by
David Breese
A
reunited Germany has not been looked upon with complete favor by the nations of
the East or the West, in that it now poses many perplexing questions.
In
the West, the world remembers that Germany gave us World War I and II with all
of their unspeakably and terrible results. The former Soviet Union retains
the
same memories, with the addition that it saw itself nearly conquered by the
efficient legions of Germany in World War II.
Nevertheless,
the tide of sentiment for reunification has now come to pass, leaving the on looking
nations in a state of bewilderment as to what its possibilities
might
be.
The
story of Czechoslovakia is amazingly similar. The press carried the story from
Prague:
Czechoslovakia's
Communist rulers agreed Friday to accept a minority role in a new national
government for the first time since 1948, giving the country's
democracy
movement its biggest victory to date .... The announcement culminated a series of
Communist concessions during the past three weeks to the growing
"people
power" of the pro-democracy Civic Forum coalition.
But
the tide of revolution rolls on in Czechoslovakia. The people have announced in
many ways that they will accept nothing of Communist control for the
future.
Even the minority members of the government are jeered as representing a
bloody, tyrannical system, which they now want to see relegated to the
dustbin
of history. These traumatic changes in Czechoslovakia have been viewed with
equal astonishment by an attentive world.
The
dramatic political changes in East Germany and Czechoslovakia are but a part of
the wider changes that have affected Europe in recent years. The
Czechoslovakian
action
was followed by similar moves by Communist parties in other East European
states to cede power to opposition movements. In Poland, the Communists
surrendered
the reins of government to Solidarity and took a minority position in the new
government. Lech Warangal, Solidarity's intrepid leader, became
president
of Poland. A stunning reversal of fortune indeed! Hungary and Bulgaria made
similar changes. The story of change continued at a blistering pace.
In
an editorial, the Wichita Eagle reported: "Battles - Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania Are Next in Line of Freedom March." It said:
Step
by step, the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are moving
toward their goal of independence .... Within hours of the Lithuanian move
to
create a multi-party system, the Estonian Communist Party's Central Committee
acted to do almost the same thing. . . . "The Party's leading role here
no
longer exists anyway," said one Estonian official.
Remarkably,
as if presciently sensing the inevitable dissolution of the Soviet Union, the
editorial said:
Indeed,
the "leading role" of the Communist Party already has been revoked in
Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany, and the Soviet reaction
has
been benign. For the Soviets to countenance a change of this magnitude there
but not at home would be hypocritical in the extreme.
The
legitimacy of the Soviet government is what's really at issue here, and nowhere
is this more true than in the "captured nations" of Estonia, Latvia,
and
Lithuania. As they go, perestroika goes - something else that shouldn't be lost
on the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party.
The
continuing stories of dramatic changes coming out of the nations of Europe
leave the on looking world reeling in amazement.
These
developments have and continue to dynamically influence the former Soviet
Union, or the Commonwealth of Independent States, as it is now called. The
beginning
of the end could be seen for the USSR in stories such as this one carried in
the L.A. Times: "Soviets May Rethink Party Primacy." From Moscow
came
the report:
The
Kremlin said Friday that it is willing to consider revising or even eliminating
the law guaranteeing the Communist monopoly on power as part of an overall
rewriting
of the constitution.
The
legislators and activists in the Soviet Union calling for a revision of the
party's role and the rise of a multi-party system on a national level also
have
been emboldened by the legal abolition of guaranteed Communist Party dominance
in Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, and Poland.
The
debate about communism and its right to rule in the Soviet Union and in Eastern
Europe was then punctuated by a series of developments that had a startling
effect
on the Party and the people. The first was the death of Andrei Sakharov. The
world was touched and startled by this event.
Sakharov,
the scientist who invented the Soviet version of the hydrogen bomb, was held in
high esteem in the Soviet Union. This nuclear physicist, reputed
to
be a Christian, began then to express his great concern about Communist
tyranny. The day before his death, he had a stirring debate with Gorbachev
himself
at
a meeting of the Communist Central Committee. This brave and defiant man
predicted the death of the Soviet Union if it did not give freedom to the
people.
His
brand of courage is rare in all the world, but it came shining through in the
last speech of his life. The next day he died of a heart attack - we
might
even say a broken heart.
The
Communist world, shaken by this event, soon heard the rumble of machine gun
fire coming from Bucharest, Romania. There had ruled Nicolae Ceausescu,
the
most severe and brutal dictator in the entire Communist world. That rule was
soon to be no more.
A
few days before Christmas 1989, Ceausescu made a speech to the people in the
main square at Bucharest. This speech was interrupted by jeers and catcalls
as
the crowd shouted, "Down with Ceausescu! Down with communism!"
Ceausescu,
still under the delusion that he was in full control, ordered his troops to
fire on the crowd. This they did, and hundreds died. Some soldiers,
however,
refused to fire on their own friends in the crowd, and these troopers were
executed by Ceausescu's secret police. This was too much! The crowd,
despite
the danger, came surging back and demanded that Ceausescu resign.
This
animalistic dictator was quickly caught in a wave of resentment. There came a
speedy trial for him and his wife, which was then followed by a Christmas-day
firing
squad. The riddled bodies of "the Butcher of Bucharest" and his wife
were photographed and shown repeatedly on television across the world. In the
Romanian
revolution thousands died, but communism was thrown out.
