was Rome's sixth prophesied resurrection.
(Rev. 17:11).
In October 1936, the "Berlin-Rome Axis" sealed Italy's fate with
that of Germany's Third Reich. Hitler (also in possession of a
concordat with the Vatican) saw himself as destined to lead a
great Germanic Empire. His mountain fortress in Obersalzberg
afforded him a magnificent view of the Untersberg. Within that
mountain, legend whispered, Charlemagne still slept - waiting
for his day to rise again and restore Germany's glory! The
Fuehrer would point out to visitors; "It is no accident that I
have my residence opposite it." The restless Roman spirit
refuses to die!
The Final Conflict
We've come to the end of the road: EUROPE'S FINAL ARRANGEMENT IS
TAKING PLACE NOW! And all prompted by the pope and eager
politicians! The ten toes of Nebuchadnezzar's image, referring
to 10 kings, correspond to this carbon copy of the "Holy Roman
Empire." It'll include rich and poor countries, and be made up
of both strong and weak elements, but they won't stay together
for long (Dan. 2:43). They don't share the right chemistry!
Rome's dream will become our nightmare! This seventh
resurrection will be responsible for the nuclear fires
prophesied to sear the earth (Isa. 24:6)! It's campaign promises
of peace and security, will quickly be broken! EUROPE'S
PREPARING FOR WAR! Europe's last trump is near! They'll attempt
to fight Christ at His coming, but they're fighting for a lost
cause (Rev. 17:12-14)! Jesus will lead a brilliant campaign
(Hab. 3:11) to break up the Gentile monopoly on world government!
Christ's lightning strike will be a smashing success! He'll take
over the reigns of human governments and rule supreme (Rev.
11:15)! ISRAEL will be RESTORED as a Superpower!
The Gentile authorities will pay tribute to our God and King,
and acknowledge Israel as God's Instrument. At that time,
THEY'LL REALIZE AN EVIL SPIRIT HAD LED THEM and that Rome was
his capital of confusion. It'll be destroyed, never to rise
again! BABYLON IS FALLEN! BABYLON IS FALLEN (Rev. 18:2)!
About the author:
David Ben-Ariel, an American author who has travelled widely and
who has lived throughout Israel, shares a special focus on the
Middle East and great interest in Jerusalem, reflected in
hard-hitting articles that help others improve their
understanding of that troubled region. Check out www.benariel.com
|
|