"The
Antichrist is dead! What a wonderful Christmas gift we have received - the
Antichrist is dead!" shouted the people. Speaking from their Christian
background,
the
people could only use the thoughts of the Bible to express their reaction to
these events.
Is
the Antichrist dead? What will be the result of the breakdown of European
communism? How shall we explain what has happened and is happening in the
dissolving
Communist
world today, and what will be the outcome of these European events?
When
the Romanians called their leader "the Antichrist," they reminded the
world of an explanation of communism given to us by Solzhenitsyn. He said that
all
of the dreadful things that have come upon the Soviet Union - the murder of
millions, the closing of churches, the destruction of freedom, the gulags,
and
a thousand other cruelties - have come because "'they have forgotten
God." In considering this, we remember that the Bible says:
And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard
that
it should come; and even now already is it in the world (1 John 4:3).
We
must then consider the rise of Antichrist. But first, let Europe and the Prince
That Shall Come 0 179 us look through observant human eyes at the present
agony
of Europe. Why the Sudden Change?
When
we see the far-reaching nature of these changes, most of us understandably ask
the question, "'Why? What is the reason for this new permissive attitude
that
has effectively caused the Communist world to self-destruct?"
Some
have given us the simple, facile explanation that the Communist leaders became
corrupt and presumptuous, thereby losing their right to rule. Others
say
that Marxism itself has failed and has now become a non-viable point of view.
These remarks are semi-evaluations of the situation, but they are simply
half-truths.
The
fact is that the leaders of the Communist world were corrupt and degenerate
from the very beginning and never did have a right to rule. Marxism was
not
merely invalidated in these late days; it was never a valid philosophy. It is simply
a collection of mumbo-jumbo about economics that has never been
understood
by two Communists in exactly the same way. Nevertheless, Marxism is complicated
enough so that it was able to pass as a worthy object of discussion
for
many years. After all, Karl Marx wrote Das Kapital in 1863.
In
history, the Communists have always presented themselves as the
"proletariat," the party of the people. The nations that they
brutally captured were
dubbed
"the People's Republic" of this and that. Indulgent academicians in
the West have pandered to this nonsense for two generations, never subjecting
it
to the destructive criticism that it so richly deserves.
The
fact is, the Communists have never come to power in any country because of the
will of the people. The people were simply neutralized into political
impotence
while a determined elite took over the nation. This was done, albeit with
difficulty, in the Soviet Union. It was done with greater ease in the
captive
nations because the Communist party was now backed by the merciless fire and
steel of the Red Army. A minority plus bayonets carries the deciding
vote
against the majority every time.
Probably
the best explanation for the allowances within the former Communist system,
which have resulted in these widespread changes, is an explanation
on
a two-fold level. The first is that the Communist system was simply bankrupt.
Russia, prior to the dissolution of the USSR, had a gross national product
only
25 percent that of the United States, despite the fact that its population is
larger than that of the United States.
For
seventy years, however, the Russians promoted the fiction that the Communist
system was viable and prosperous. Whatever apparent shortcomings it seemed
to
show were excused by the statement that "True communism has not yet come
to pass because the imperialists are still with us." Under this
fabrication,
people
were given utopian dreams rather than food, clothing, shelter, and a purpose
for living.
Those
who still retained their cynicism within the Communist system were simply sent
to the gulag or the execution chamber. A bullet in the back of the
head
was the final argument the Communist bullies had in response to the objections
of the people.
A
second way to explain the permissiveness of the Communist governments just
before their demise is that the leadership had, at least in a measure, lost
its
will to be as brutal as was the case in days gone by. The Chinese answer to the
demonstrations at Tiananmen Square was tanks, bayonets, and thirty-six
hundred
bodies scattered across that bloody battleground. The consequence is that
public dissent is still rather rare in China.
In
Russia and the former Eastern bloc nations, however, global publicity, contacts
with the West, student exchanges, and other open windows of media awareness
made
it impolitic for the former Soviet Union's Communist bosses to do the same.
This does not imply moral superiority on the part of the former Russian
Communist
leaders, but it may imply that they, and their successors, have taken one small
step in the direction of rejoining the human race. After all,
Gorbachev
seemed to know something about the Bible.
We
must also remember that there are significant new advantages that came to the
Eastern European and Russian states as a result of this move away from
communism.
What have they gained? Many things. These include:
1.
A Relaxed Defense Posture by the West
Always
prone to believing the best and the most convenient, Western leaders are now
saying, "The cold war is over." They are, therefore, responding to
the
moves
of the former Communist regimes with not only a relaxed defense posture, but
with massive financial aid and other assistance to their "former
enemies."
The
cynical Communist surely rejoices that the West has reverted to slumber instead
of facing its great danger.
2.
More U.S. Aid and Investments
The
United States and other cooperating nations have now committed themselves to
the investment of at least one billion dollars in Poland and Hungary alone.
When
this was done in days gone by, the money became an outright gift, for we never
saw it again. The expectation of seeing a return on this new sizeable
investment
is equally remote. Still, these two nations will get one billion dollars, and we
can expect that billions more will follow.
3.
Reduced American Military Forces in Europe
The
United States is now planning on a significant force reduction in Europe,
perhaps by one-third. This could not be accomplished by military means on
the
part of the Soviet Union, but perestroika has done it.
4.
The Diversion of American Attention
While
the United States and the West are concentrating on Europe, revolutionary
movements are newly active across the world. El Salvador and the Philippines
have
been the object of the latest bloody attempts at revolution in which the
Communists are deeply involved. American preoccupation with Europe can be
expected
to reduce our concern over these other places. Many other revolutions,
especially in Latin America, could follow.
5.
A General Power Reduction in America
Already,
the overall military budget is being greatly reduced. This grows out of the
judgment now being made that the extension of American power is no
longer
needed in the world. This power reduction by America cannot be expected to
improve the American economy. Rather, as is always the case, the money
"'saved"
will be dissipated on other things.
These
and many other benefits are now coming to the shaky Commonwealth of Independent
States. It is not impossible that Russia itself could gain a "most
favored
nation" status on the part of the United States. This could be worth
additional billions to the Soviet Union. So, the prince of Rosh, Meshech,
and
Tubal, despite all his problems, is still with us.
The
sea-change continues. There is no doubt that the most widespread movement for
change, for restructuring, and for new arrangements that Europe has seen
in
forty years is now coming to pass. Everyone agrees that the governments of
Europe, in the sense in which they relate to one another, are being reformed,
recast
into a new mold. Whatever may be the final outcome, Europe cannot be the same
again.
Final
outcomes quickly change, however. Saddam Hussein, with his invasion of Kuwait,
has reminded the world of the folly of believing in permanent peace.
Like
a global alarm clock, the Mid-East crisis startled us out of sleep. It brought
new, serious considerations to the United States, to Europe, to Russia,
and
to the world.
In
the midst of these changes, we can be sure that the outcome in Europe, by the
determination of many of its leaders, is not going to be left to mere chance.
No
indeed, for the nations of western Europe have decided to come together with a
form of political unity that has not been known before. Political unity
in
Europe has always been a very elusive thing. Indeed, the largest wars of the
world have started in Europe because these nations found it impossible,
in
the long run, to work together.
Now,
however, the sentiment is different. The leaders of Europe are in effect
saying, "We realize that it will not be possible for us to move again to
world
supremacy
without unity. Therefore, we must lay aside our differences and come together
as a new United States of Europe. By doing this, we will constitute
a
power bloc that can move to the ascendancy of world leadership."
When
did all the pieces fall into place? From Strasbourg, France, came this report:
Leaders of the twelve-nation European Community, closing ranks amid
upheaval
in Eastern Europe, agreed Friday to press ahead with an economic and monetary
union despite British opposition.
The
decision, on the opening day of a two-day summit, means the European Economic
Community will convene a special conference in December 1990, to start
negotiations
for the adoption of a single currency and to set up a system of central banks.
The
agreement came after France and West Germany overrode objections by British
Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher that radical monetary integration will
rob
member countries of sovereign rights to decide national economic policy.
When
Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady," resigned as British prime
minister, her stepping aside opened the way for a speedy British integration
into a United
Europe.
January
1, 1993 is the announced date when this plan win in fact materialize. For
months, hundreds of committees have been meeting in the nations of Europe
to
bring standardization to pass that will make unity possible. These committees
are establishing a unified railway system, a common currency, a common
political
structure, free access across all borders, a common electrical voltage, and a
thousand other commonalties that must be arranged for Europe to
come
together.
The
United States of Europe could quickly become the most powerful political force
in the world. With a population of 320 million, it will instantly possess
unified
economic strength that is larger than that of the United States. It will,
therefore, have economic and commercial power second to none in the entire
world.
Despite
every difficulty, the European Economic Community will bring itself together to
develop a powerful block of economic influence - possibly the greatest
in
our time. Jacques Chirac, former conservative prime minister of France, wrote
in the liberal Le Monde of Paris:
Despite
the risk of delaying or endangering the process of integration under way among
European Community nations, we must act along three lines: advance
toward
economic and monetary union; strengthen measures for political coordination
among the principal European states to avert the temptation of taking
an
"every man for himself" attitude toward relations with the East; and
assemble and apply powerful means of pulling the Eastern economies out of their
rut.
There
remains the critical area of freedoms. A single Europe stretching from the
Atlantic to the Urals should not be two-tiered where freedoms are concerned.
Our"
common house" cannot have wide open doors and windows on one side, locked
doors and barred windows on the other.
So,
it is up to us to implement Europe-wide measures gradually to provide all
citizens with the same fundamental rights. That implies putting in place a
legal
order consonant with the principles of freedom laid down by the Council of
Europe: the freeing of all political prisoners; the closing of gulags;
reform
of the penal code; introduction of complete freedom of movement between the two
parts of Europe by abolishing exit visas; and, finally, the symbolic
destruction
of the Berlin Wall.
Let
us not forget that we have known the Europe of terror and conquered it; we have
lived in the Europe of fear and driven it back. My confidence in the
Europe
of hope is, therefore, that much stronger.
"The
Europe of hope," that is the note being sounded in Europe today. We do
well then to take note of the kind of language that the world is using to speak
about
the future. Considering the developments in Europe and related issues from
across the world, there is a sense of awe, foreboding, and hope about
the
future.
The
Toronto Star carried an article entitled, "Waiting for the Millennium:
Where Is 'Earth, Inc.' Headed?" They said of this decade - "the last
of the millennium,
let
alone the century - may be the toughest one yet" and described it this way:
It
will be a highly complex period driven by competing forces: technology and
science, plus impassioned. calls for an ethical base according to which they
should
be monitored. Before the tram of progress gets any further out of the station,
it is a safe bet that mankind, at least the version of mankind dwelling
in
the industrialized world, will finally start examining where it is going.
So
it is that the remarkable developments of our time, centering in Europe, are
causing people to ask, "What of the future? How will tomorrow come
together?"
As
Europe reconstituted itself into a new political entity, we can be sure the
leaders of Europe intend with total conviction to become the strongest
political
force
in the world. During the next few years, we will hear announcements, one after
another, about the progressive strength and mounting capability of
Europe.
The
first great strength that the European leaders intend to take to themselves is
commercial capability. We can expect them to bring this to pass. No thinking
person
must ever underestimate the brilliance of the Europeans at inventing new
products, making better items, selling their wares, and then promoting
them
across the world. Already, Germany has become a commercial enterprise to be
respected.
Soon,
however, there will be added to this the organizational ability, the
creativity, the salesmanship, the new ideas, and the vision for the future that
will
come from the English, the French, the Italians, the Spanish, the Portuguese,
the Dutch, and others. The leaders of Europe can be expected to organize
their
inventive thinking in the world of commerce in such a way as to become
catalytic. The possibilities will certainly be amazingly great.
Once
Europe's commercial power is developed, they will be faced with another
problem. Their newfound wealth must now be protected! Europe will immediately
realize
the necessity of developing a strong military establishment, an all European
army to guard their overflowing coffers. That military establishment
will
immediately have two great missions.
The
first mission is to protect Europe itself. A revived Europe will still face the
very real danger of invasion from the east along with new military
responsibilities
in
the Middle East.
Despite
all of its inner changes, the former Soviet Union still possesses the largest
military force in the world. It has more tanks, more artillery, more
infantry,
more airplanes, more naval vessels and submarines than anyone else on the face
of the Earth. These capabilities, despite the apparent political
change,
still remain intact. For this reason alone, Europe must multiply its defenses
rather than reduce them.
General
Colin Powell, United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just before
the dissolution of the USSR, said, "Despite talk of disarmament,
we
must remember that the Soviet Union is the only nation in the world which could
destroy the United States in thirty minutes." That capability has not
lessened!
The
second mission of a European military establishment must also be to protect the
energy routes from the Middle East. A high percentage - once nearly
100
percent - of the oil that heats and energizes Europe comes from the oil-rich
lands of the countries surrounding the Persian Gulf. Should these supplies
be
threatened, all other considerations would immediately need to be set aside in
favor of guaranteeing the uninterrupted flow of Mid-East oil. Without
this,
homes would become cold, automobiles would be parked by the curb, and airplanes
would no longer fly. The pipeline from the Middle East must always
be
held as a major consideration by the planners of Europe's future.
Richard
Cheney, the United States Secretary of Defense, called for the reduction of the
American military commitment to Europe. Our military budget will,
he
said, be reduced by $180 billion over the next three years. Plans are to
deactivate five American fighter wings and to pull at least one hundred
thousand
troops
out of Europe. This puts the pressure on Europe to expand its own military
power.
The
Europeans, being realists, must take note. Indeed, the Byzantine political
leaders of Europe are not nearly as impressed by rhetoric as are the Americans.
They
must, therefore, expand their military capability, and they will. They can be
expected to be relatively unimpressed by the sweet talk that comes from
the
other nations of the world. Yes, Europe could soon become the most powerful
military force on the face of the earth.
Commercial,
political, and military unity may be easy to achieve, but it is difficult to
sustain. The thinkers of Europe will, therefore, be expected to
ask
the question, "Is there some other mucilage, some other magnetism, some
other great force by which we can continue to draw together the nations of
Europe
and even the rest of the world into our plan for the new world that we must,
yes we will, create?"
Is
there a magnetism that is potentially greater than commercial and political
unity? Yes indeed! It is religious unity.
The
call for some kind of common faith must inevitably grow out of the present
European developments. What might that common faith be? We may answer that
question
readily when we remember that virtually all of Europe is a part of what has
historically been called "Christian civilization." A high percentage
of
Europeans still hold to Roman Catholicism, and many millions are passionate in
their involvement in this faith.
About
450 years ago, Northern Germany, along with England and parts of Holland, however;
embraced the reformation of Martin Luther. They are Protestant,
at
least in name, but the form of Protestantism that is generally embraced in
Northern Europe is a corruption of the reformation faith. Through the years,
the
form of Christianity believed on the continent and in England is mere
formalism, sacredotalism, religious practice, crosses, candles, and
weather-stained
buildings.
Luther's
doctrine of the Bible alone, faith alone, and grace alone has been generally
supplanted by a plethora of religious practices not greatly dissimilar
from
Roman Catholicism itself. In fact, there is already a strong call for reuniting
with "the mother church" that comes from the English Anglicans and
even
from Northern Europe. As spiritual convictions subside, the call for
organizational unity grows.
Christianity
has always been the object of attempted subversion, and one of the most
successful forms impacted the faith in the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries.
In the latter half of the last century, Europe opened itself to dreadful
spiritual and cultural deterioration by allowing the Christian faith
to
be corrupted before its very eyes. What happened?
German
rationalism and European pseudo-intellectualism ushered in religious
liberalism. Julius Wellhausen presented the "Documentary Hypothesis,"
which
really
denied the inspiration of the Old Testament Scriptures. As a result, the Bible
became a merely human book ' devoid of divine inspiration.
The
European rationalists arrogated to themselves the right to examine the Bible
and pass judgments upon it, rather than allowing the Bible to examine them.
Man
became the intellectual master of his "Christian" religion, rather
than Christ being the author of divine revelation and the Lord of the human
condition.
What
was the result? Europe, and finally most of Western civilization, lost its
moorings, its spiritual foundations. European Christianity, while still
meeting
in buildings and lighting candles, ceased to believe in the primacy of divine
revelation. Human reason became superior to the Word of God, and
the
will of man more desirous than the will of God. The result was that the
intellectuals of Europe no longer protected themselves and the people from
the
evolution of Darwin, the social theories of Marx, and the deadly philosophy of
Rousseau and other enemies of reason and realty.
Another
strange result occurred. At the beginning of this century, Albert Einstein
announced the theory of relativity. This understanding demonstrated itself
to
be eminently true in the realm of physics and now nuclear physics. Europe,
however, by this time becoming intellectually faddist, made relativity a
social
philosophy. From then on, all things were relative, and final absolutes
disappeared.
There
are many who are willing to argue, therefore, that the two greatest wars in the
history of the world grew out of European spiritual, religious, and
philosophical
degeneracy. The liberal poison worked, not merely to the bewilderment of
individuals, but also to the destruction of the soul of Europe.
Yes,
it can be said that this is the century in which Europe lost its soul.
What
fearful consequences will yet come upon Europe for its rejection of biblical
Christianity? Can Europe ever regain its commanding position of influence
and
consequence in the world? Be very sure that this is the intention of the
European political leaders, philosophers, and economists in our time. In these
very
days, they are thinking every moment about a sense of destiny with reference to
the future. They anticipate and deliberately plan to put together
a
new power block that will be second to none across our present world. But they
plan largely without including the true God in their ambitions.
How
will they do this? It does not strain the imagination to think that there could
quickly develop in Europe a composite form of theologically corrupted
neo-Christianity
plus New Age paganism that could be the initial magnetism to pun Europe
together in a program of religious unity.
In
Europe and across the world, the call for "Christian unity" is coming
on very strong. Many denominations - even in America - beset by lack of
attendance,
financial
problems, mediocre leadership, aging buildings, rusting machinery, and
spiritual exhaustion are beginning to think of global religious unity
as
the answer, producing the dawn of a new age. Look for that call to grow, and
especially listen for it to come out of the continent of Europe as the
West
seeks its soul again.
These
forms of unity - commercial, political, military, and religious - cannot,
however, be expected to happen by accident. In all of history, unity has
been
based on two major considerations: a principle that is compelling but somewhat
abstract, and a leader who is concrete and charismatic. People rarely
gather
or exercise great passions over mere principle or a point of doctrine. When
that "ideology" or spiritual point of view is embodied in a great
personal
communicator,
however, then presto, a catalytic conversion takes place.
We
have seen this in the past, have we not? This is the way it was with Hitler in
Germany, with Mussolini in Italy, and with the god-man Hirohito in Japan.
Yes,
this century has produced evidence, which is still frighteningly remembered, of
the conversion and catalyzing of whole nations around a compelling,
charismatic
leader.
Can
this be expected in Europe? It indeed must be the case, or the planned unity of
Europe will fractionalize itself into a thousand pieces. In fact, even
the
present gathering of Europe is focused around individual, commanding leaders
whose voices are respected. None of them however, appears at this moment
to
have the ultimate charisma to gather the passions of Europe and hold them in
his right hand.
What
could trigger the emergence of such a leader? Many things - the paramount one
being the threat of global war. Be sure that this era of "the cold war
is
past" and "peace is now upon us" will not continue. Christ told
us this. He said, "And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars ......
Jesus
said that this would always be the case in all of history. He then expanded
upon this by saying, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against
kingdom." The Bible never promises that man will be able to bring peace on
earth, although it indicates many peace movements will make such a promise.
The
threat of war would produce great fear across Europe and the other nations of
the West, including America. Such a threat often produces a degree of
irrationality,
whereby people accept solutions that would otherwise be rejected. They can
certainly be expected to accept a solution from a great, respected
world
leader.
One
can easily envision such a leader presenting himself on international
television as "the man with the plan." One could almost hear him say:
"Dear friends
of
earth, brothers and sisters. Let me extend a great call to sanity. We are now
presented with the possibility of nuclear holocaust, but such a thing
does
not have to come to pass. Why should millions die when it could be otherwise?
Let us meet together under the great cause of world peace, and let us
plan
our tomorrows as civilized men. Yes, I have a plan whereby we can move beyond
the threat of war into a millennium of peace, and yes, a new age of
prosperity."
With
these and many other words, a beguiling voice could easily attract the
attention, the loyalty, and the cooperation of the nations of the world.
Such
a person may already be a well-known religious leader, already being accepted
and trusted by millions. One can easily envision the rulers of the nations
responding
by saying, "You be our leader! We are willing to follow you. We believe in
your program for a global unity!"
We
can easily see, then, how this person could be expected to say: "Thank you
so much for your response! But God has called me to spiritual things. May
I
therefore introduce to you Mr. So-And-So, whom I consider to be one of the
potentially great men of our time. He has wide vision, large comprehension,
and
boundless energy. He speaks many languages, and I recommend that we appoint him
as chairman of the committee to plan the future and to achieve world
peace
and comity of nations."
Yes,
a global religious leader could easily be the catalyst to install. a political
leader who would be instantly respected, loved, admired, and followed.
Is
this a plausible scenario for the days to come? It is entirely plausible on a
simple human level, but it is more than that! When we look into the Word
of
God and its prophecy about the future, we see that such a development is
inevitable.
Will
Europe produce a great world political leader? Yes, it will! Will this great
political leader come to power with the help of a great religious leader?
Yes,
he will! The Bible indicates that exactly this will take place in the world as
we move toward the end of the age.
Yes,
observing even through human eyes, we can see the emergent inevitability of the
fulfillment of the biblical picture. Considering, then, the teaching
of
the Word of God, let us ask, "Is the rise of Antichrist upon us?"
How
wonderful it is that God has given us, in His Word, the only reliable
projection available to tell us of the future. We can understand the direction
of
our world and its ultimate outcome only by understanding the Word of God. We
must take confidence in the fact that:
We
have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well to take heed, as
unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the
day
star arise in your hearts (2 Pet. 1:19).
In
the prophetic Word we learn that we have a dependable source of information,
and the examining of that information produces immense profit. We do need
to
take heed to what the Bible says.
What
then does the Bible say about that leader who will come to power first in
Europe and then become the leader of the entire world? The Scripture says:
And
after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself:
and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and
the
sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the
war desolations are determined (Dan. 9:26).
Here
we have a very remarkable prophecy in the Old Testament concerning the coming
of the Antichrist. First of all, this verse reminds us of that awful
event
in which the Messiah of Israel, the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ the King
of all kings, would be cut off "but not for himself." Here is a
prophetic
foretelling
of the death of the Savior in which Christ would give His life for the sins of
the world.
Who
are the people who cut off the Messiah? Who are the people who destroyed the
city and the sanctuary? Quite obviously, the answer is Rome. It was the
Roman
Empire that was the master of the world in the days of the earthly ministry of
Christ. It was a Roman sword that pierced the side of Jesus Christ,
and
it was a Roman soldier's arm that drove those awful spikes through His hands
and through His feet. It was a Roman army under Titus that destroyed Jerusalem
and
the temple in A.D. 70.
This
prophecy in the Book of Daniel describes the activity of a power that can only
be fulfilled by the historic Roman Empire and the Roman Empire reconstituted
as
the last great empire of earth.
We
must remember that only four great empires will rule the world in the entire
history of man. These four great empires are: Babylon, Persia, Greece, and
Rome.
In Daniel's description, the great emphasis is on that fourth empire. The
Scripture says:
And
the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in
pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall
it
break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of
the potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but
there
shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron
mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron,
and
part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And
whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves
with
the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not
mixed with clay Pan. 2:40-43).
Here
we have a perfect description of the final stage of the empire of Rome and of
present-day Europe. In its earliest constitution, Rome was the great
power
of the world but was then divided into two great entities: the East, ruled by
Constantinople; and the West, centered in Rome itself.
In
its final form, the empire will be both unified and divided, divided into ten
kingdoms but unified as a kingdom in and of itself under a great leader.
It
is that complicated political entity, the reconstituted Roman Empire, which
will produce, according to the prophet Daniel, the prince that shall come.
A
reconstituted Roman Empire - that means Europe. It can only mean Rome and its
environs: Italy, Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, and England; all of
which
and more were a part of the original Roman Empire. As we see this complex
coming together with breathtaking speed, we must realize that right before
our
eyes is developing the political base for the prince that shall come, the
Antichrist. What then does the Bible say about this coming dreadful world
ruler?
Daniel,
describing the prince that shall come, the Antichrist, gives us a real insight
into his personality and power: And he shall speak great words against
the
most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change
times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and
times
and the dividing of time (Dan. 7:25).
Speaking
further about him, Daniel says: And in the latter time of their kingdom, when
the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance,
and
understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty,
but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall
prosper,
and practice, and shall destroy the holy people. 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 (Dan.
8:23-25).
So
it is that the Antichrist will be a remarkable person, and by a program of
peace will institute what finally will be great destruction in the world.
Who
is this person who is called "the beast" (Rev. 13:4), "the man
of sin" (2 Thess. 2:3), "the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3)?
While the Bible does not
give
us his name, it gives us many characteristics of this evil monster who will
initially come to power in a revived Europe and ultimately, for a brief
hour,
rule the world. What does the Scripture say about him? Its denotations include
the following:
1)
He will come presenting a great program of peace (Dan. 8:25).
2)
He will oppose Christ, the Prince of princes Pan. 8:25).
3)
He shall wear out the saints of the most High (Dan. 7:25).
4)
He will come out of the people who cut off Messiah the Prince (Dan. 9:26).
5)
He will make a covenant with the nation of Israel (Dan. 9:27).
6)
He will break that covenant and persecute the Jews (Dan. 9:27).
7)
He will pretend to be God Himself (2 Thess. 2:4).
8)
He will occupy the rebuilt temple, the temple of God (2 Thess. 2:4).
9)
He will perform the will of Satan (2 Thess. 2:9).
10)
He will bring strong delusion to the whole world (2 Thess. 2:11).
11)
He will be wounded to death, but he will recover (Rev. 13:14-15).
12)
He will blaspheme God (Rev. 13:5-6).
13)
All the world will worship him (Rev. 13:8).
14)
He will be a miracle worker (Rev. 13:13-14).
15)
He will set up his image that speaks like a man (Rev. 13:14-15).
16)
He will cause every person to receive a mark, the mark of the beast (Rev.
13:16).
17)
He will himself have a number, 666 (Rev. 13:18).
The
person who has wisdom (Rev. 13:18) will note these characteristics and will
possess information that will be valuable in discerning the times in which
we
live. These details about the Antichrist are provided in Scripture for a
purpose, and we do well to carefully heed the prophetic Word and let it affect
our
fives. Foolish indeed is the Christian who, for whatever reason, ignores the
predictions of Scripture about the last days.
The
predictions of Scripture plus the developments of our times are producing a
stunning impact upon our world. When we remember that Europe will be the
initial
power base for the Antichrist, we should be thoughtful. Remembering also that
he will expand his reign to rule the world as earth's most powerful
dictator,
we think further. We even wonder what amazing cosmic power must be working even
in our time to bring these developments so quickly to pass.
We
must notice from these passages that the Antichrist, when he comes, will not
gain the ascendancy or the ability to rule simply by his own power. No indeed,
there
is a ferocious spiritual power that will give the Antichrist his capability.
What is this power? Again, the Scripture describes this exactly. Speaking
of
the Antichrist, it says:
And
then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit
of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even
him,
whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that
perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved (2
Thess. 2:8-10).
The
true power behind the Antichrist is that of Satan himself. It is the devil who
will finally raise up his man, his representative, who will organize
the
world against God.
The
Scripture sounds an interesting note concerning the religious leader who will
gather the religions of the world in a great ecumenical faith that will
then
be invoked in the service of the Antichrist. The religion of the Antichrist
will ultimately be Satanism. The Scripture says:
And
they [the people of the world] worshipped the dragon [the devil] which gave
power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like
unto
the beast? who is able to make war with him? And there was given unto him a
mouth speaking great things and blasphemies ... (Rev. 13:4-5).
So
the devil produces a program of global worship in which the world falls before
the Antichrist. He does use a religious leader to do this, described in
Scripture:
And
I beheld another beast coming out of the earth; and he had two horns like a
lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the
first
beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship
the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great
wonders,
so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those
miracles
which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell
on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had
the wound by a sword, and did five (Rev. 13:11-14).
A
satanic trinity will first come to power in a revived Roman Empire and then
move out to become the political and religious masters of the world. These
are
Satan, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.
We
must also notice that the Scripture teaches that there will be a covenant
between the Antichrist and the nation of Israel. This covenant (military
alliance)
will
be broken by the Antichrist, and he will initiate a persecution of Israel that
will be fearful indeed. This activity will bring to pass the last half
of
a period of time called "the Tribulation," this last half being
"the Great Tribulation." The Scripture says:
And
he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the
week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the
overspreading
of
abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that
determined shall be poured upon the desolate (Dan. 9:27).
Notice
there will be a covenant made by the Antichrist with "the many"
(Israel). In response to this covenant, he may well move an army into Israel as
a
defense
against a mighty invasion from the north when Russia moves to the south (Ezek.
38-39). Out of this notable victory, which actually will be won
by
the Lord, the Antichrist could well be escalated on this account to world leadership.
Temporarily, he will be a great friend to the nation of Israel,
but
will ultimately be the bitterest enemy of God's people.
What
will finally be the end of the Antichrist? The Scripture says that he will be
destroyed by the return of Jesus Christ when our Lord comes at the end
of
the great battle of Armageddon. The Antichrist is called the one "whom the
Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and He shall destroy with
the
brightness of His coming." When Christ comes again in power and great
glory, He will depose the Antichrist, who then will be cast into the lake that
bums
with fire and brimstone for ever and ever.
In
fact, we do well to think specifically of what will happen to the Antichrist as
taught in the prophetic Word. The lesson of his tragic end is that evil
will
not finally triumph. The message of the Bible is that evil is temporary, but
righteousness is eternal. In the last analysis, any ruler or any ordinary
man
is a total fool who attempts to oppose God and His program. While many make the
attempt, even in our time, the life lived in opposition to God is the
life
of insanity. We can see this from the ultimate end of the Antichrist.
While
the Antichrist will appear to be very successful for a time, that success will
not continue. He will rule the world and fill himself with inexorable
pride.
That pride will lead him finally to make war on God himself. Does he succeed in
dethroning God? No, indeed. Notice what the Bible teaches about
the
dreadful consequences that will come upon the man of sin:
1.
He and his power will be destroyed by the brightness of the coming of Jesus
Christ (2 Thess. 2:8).
2.
The saints of God will share in the final defeat
of
the Antichrist when Jesus comes again (Rev. 19:14).
3.
The Antichrist and the false prophet, his religious associate who wrought
miracles and deceived the world, will be cast alive into a lake of fire burning
with
brimstone (Rev. 19:20).
4.
He is found in that lake of fire a thousand years later, and there the beast
and the false prophet will be tormented day and night forever and ever
(Rev.
20:10).
This
remarkable scenario comes to us from the prophetic Word and should be the
object of great attention by believers in our time.
Seeing
these things in the Word of God, perceptive readers of Holy Scripture should
then also take notice of the circumstances in our current history. The
present
disturbances in Europe, along with newly formed United States of Europe, cannot
be ignored. Such a historical development comes closer than anything
the
world has ever seen to the scenario described in the Word of God.
A
revived and reconstituted Europe, in the very nature of things, must produce
military power and a great political leader. It must also finally produce
religious
unity under a great spiritual leader as well. The conjoining of these two
bases, political and religious, will make of Europe a power that will
soon
aspire to rule the world. All of these considerations are presented in the
prophetic Word and are the near- predictable results of this present
development,
even
to the casual, secular observer.
A
friend recently called me and said, "Dave, I've just been to Germany and
have visited the Berlin Wall." This was followed by a most fascinating
conversation.
My
correspondent said with earnest concern, "I can tell you that in Berlin
today and across Germany there is being born a new, most dynamic spirit the
like
of
which I have never seen before in my life. These people truly believe that the
dawn of a new age is coming. They are confident that there will be a
revived,
unified Europe that will lead the world. They believe that the breakdown of the
Communist system in Eastern Europe and the development of the
European
economic community, soon to be followed by the United States of Europe, will
escalate Europe into influence such as it has never seen before.
They
are confident that a world economy will now develop with Europe taking the
lead, and they use those very words."
My
correspondent then said, "I was absolutely amazed to see the utter
dynamism on the part of the thinking of the people of Europe. I wanted to take
the
time
to call you because what is reported in the press is merely a pale
representation of the real scene there. The people of Germany and the balance
of
Europe
have boundless enthusiasm and the most ambitious set of ideas for the future
that I've ever seen in any culture in my entire life.
Eyewitness
reports like this are coming in from Europe by all who visit and see the
amazing developments taking place. Living in times like these should
cause
believers everywhere to commit themselves to a new and sober reflection as to
analyzing the tide of our times. We should be thinking more deeply,
praying
more sincerely, and laboring with the totality of our efforts for Christ to be
adequate for the challenge of times like these.
There
is an important final consideration that the student of the prophetic Word win
never ignore. After the Bible tens us that there will be signs in the
sun
and in the moon and in the stars, it says that on the earth will be
"distress of nations, with perplexity."
This
is a reminder that the brightest secular rulers of the world will simply not
know what to do or be able to handle the situation. It then follows this
by
saying that the very hearts of men will fail them for fear and for looking
after those things that are soon to come to pass, predicting that the powers
of
heaven will be shaken. These are the words of Jesus in Luke 21:25-26.
After
saying this, Christ then warned the world with the announcement that these
events would be followed by the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power
and
great glory. Surely this announcement should cause every one of us to at least
allow for the possibility that our generation is speeding toward the
consummation
of history.
Many
then ask the question, "What should I do?" The answer comes from the
Lord Jesus when He said, "And when these things begin to come to pass,
then look
up,
and lift up your head; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Out
of this, we have words of eternal encouragement to every person who has
believed the gospel of Christ. Having believed in Jesus, His person, and His
death
upon the cross, one becomes a Christian and the inheritor of everlasting life.
The developments of our time should cause every believer to look forward
with
greater anticipation than ever to his translation from this world to the world
that is to come. He should look up for a redemption that draws nigh.
These
events should have a second result. For everyone who has not yet believed in
Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, the Bible warns them that there
is
terror, judgment, and condemnation to come. The amazing unfolding of the events
of these times should cause each person who is not a Christian to face
the
fact that they are lost without Christ.
Each
person, then, who is not a Christian does well to ask the question, "What
shall I do?" The answer is very clear in the Word of God. In order to be
a
Christian the Bible says to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou
shalt be saved..." (Acts 16:31). It announces very clearly that "He
that believeth
on
the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see
life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). The eternal
destiny
of
your life depends on whether you do or do not believe in Jesus Christ.
Looking
at the events of our day, at the Middle East, at Europe, at the United States,
at our beleaguered world, we are forced to agree that the biblical
picture
of the future is true. The earnest recommendation that we have for all, then,
is to be sure that you have received redemption in Jesus Christ.
The
Bible promises you "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" (John 3:16). Make this the day you believe the
gospel!
The
gospel is the marvelous announcement that "Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the
third
day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3-4). Believing this opens the
door to life eternal!
Salvation,
then, is a most urgent call. The events of our time add to that urgency.
"Now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation."