Why America must be Destroyed by Doug Krieger

WHY AMERICA MUST BE DESTROYED

…Destruction Awaits the Experiment?

By

Doug Krieger

The ultimate consequence of modern, even ancient, Empire—mature Empire—is overextension of its military to sustain economic superiority. PAX and MAX seem inexorably united in an ever-spiraling cacophony of disintegration, leading to an excessive national socialism wherein big government and industry—and in America’s case, sustained by a militant religious expression—merge forces to perpetuate world hegemonic control of commerce and culture through combat. The more Empire—PAX AMERICANA—appears to fray, the more she strives to coalesce, to maintain her imperial status.

Notwithstanding the immensity of America’s presence through its “democratic globalism” – its awesome “commercial empire” under girded by the world’s most techno-sophisticated military spread throughout the globe by history’s most prolific distribution of bases—yes, despite all this, there abides those religionists amongst us evangelicals who aspire to diminish America’s immediate and pervasive world presence to the point of oblivion!

In spite of America’s incredible and all-consuming military image throughout the Middle East, and her most recent—and altogether impressive—base extensions in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Asia, Central and South America, and throughout Africa, even Australia, these beloved brethren of Bible prophecy persist in eschewing any and all relevance that the “God of Fortresses” might have in the end-time’s scenario.

Once again, we will highlight the remarkable proliferation of American military prowess, her political will—led by her current president—and her irretrievable pugnacity to marginalize her enemies, capture the “hidden treasures” of the Middle East and unilaterally, as will as preemptively, wage wars of national interest whether Europe or anyone else, including the Russians and the Chinese, diplomatically or overtly attempt to oppose her hegemonic designs.

Furthermore, we shall demonstrate the absurd notion that Western Europe or the EU, the United Nations or any other political alignment or conspiracy, can or will ever overtake the world’s foremost economic, political and

cultural juggernaut—especially, now that she has in sum and substance the

uncompromised backing of virtually all military alliances (especially that of an ever-expanding NATO) including Pakistan, India, and de facto, most of the English-speaking nations (Australia, Canada, etc.), as well as the backing of nearly all nations of the Middle East, aside from the stigmatized Axis of Evil (Syria and Iran) and for all practical purposes the glare of the Russians and Chinese.

For Europe to ascend to greatness—as these “literal Babylon-shall-rise-again-in-Iraq eschatologists” conjecture—and that domiciled within her expanding commercial frame lurks the infamous Antichrist, is an assault upon reasonable minds who grasp but the most rudimentary understanding of geopolitical realities. Likewise, the prophetic myopia and so-called Biblical literalism plaguing these otherwise sincere brethren is an affront to the relevance of the Scriptures which now, more than ever, clearly should and does speak into our world.

Let us examine, for those who tout the contextual, grammatical-historical hermeneutic, both the initial disclosure of the Beast and his empire in Daniel and its counterparts in the Revelation—this will unequivocally substantiate the nature of the Beast and the ultimate expression of his end-times kingdom.

Lastly, and contradictory to all macro-economics, America’s colossal control of world commerce, through the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization and so forth, will not, nor cannot, suddenly nor gradually dissipate, as these same American evangelical prophets insist. Nor will her internal corruptions extinguish her efforts to maintain her preponderance as so many of these same evangelical prophets conjecture.

No, as Richard Combs and S. Franklin Logsdon assert—Babylon the Great is the United States of America . . . and there are no competitors, especially European ones. In point of glaring, unadulterated fact, the whole world has been made rich—especially its merchants—from her “delicacies.” Her luxuries, her trafficking in the “bodies and souls of men” . . . as well as her corrupting forms of immorality, are so ubiquitous, virtually the whole earth bears witness to her contagions . . . that, even these aforementioned prophets cannot deny. Revelation 18 is NOT a veiled allusion to America as the Babylon of the Last Days—it is an in-your-face blatant reality that this experiment has reached its full putridity! We speak here not of “American hate speak” but of a present and growing reality whose description can fit no other nation on the globe, and whose military, in particular, mirrors the definitions outlined throughout Scripture.

G. H. LANG AND BABYLON’S PHYSICALITY

Moreover, and as a “prophetic sop” extended to those who embrace a literal Babylon (in Iraq) as the center of Antichrist’s ultimate capital (and ipso facto the apparent diminishing of America’s possibilities of Latter-Day involvement—both as the Eleventh Horn’s King and Kingdom) . . . allow me to quote from G. H. Lang’s classic: The Histories and Prophecies of Daniel:

“It is only when Alexander attacks the Persians, and makes himself master of Babylon (the he-goat rushing upon the ram, Dan. 8), that his kingdom becomes the third empire of Daniel. Thus also is it with the fourth empire. Its ferocity and supremacy are emphasized, but that it would commence, or had commenced, at a city named Rome, is not even mentioned, and what its course would be is unnoticed. It is when the Antichrist shall have made Babylon its center of universal government that the empire will become what is so vividly and minutely portrayed in prophetic Scripture.

“And this essential geographical feature might have been learned from the one fact that, because the four kingdoms were represented by an upright image, therefore the center of gravity, if it may be so expressed, of each of the three upper portions was exactly over the spot upon which the feet stood (i.e., Babylon proper). The center of each empire would be at the same place. Babylon is Satan’s original and final earth center, as Jerusalem is the Divine center. And modern world movements tend unceasingly to the Near East.

“It would have been a great gain to the study of Daniel and the Revelation if the term ‘Roman’ empire had never been employed. It is not Scriptural. In the Word of God, the first three empires are named from the countries of their origin, Babylon, Persia, Greece (Dan. 1:1; 2:48; 8:20, 21), but the next is not named, it is simply the ‘fourth Beast.’ Of its rise and career little is said. It, like the others, would be adjacent to ‘the great sea,’ the Mediterranean; it would be strong and merciless and triumphant.

“Beyond this, its course is unnoticed until the final stage, when ten kings should arise out of it, and then an eleventh, who should be its last head, and should be destroyed by the Son of Man, Whose kingdom should supersede his. The interest and detail center upon this concluding stage and final Emperor, and there is no ground for supposing him to be emperor of Rome, but, on the contrary, to have his center at Babylon (Isa. 14:4; etc.)

Although the allusion to Antichrist’s capital is centered in modern-day Iraq—physical Babylon . . . Lang, nevertheless, clarifies the supposed importance of the physicality of this fourth kingdom’s capital and sphere of influence . . .

“The histories of the empires (Neo-Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Macedonian-Grecian – as taken from Daniel), however long and checkered, prior to each centering in Babylon, are unimportant prophetically, the great questions being such as these: Where will be the center of the last emperor, who will arise within the area of the ten (Daniel 7:8; 8:19)?; and what will be the full extent of his authority when one of such ability uses such overwhelming strength to seize dominion? What power or union of powers can be supposed as strong enough to refuse to recognize his overlordship? But it appears that the element of compulsion will not be required at the climax of his career, for we read that ‘the whole earth wondered after the beast, and they worshipped the dragon because he gave his authority unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? And who is able to war with him?’” (Rev. 13:3, 4). (Appendix A, The Universality of the Rule of the Antichrist, The Histories and Prophecies of Daniel, G. H. Lang, The Paternoster Press, London, 1950) (My emphasis)

THE NATURE OF THE BEAST AND HIS KINGDOM

Please, bear with me here, as we examine the nature of the Fourth Beast. In Daniel 2:31-45 the evolution of Gentile World Powers is depicted in the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar by Daniel. Minerals or metals/elements are used to interpret the composition and strength of expression of the four and finally “the evolution of the fourth kingdom”; however, their precise names—aside from Neo-Babylonia are, at this time, not disclosed (You (King Nebuchadnezzar) are this head of gold. Daniel 2:38).

The other kingdoms are simply referred to in verses 39-45 as “another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth . . . and the fourth kingdom, shall be as strong as iron.”

Finally, and with much greater emphasis upon the evolution of the fourth kingdom itself (not necessarily a fifth kingdom) the description is given of “iron and clay” (feet and toes) indicating some disintegration of the fourth kingdom (partly strong and partly fragile). Also, the phrase “they will mingle with the seed of men” (vs. 43a) and “they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay” (vs. 43b).

Immediately these ten toes are referred to as “kings” – as well as “kingdoms” (vs. 44) – and ultimately we must take note that the “stone (that) was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold” (vs. 45) refers to the coming of the Son of Man and the final destruction of COMPOSITE GENTILE WORLD POWER.

I emphasize these amalgamated elements to lay stress upon the ultimate expression of the Image whereby ALL original elements are mentioned and must be viewed as the totality of the Image, the ultimate expression of Gentile World Power throughout the ages, culminating in a cohesive destruction by the stone uncut from the mountain without hands.

Lang’s observations are impressive. The “four great beasts” who “came up from the sea” (Dan. 7:3) are initially described by Daniel (Dan. 7:4-7) as creatures (Lion with wings and the ultimate semblance of a man (vs. 4); bear with three ribs between its teeth (vs. 5); leopard with four wings of a bird on its back and having four heads (vs. 6); and, finally, the fourth beast which had “huge iron teeth . . . and it had ten horns” (vs. 7).

Once again, a further examination of these four kingdoms is given—instead of elements of the earth, we have organic creatures given. But, that these creatures are most definitely associated with the Image of the Gentile Man of Daniel 2, there can be no doubt; thusly, the ten toes have now morphed into the ten horns (i.e., the fourth kingdom, fourth beast).

Daniel then wholly focuses upon the fourth beast in vs. 8:

“I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.”

This is the initial introduction of the Antichrist—the Eleventh Horn—as well as the Beast’s Kingdom which arises out of the ten or out of the fourth beast. Indeed, we witness the Fourth Kingdom-Beast, and know full-well that these initial ten toes of Daniel 2 are the ten horns of Daniel 7; therefore, the Eleventh Horn is also a “king” as well as a “kingdom” – for the ten are both “kings” and “kingdoms” (i.e., “horns” or “authorities”).

In Daniel 7:15-25 the prophet accentuates the description of the four beast-kingdoms by immediately declaring “those great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which arise out of the earth.” Once again “kingdom” and “king” are indistinguishable. However, the emphasis in this portion of the prophetic vision is upon the fourth beast-kingdom-king.

The disclosures are significant (Daniel 7:19)—for now this fourth beast not only has “iron teeth” (alluding to the “iron legs” of the fourth kingdom-king of Daniel 2) but commences to manifest the composition of the original three empires – starting with the “nails of bronze” (i.e., claws – and “bronze” representing the third kingdom of Daniel 2).

But, again, the emphasis is upon the fourth beast (vs. 20-21) whereby the Eleventh Horn is given prominence:

“and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows . . . I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them.”

Here the dastardly actions of the Antichrist-Eleventh Horn are exposed: Making war against the saints, and prevailing against them! Then Daniel goes into extensive detail on the character of this fourth beast with the ten horns and the eleventh horn:

“The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom, and another (the Antichrist and Kingdom) shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings (Note: this is the third time this uprooting of the three is mentioned by Daniel.). He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law.” (Daniel 7:23-25).

The nature or character of this fourth kingdom (or “king” or ten-horned beast with eleventh horn) is forthright—it is obviously the kingdom which evolves as the fourth kingdom in succession of the original three. And, yes, it is the Roman Empire—the emphasis, however, as Lang points out, is not upon Rome but upon the culmination of Gentile World Powers: The Beast and/or the entirety of the IMAGE itself.

However, that said, Daniel in chapter 7 reveals the most definite “Romish” character of this aspect of Gentile World Power. Now, in chapter 8 of his prophetic vision he emphasizes the Grecian or Greco aspect of the Eleventh Horn—the, if you would, FIFTH horn coming up amongst the four horns.

THE TWO-HORNED RAM – MEDO-PERSIA

Firstly, the Medo-Persia (two-horned ram) Empire is described:

“Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and there, standing beside the river, was a ram which had two horns, and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other (i.e., the Persian), and the higher one came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him, nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great” (Daniel 8:3-4).

THE FOUR-HORNED GOAT – THE GRECIAN EMPIRE

“And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and he goat had a notable horn between his eyes” (i.e., Alexander the Great) . . . “Then he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing beside the river, and ran at him with furious power.

And I saw him confronting the ram; he was moved with rage against him, attacked the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to withstand him, but he cast him down to the ground and trampled him; and there was no one that could deliver the ram from

his hand” (Daniel 8:5-7).

Thus we witness the destruction of the Medo-Persian Empire by Alexander the Great.

But Daniel continues the description of the Grecian Empire (the third empire or third beast) . . .

“Therefore the male goat grew very great; but when he became strong, the large horn was broken (the death of Alexander the Great), and in place of it four notable ones came up toward the four winds of heaven (Cassander—Macedonian-Western Europe; Lysimachus—Thrace-Northern Part of Asia Minor; Seleucus—Syria and Eastern Part; and, Ptolemy—Egypt-Southern Part and Africa). And out of one of them came a little horn (Note: The same expression given in Daniel 7:8 when describing the “extension” of the eleventh horn.) which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them (Note: This is not “just” an allusion to Antiochus Epiphanes IV – but the ultimate Antichrist himself!). He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down” (Daniel 8:8-11).

I would caution you to observe that not only do these descriptions portend the Syrian-Seleucia King, Antiochus Epiphanes IV at the time of the Maccabeans in 164 B.C., but because of its “cosmic” disclosures, it undeniably extends the description into the final disclosure of the ultimate Antichrist himself: He and his kingdom are the “little horn” or the GRECO-ROMAN character of Western Civilization itself! This is further substantiated by Daniel 8:21-26 – especially when this “little horn” is said to:

“He shall even rise against the Prince of princes” (Daniel 8:25)

It is this Greco-Roman Man – Western Civilization – that is the overarching manifestation of the final expression of Gentile World Power on the earth prior to the coming of the Son of Man.

Daniel clearly identifies both the ram and the male goat in Daniel 8:20-21 as the Medo-Persian and Grecian Empires:

“The ram which you saw, having two horns-they are the kings of Media and Persia. And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.”

It is not, however, until we arrive at the book of Revelation that the Fourth Kingdom – Fourth Beast – is given further disclosure:

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name” (Revelation 13:1).

At this interjection, the Beast of Revelation 13:1, is the same Beast of Revelation 11:7. It must be observed that this Beast is BOTH the personification of the final Antichrist, as well as the Kingdom (i.e., BEAST-KINGDOM) of the Antichrist who has complete (seven heads) authority and the full diadem or support of the ten authorities (i.e., ten toes, ten horns)—but he and his kingdom are distinct from the original ten horns (kings and kingdoms) which originally constituted the sum and substance of the Beast’s origins—until the Eleventh or Little Horn was manifested.

Now, let us pay careful attention to his final description:

“Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear; and his mouth like the mouth of a lion” (Revelation 13:2a).

The “like a leopard” is clearly Greece (ref. Daniel 7:6); its feet are those of a bear (ref. Daniel 7:5) – Medo-Persia; and, its mouth is that of a lion (ref. Daniel 7:4) – Neo-Babylonia. That’s it. There is no mention of the iron or of the fourth beast; however, there is ample understanding from the two compositions found in Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 that the totality of the Beast and the Beast-Nation-Empire is the expression of ultimate Gentile World Power wherein the Beast, the fourth creature, the fourth kingdom, is the climax of World Civilization – Greco-Roman Man at his zenith. The emphasis is not upon a Revived Roman Empire, but upon the acme of Western Civilization and the nation that most exemplifies that leadership and manifestation in fullness!

That is precisely what Lang, I believe, was getting at – Rome and her disintegrated toes which ultimately produce the Eleventh Horn, is nothing more than a stepping stone to Revelation 13:1-10. The Beast and his Kingdom have reached their full and grotesque maturity—this awful maturation is nothing more than what fallen man and his imperial disposition produce. To deny the current geo-political configurations which now exist upon the earth wherein the USA holds such superior military, economic and socio-religio clout upon the planet flies in the face of all historic reality.

At this “prophetic juncture” I would hasten to add that the current military presence, as well as her economic engines of commercial exploitation (i.e., capturing the world’s “cheap” energy (oil) resources), are wholly centered in the Middle East—dominating throughout Iraq and the Persian Gulf, as well as Afghanistan and peripheral nations like Azerbaijan and Pakistan; furthermore, she has built the world’s largest and most impressive embassy ever to countenance the planet in Baghdad. In sum: THE UNITED STATES MILITARY HAS WHOLLY SUBSUMED IRAQ! She sits formidably astride, betwixt and between, the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers with PERMANENT MILITARY bases throughout Iraq. So, if the question on Babylon’s literal presence disturbs—let it disturb no longer: Babylon the Great is in full possession of—albeit with some consternations: Ancient

Babylon.

When the dust of political posturing and strategic uncertainty clears from the talking heads of American media, the USA will confine its superiority to her original purposes—absolute military permanence for an indefinite time frame in order to insure her engines of commercial hegemony.

Listen, you out there who may be disquieted, and even irate, over this “outlandish” assertion on our part—well, be persuaded in your own mind, as the Scriptures exhort . . . but, as Mark Twain once so wisely stated: Denial ain’t a river in Egypt – no, it’s right here in America; and, to deny it, you shall find yourself distracted from the Church’s true mission in the midst of this “crooked and perverse generation” among whom we are told to “shine as lights in the darkness” especially as history reaches into the environs of Daniel’s Seventieth Week . . . and we are still here!

That said, let us elaborate on our convictions and substantiate the insurmountable evidence of the aforementioned propositions . . . knowing this, better to have you upset, yet hopefully relieved of your ignorance through persistent facts and illumination, than to have you abide in your own conceits, fiddling while Rome burns! Forgive what appears to be a presumptuous spirit; however, time is neither on our side nor your side—we have no other alternative, given the brevity of the hour.

AMERICAN EMPIRE DOES NOT LANGUISH

Before we excoriate our beloved brethren—and we do so in a spirit of deep concern for the folly of ignoring the “times and seasons” in which we live, for we have no ax to grind with anyone—let us rehearse the platitudes of American Empire a bit to solidify the record and remind our readers that this gorilla has no intention of getting off the bed, not even after you finally acknowledge he’s actually there!

Once the strictures of Communist Socialism were ostensibly overthrown in 1991, a great deal of consternation and uncertainty ensued as to where humanity might be heading. Since 1991, and after the first Gulf War, as well as after the USA and NATO’s involvement in Bosnia-Herzegovina, as well as in Serbia and Kosovo, and then in the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, that consternation gained a whole new dimension.

Indeed, President George Bush Sr.’s declaration that a “New World Order”—which we now unabashedly entitle “The American New World Order System”—was originally designed to bring a measured hope of peace and interdependence among nations; instead, and as a result of 9/11 and both the Afghanistan and Iraq invasions, a clarification of that New World Order was redefined as the American policy of unilateral, pre-emptive, wars of national interest which were further interpreted as distinct opportunities for the extension of American Commercial Empire, under girded by the morality of Democratic Globalism and righteous indignation against those who were not aligned with American policy and, ipso facto, were “against us.”

The Bush Doctrine of the War on Terror took hold wherein an “invisible enemy” was at the gate—omnipresent and decisively evil; it must be destroyed. India, the EU, Arab states and the Russian Federation – nearly all states – have adopted similar doctrines and implemented strict measures.

Alas! The collapse of the British Empire has been supplanted by the world’s sole super power . . .

“The United States emerged from the Second World War with the most extensive system of military bases that the world had ever seen. This overseas basing system at the end of the Second World War consisted of over thirty thousand installations located at two thousand base sites residing in around one hundred countries and areas, and stretching from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica. U.S. military bases were spread over all the continents and the islands in between. Next to the U.S. nuclear monopoly, there was no more universally recognized symbol of the nation’s superpower status than its overseas basing system.” (“Military Bases around the World and in Europe – the Role of the USA and NATO,” Iraklis Tsavdaridis, Secretary of the World Peace Council, 8 Nov. 2005)

Tsavdaridis expands his thesis:

“Through Plan Colombia – aimed principally at guerrilla forces in Colombia (South America) but also against the less than servile government of Venezuela and the massive popular movement opposing neo-liberalism in Ecuador—the United States is now in the process of expanding its base presence in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Puerto Rico has replaced Panama as the hub for the region. Meanwhile the United States has been establishing four new military bases in Manta, Ecuador; Aruba; Curacao; and Comalapa, El Salvador—all characterized as forward operating locations (FOLs). Since September 11 (2001), the United States has set up military bases housing sixty thousand troops in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, along with Kuwait and Qatar.

“Military bases are also in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Poland, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Italy, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, Senegal, Ghana, Mali, and Algeria. Also crucial in the operation is the major U.S. naval base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, apart from the 6th and 7th fleet.” (Ibid.)

But, military bases for the sake of the military is nonsensical—“it’s the economy, stupid!” It might cost, but the dividends are what counts.

“The establishment of U.S. military bases should not of course be seen simply in terms of direct military ends. They are always used to promote the economic and political objectives of U.S. capitalism. For example, U.S. corporations and the U.S. government have been eager for some time to build a secure corridor for US-controlled oil and natural gas pipelines from the Caspian Sea in Central Asia through Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Arabian Sea. This region has more than 6 percent of the world’s proven oil reserves and almost 40 percent of its gas reserves. The war in Afghanistan and the creation of U.S. military bases in Central Asia are viewed as a key opportunity to make such pipelines a reality.

“Greece spends 4.8% of its GDP for defense; this is the largest among all other European NATO countries. The USA spends 6.6% of their GDP for defense; it almost equals that of the rest of the world combined. It operates 702 bases in 130 countries and has more than 500,000 personnel abroad, military and civilian, 71,000 (alone) are . . . in Germany. The USA has another 6,000 military bases in the United States and its territories.” (Ibid.)

Economically, in support of these vast base expansions, Tsavdaridis is convinced that this is wholly unsustainable and that American imperialism “has entered into a tunnel and the exit is vague.” Little does he know how resilient and clever the American military-industrial complex is! In point of fact, American military planners are surprised at their own resilience in the irresolvable quagmire of the Middle East—as if some invisible force were circumventing their own strategies in the face of one announced strategic blunder after another. The Arab-Israeli imbroglio is the perfect storm for US military expansion and subsequent commercial acquisition.

NATO’S EXPANSION AND REFUSAL TO COUGH UP MORE MILITARY COIN

Now, this will disappoint our evangelical brethren contemplating the awesome military preparations going on within NATO, outside the USA. Remember, the “social safety net” (flat out “socialism”) embracing most European states, is fanatically guarded by politician, pundit and Euro-populous. That said, when then Secretary General of the European Union, Javier Solana, called upon all members, including the newly applied member states like Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia, to cough up a greater share of coin to expand NATO’s military capabilities on behalf of the War on Terrorism, as well as sustaining the military technological enhancement of the EURO-NATO contribution (i.e., “keeping up with American military technology”), they, of course, would find themselves giving a financial windfall to that same American military-industrial complex!

“This means immense profit for the US war industry and a heavy burden for the peoples of the NATO member states, which will cut off social funds from their budget.” (Ibid.)

After the 2002 NATO Summits in Prague and the EU Summit in Copenhagen of that same year, a joint declaration was drafted by the ever-compliant EU and NATO (Euro-members) to find a “way for closer political and military cooperation between the two organizations” (viz., the USA and European States). Specifically, and this is where our Euro-Centric Antichrist evangelical prophetic pundits must understand, this “Declaration on the European Security and Defense Policy” (ESDP), places an onerous burden laid upon the old and new member states of the EU by the aforementioned American military-industrial complex—one that greatly benefits the USA in its quest for Commercial Empire!

“The ESDP provides a formal basis for cooperation between the two organizations in the areas of crisis management and conflict prevention; it outlines the political principles for EU-NATO cooperation and gives the EU assured access to NATO’s planning and logistics capabilities for its own military operations. This will lead, as NATO says, to a new, fairer burden-sharing between the USA and a more mature EU or in other words, in a huge leap towards EU militarization. Now the EU is able to take a greater responsibility for military missions in the Balkans from NATO or US forces (Military Operation CONCORDIA in Macedonia and a police force in Bosnia-Herzegovina are already active) and in Bunia (military operation ARTEMIS).” (Ibid.)

In other words, instead of the great independent military might of the EU, what we have here is naught but the USA’s military expansion throughout NATO-EU member states—all following our lead. It is a preposterous notion to think otherwise.

Listen to Javier Solana spout the policies of American pre-emptive intervention from the European Security and Defense Policy paper entitled: A Secure Europe in a Better World . . . remembering this: The EU literally adopted the concept of pre-emptive war a la the Americans in order to play catch up (and they’ve a very long ways to go):

“The new threats are dynamic… This implies that we should be ready to act before a crisis occurs. Conflict prevention and threat prevention cannot start too early.” (June 20, 2003 – Javier Solana)

Those American evangelical prophets who foresee in High Representative Solana’s EU-military accolades the embryonic beginnings of a resurgent Revived Roman Empire and her military image overtaking that of the USA, simply have little or no grasp of the total dependence and integration of America’s military machinery now in the process of incorporating its European counterpart—i.e., America’s infusion through direct persuasion and indirect political coercion of the EU-NATO military—is precisely what “the collective” has in mind: Resistance is futile!

The US military has established at least three types of bases. Firstly, the so-called “strategically enduring installations” like Ramstein, Germany, which is directly accessed from the USA mainland. Then, there are the “forward-operating bases” like Camp McGovern in Bosnia or Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo—these are not new installations, simply old fortification redoes like airstrips or port facilities allowing the USA a generous footprint in that country or region. At level three are “forward-operating locations”—bare-bone sites for hospitals, Special Forces or expeditionary contingents which proliferate the landscape, whereby new military interventions can be launched on an “as needed” basis.

What the world views now are multiple base extensions strategically located in NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe—Poland (Poznan), Romania (Constanta) and Bulgaria (Sarafovo) along the Black Sea. These, coupled with US-NATO military bases in Germany, Italy (Aviano), Greece (Souda in Crete Island—which can port two US Aircraft Carries at one time, plus multiple warships), constitute the American New World Order’s overwhelming presence to validate her commercial expansion into the Middle East (a sort of “Northern Exposure” to insure strategic encirclement of the majority of the earth’s “hidden treasures”).

BIG TRADER – BUT NO STICKS

It is, unfortunately for the Americans, the strategic fact that her traditional allies within NATO, and for that matter, throughout the world, simply cannot and/or will not field any more combat and/or support troops for the Iraqi/Afghanistan Theater of Operations. Here’s the bottom line:

“A common moniker for Europe is that it is an economic giant and a military midget. While many European militaries are transforming and modernizing (as per US-NATO techno-specifications, making “military systems” compatible and interchangeable with top-flight US configurations), few European countries have significant armies. For one, those countries don’t spend the cash needed to maintain large numbers of soldiers. Two, much of the money that is appropriated goes to salaries and training for conscripts, who are only in uniform for nine to 12 months and can do little to expand each nation’s capabilities.” (Peter Brownfeld, Fox News.com – “European Military Might Lacks Numbers,” May 11, 2004)

Talk is cheap, aside from France’s 40,000-50,000 troop capacity—capabilities which are at this writing NOT forthcoming for the American Middle East efforts—only the British amongst the NATO allies can field additional forces (perhaps 40,000 to 50,000) insofar as combat operations concern. France is modernizing but up to this point (it may change under President Sarkozy) has resisted Iraqi involvement—it also ended conscription in 2001.

Non-US NATO troop strength approximates 1.4 million soldiers (2006) . . .

“The 18 non-U.S. (NATO allies with militaries) have 55,000 deployed on multinational operations (i.e., 3-4% vs. the USA which can deploy at “a moment’s notice” up to 75% of its 2.4 million troops throughout the earth) …yet they (Euro-NATO) feel overstretched… We must generate more usable soldiers and have the political will to deploy more of them in multinational operations.” (Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson, Oct. 2003) (Ibid.)

Notice, it is the USA that presses her allies to “cough up” the coin to integrate military systems, as well as enhancements for additional deployments throughout the region (and that includes Africa, as well as the Middle East and Afghanistan, let alone continuing assignments in the Balkans).

As Julianne Smith at the Center for Strategic and International Studies observes:

“If it is not possible to plunk down more euros, Washington would like to see the countries at least spend more wisely. Europe spends 60 percent of what America does, but has just a tiny fraction of America’s military might . . . (the) European militaries spend a tremendous amount on bureaucracy and personnel and very little on material, leaving them with minimal war-fighting capabilities . . . you just can’t imagine the bureaucracy that surrounds their militaries . . . It’s just incredible. You see 10 people doing the job one person would be doing here.” (Ibid.)

Thus, the WPA-mindset, overshadowing European militaries, continues to stymie.

According to Smith, even if France, Spain, Italy and the Brits, as well as virtually ever other NATO-friendly (e.g., Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Denmark, etc.) wanted to deploy their maximums (along with their woeful military hardware), they “wouldn’t get 100,000 troops” into the Iraqi Theater of Operations.

Indeed, the “Cold War” mindset went like this: We Europeans will deploy large standing armies for Europe, and the rest of the world belongs to America’s charge. Now, when it comes to garrison duty (police-style operations like the Italian Carabinieri), Europe’s peacekeeping compatibilities are impressive; after all, “peacekeeping is less hazardous than war” (Radek Sikorski, director of the American Enterprise Institute’s New Atlantic Initiative and former Polish deputy defense minister – Ibid.)

I hope you’re getting the picture here. In 2005, Nicholas Burns, in a speech to a Brussels think tank, the European Policy Center, commented:

“…the United States spends over 420 billion dollars on national defense, the combined defense budgets of the other 25 NATO allies was less than half that . . . the capabilities gap is worrisome.” (US Laments Europe’s Military Shortfalls, Brussels (AFP), Jan 10, 2005)

Notwithstanding, the USA keeps pushing Europe:

“The United States is also pushing for NATO to expand its missions in Afghanistan and Iraq, while maintaining significant forces in the Balkans and boosting its ties in Central Asia and the Middle East . . . ‘If we are going to be in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia; if were going to have an outreach to the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, you need forces, well-equipped, well-trained forces.” (Ibid.)

Burns woefully concludes upon viewing the utter ineptitude of the “European military venture” . . .

“At some point . . . the rubber needs to meet the road. At some point you have to have the capabilities to back up your political ambitions and your rhetoric. And this growing disparity in capabilities worries us greatly.”

No, Mr. Burns, as long as the overshadowing wings of the US military continues to flex its muscles throughout Europe, North Africa, the Caucasus and the Middle East, let alone throughout Southwest Asia and the Horn of Africa, into India and beyond, the European military midgets will NOT pick up their fair share of America’s War on Terror, nor will they give up their August holiday and massive social nets for America’s Wars—but be very clear: He who is not for us is against us . . . that will prove “commercially dangerous” for any European ally who refuses to “cooperate” . . . for one of the highest tech weapons within Uncle Sam’s arsenal consists of her butter, not her guns, and some of the EU’s 28 variegated membership understands this game.

Insofar as world spending on militaries goes –

·        The 15 countries with the highest spending account for 84 percent of the total ($1,118 billion in current dollars – however, the USA “total military expenditures, including Homeland Security, Dept. of Energy (Nuclear), and Veterans Affairs, accounts for nearly $1-Trillion of America’s annual budget, 2007 + special ongoing military appropriations as needed).

·        The USA is responsible for 48 percent of the world total, distantly followed by the UK, France, Japan and China with 4.5 percent each. (Anup Shah, “Arms Trade—A Major Cause of Suffering” – World Military Spending, Feb. 25, 2007)

DR. DONALD R. REAGAN - AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL?

Having repeatedly demonstrated throughout this brief series on the demise of America in Bible prophecy—purposefully, and well-intentioned, but with biting sarcasm—be it decisively known, America has no intention of rolling up her tents and abandoning her quest for an AMERICAN New World Order System. Now we turn (unfortunately) to some of America’s most popular prophetic buffs who (some of them) sardonically, deliberately, and with alleged Biblical craft, seek to dissuade believers and unbelievers alike, that America the Beautiful shall suddenly, and without premonition, collapse through supernatural calamities, be they economic, military, moral and/or spiritual catastrophes—because she, according to these American prophets, is not mentioned in Bible prophecy, and has not even a bit part!

The well-respected Dr. David R. Reagan, who has for years rallied the faithful in the study of the prophetic Scriptures, speculates:

“I personally believe that the reason the U.S. is not mentioned in end time prophecy is because we will suddenly cease to be a world power and will therefore play no significant role in end time events.” (“America the Beautiful? The United States in Bible Prophecy,” Lamb & Lion Ministries)

Dr. Reagan, as we have discovered in most of our research of American Premillenarian evangelical prophecy stalwarts, must, therefore, dispense with the insurmountable American presence which now encircles the globe – to wit:

“The destruction of American power is most likely to occur in two stages. The first could be an economic catastrophe that will result from our out of control debt situation. Our god is the dollar, and the Lord is going to destroy that god when the weight of our debt collapses our economy.

“The second stage could occur when Russia launches its invasion of Israel (prophesied in Ezekiel 38 and 39). I believe it is very likely that they will launch a preemptive nuclear attack against our nation . . . This attack may be hinted at in Ezekiel 39:6 where it says that fire will fall on ‘those who inhabit the coastlands in safety.’"

Dr. Reagan suggests that the Russian attack “will probably come from submarines deployed off our East and West coasts . . . each Russian sub carries more fire power than all the bombs dropped in World War II . . . such an attack would give us only seven minutes warning, not even enough time to launch a counter attack.” (Ibid.)

He then goes on to conjecture that with America’s destruction, Russia will then “come down” upon Israel in the infamous Gog-Magog War against Israel only to be supernaturally destroyed “on the mountains of Israel.”

Then, with the vacuous political instability created by these conflagrations, a “charismatic European political personality who will be energized by Satan” will step into the fray to stabilize this confusion by proposing “brilliant proposals for world peace.”

Dr. Reagan’s analysis includes the strategic affirmation that Russia “is far more dangerous to the world today than before the Soviet collapse . . . The increased danger is rooted in the instability of the (Russian Federation) government.”

Naturally, it’s hard for Lamb & Lion Ministries to contemplate “the idea of God using Russia to judge our nation . . . I (Dr. Reagan) believe we (the USA) are far more dangerous to the world spiritually than the Russians have ever been, for we are the world’s moral polluter through the export of our sleazy television programs, our filthy movies, our satanic music and our degrading pornography.” (Ibid.)

Amazing how we swing from America’s destruction via Russia as a result of America’s economic and/or immorality to America’s devolution as a result of the Church’s rapture (a reoccurring and somewhat incongruous socio-religio theme among these expositors and pundits):

“There is another possible fate for the United States. If the Rapture were to occur today, we would be devastated because our nation contains more born again Christians than any other nation in the world – more than all of Western Europe combined. Further, we have many born again Christians in high positions of commerce and government. The Rapture would reduce our nation to chaos, removing us from the international scene as the world’s dominant power.” (Ibid.)

So, who will take America’s place as the world’s Hegemon?

Dr. Reagan continues in his piece, Europe In Bible Prophecy, regarding the founding of the modern State of Israel, and the formation of the European confederation (the EU), considering them as the two most significant historical events in end times prophecy, bringing us to “the threshold of the Tribulation and the Lord’s return.” Of course, since the growing super power of the USA is not in this “most important equation” – she, subsequently, is simply left out of any significant feature in Dr. Reagan’s end-times’ scenario.

Now, although the highly popular web site, Rapture Ready, affirms Western Europe’s military deficiencies, as an ingredient in Antichrist’s acquisitions, they conjecture the EU does NOT need overt military capabilities:

“I don’t see a requirement in Scripture for the European confederation that will form the Antichrist’s kingdom to achieve super military status (notwithstanding his description as the “god of fortresses” and the fact that he makes war on the saints and virtually the entire earth up through and including Armageddon). According to Daniel’s vision of the five empires, the kingdom of the Antichrist will be of the weakest quality” (although when he appears, he “uproots” three of the original Ten Horns—doesn’t sound weak to me; furthermore, whatever Bible Rapture Ready is reading is not the same Bible I’m reading . . . not even close when it comes to the “kingdom of the Antichrist.”). (FAQ – Rapture Ready)

Allow G. H. Lang to address the kingdom of the Beast—the Antichrist—and put to rest the erroneous notion that the kingdom of the Antichrist is naught but a perfunctory expression of the weakest quality:

“This beast pictures the full development and outcome of the evil that lies in the human heart, which has worked there since Adam fell from God, is working there still, and in this monster will attain its full stature, horror, impiety, and will reach its doom. Hence the large place and much detail given to it (in Daniel) in the prophecy and its interpretation.

(i)      It is ‘terrible.’ It acts to the full upon the cruel maxim that a war is soonest won by ruthless terrorizing of the enemy people, that they may the sooner submit.

(ii)     It is ‘exceedingly strong,’ implying that the resources of mind, men, and material are ample and are organized.

(iii)    Its power to tear to pieces is irresistible: it has ‘great iron teeth.’

(iv)    It leaves no opposition existing: it ‘devours,’ absorbs all it attacks, annihilates all that opposes. No toleration is shown. It is the spirit lately revived in the West and seen equally in Nazi, fascist, and communistic rule.

(v)     What it does not positively annihilate it crushes and stamps into helpless subjection with its brass-nailed feet, ‘breaking to pieces’ all organized resistance as threshing machine reduces the corn-stalks to chaff.

(vi)    In size, appearance, strength, cruelty, and rapacity it will bear no resemblance to any kingdom that has preceded it; ‘it shall be diverse from all the kingdoms.’

(vii)   This will be seen very distinctly in its extent; ‘it shall devour the whole earth.’ No empire ever yet has fulfilled this prediction. All the old empires knew of vast territories that they did not and could not subdue. But Antichrist will fulfill this prediction. Yet the beast is not the whole earth; it devours it but is not it. Antichrist will be given his throne by the ten kings; their territory will be his own proper empire, but this will be so strong that all outside regions must submit, willingly at first, though later some will rebel (Dan. 11:40, 44).” (G. H. Lang, The Histories and Prophecies of Daniel, pp. 83-84).

The burgeoning military strength of the EU (which Lang ascribes to Antichrist and which will include Europe proper as his empire) is heralded by Dr. Reagan:

“What the Union officially lacks in a military force . . . it is in the making. A military staff has been assembled, with a commander-in-chief, and it currently has at its disposal 60,000 frontline troops on standby, with 400 assault aircraft and up to 80 warships. The British government refers to it as a ‘Rapid Reaction Force.’ That is nothing but a euphemism for an army. It has been dubbed ‘Eurocorps’ by the rest of Europe, and it is supposed to be ready for action in 2003. The British are downplaying this military arm of the Union because they want to continue their partnership with the United States in NATO. The French would like to see the Eurocorps replace NATO, as it probably will.” (Ibid.)

These glaring strategic oversights and analyses by Dr. Reagan are so terribly embarrassing, that US military strategists and military think tanks, if they ever considered (which joyfully they never will) these renditions and presumptions, would dismiss them outright.

However, Dr. Reagan persists:

“Does Europe really have a role in biblical prophecy? The answer to this question is an emphatic, ‘Yes!’ In fact, the role of a unified Europe in end time prophecy is much clearer in the Bible than the role of the world’s only current super power – the United States . . . as it (the Revived Roman Empire in Europe) grows, and as national identities are de-emphasized, it will most likely be divided into ten administrative areas, just as Daniel prophesied (Daniel 2:42-44 and 7:7 – the ten toes of chapter 2 correspond to the ten horns of chapter 7, as well as the ten horns of Revelation 13).” (Ibid.)

The EU’s Constitution is, in the main, based upon, according to Dr. Reagan, “the values which resulted from the French Revolution” (i.e., Enlightenment, Socialism, Relativism, etc.). These “values” are the seedbed of Antichrist’s rise to power. Simultaneously, however, Dr. Reagan claims that “What is emerging in Europe is a new Holy European Empire . . . Christian Socialism . . . This means a united, Catholic Europe, which was consecrated to Mary by the Vatican in 1309.” (Ibid.)

PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPANDS THE EU!

Strangely enough, Dr. Reagan cites former President Clinton and his involvement in the EU’s expansion. Strange, because America is allegedly NOT in the picture, yet she is the inspiration and driving force behind EU expansion:

“Clinton . . . was the first American president to receive the Charlemagne prize for his work in promoting European unity (June 2000). He received the prize at the cathedral in Aachen, Germany, where the first Holy Roman Emperor lies buried. Clinton called for an enlargement of the EU to even take in Russia . . . President Clinton said the EU should have at least 30 member states, including all the nations of the Balkans, Turkey and possibly even Russia. He said that European peace and prosperity now depended on the EU setting its boundaries ever wider . . . often anti-American power block(s) in Europe could be in America’s interests, and thus it is surprising that it has been American policy to push for greater unification of Europe. Perhaps America’s fine new President (George W. Bush) is the man to see the folly of this.” (Ibid.)

The convoluted reasoning construed above has an extension of the “Clinton follies” relative to foreign policy shooting America in the foot by creating a formidable EU—so says Dr. Reagan. To the contrary, that is precisely what America is trying to do because the EU will have to grapple with American military superiority and conformity to her leadership in order to integrate her militaries into and under the US-led NATO umbrella. NATO’s central command is altogether orchestrated by the overwhelming might of the U.S. military—and don’t you kid yourself otherwise—all other “shared or rotating leadership” within the military alliance is purely window dressing: The Americans are utterly at the helm!

TERRY JAMES & TODD STRANDBERG – RAPTURE READY

The statements appearing in Rapture Ready by Terry James and Todd Strandberg confirm the prophetic thesis of Dr. Reagan whereby “Developments involving the EU are on the leading edge of Planet Earth’s race toward the seven-year peace treaty Bible prophecy foretells will set in motion the tribulation era.”

They continue:

“Europe will one day almost certainly be the heart of the Antichrist beast-system of governmental, economic and religious control prophesied to engulf the world . . . the fourth world kingdom to come upon the earth would be, Daniel prophesied, symbolized by the two legs of iron. The final world kingdom would be shown as the statue’s feet made of iron mixed with clay . . . the fifth world empire symbolized in the statue is prophesied to be an extension of the fourth kingdom. That is exactly what the EU is – an extension of the ancient Roman Empire. It is, we are convinced, the feet and toes of the man-image, the reviving of the unity that was once Europe in all its power and glory. Yet, despite the tremendous power the final form of the Roman Empire will have, the clay mixed with the iron seems to indicate it will have significant weaknesses . . . This all-encompassing prophecy (from Daniel) foretells plainly that the final world ruler, Antichrist, will rise out of the Roman Empire.” (Rapture Ready)

Yes it is weak – so weak that the ELEVENTH HORN – The Kingdom and Person of the Antichrist – will await the ten kings to accrue all power and authority to the Beast – to his kingdom:

“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. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13).

It is abundantly clear that the ten kings of the so-called revived Roman Empire are utterly POWERLESS without the intervention of the Beast—it is only when the Beast is acclaimed, honored and recognized do the ten receive any vicarious authority, for all authority is in the prevue of the Beast. What little power and authority they have, they give to the Beast for they have no choice in the matter.

James and Strandberg then go into an historical accounting of Europe’s Twentieth Century competition with the USA and suggest that World War I was thought, among certain historians, to have been caused by such competition (i.e., Europe playing catch up with the USA). Notwithstanding all of Europe’s setbacks, they are now coming on strong:

“The EU is on the march as never before, despite its family feuding on occasion. For example, just before the recently concluded ‘Operation Iraqi Freedom,’ we recall that France, Germany, and Belgium threatened EU nations that sided with the U.S. and the United Kingdom. These three promised serious consequences if any EU partner joined the coalition that vowed to remove Saddam’s dictator regime. Yet, just as quickly as the U.S. and Great Britain, joined by a group of like-minded countries, swiftly dealt with Hussein and his henchmen, the EU, headed primarily by France and Germany, was back to business as usual.” (Ibid.)

Business as usual? I have no idea what these brethren are talking about. The USA-Britain, along with Spain, Denmark, Poland, Italy, Ukraine, and the Netherlands (among others in Europe), went marching right into Iraq over the supercilious protestations of the Germans, the French and the Belgians. The Germans and the French threw out the Chirac and Schroeder regimes and elected strict pro-American executive leadership. Yeah, “business as usual” all right—get in line or we’ll run over you as well!

The final embarrassment of EU ascendancy is made when these remarks by James and Strandberg are uttered—and sorry, we’ll not give them a “pass” on this:

“The European Union, according to some of its primary players, is undeniably joined at the hip—or somewhere—to the United Nations, so far as the whole Iraqi affair is concerned. It seems that they, together, consider themselves the true representatives of the ‘international community.’ The coalition, i.e., the United States and Britain, did the liberating, but France’s Prime Minister Jacques Chirac (now embroiled in litigious procedures, after his Presidential immunity expired), Germany’s Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder (whose Socialist Party was defeated by the Christian Democrats) and the UN’s Secretary General Kofi Annan (utterly disgraced by his “oil for food” entanglements), with nodding approval from Russian President Vladimir Putin (having been shoved to the side by President George W. Bush as Bush plants his missile defense shield throughout Eastern Europe), act as if their oversight of post-Saddam Iraq is a foregone conclusion. That anything less than their plans for the region will be illegitimate and unacceptable by nations of the region and around the world.” (Ibid.) (My intrusions in parentheses.)

And, compounding the ridiculous aforementioned assumptions . . .

“It is just that sort of arrogance that gave the Caesars of the ancient Roman Empire their lust and determination to try to conquer the world. Supreme arrogance will inspire Antichrist, ‘the prince that shall come’ out of the revived Roman Empire, to take charge of the ten-horned beast-government and do his deadly worst to enslave the world. If the EU’s arrogant posturing in the Iraq matter is somewhat of an indicator that we might be witnessing the forming of the beast-government of Daniel 7, Revelation 13, and Revelation 17-18, then things on the geopolitical horizon surely are irrefutable signs that we are bumping up against the very end of the age.” (Ibid.)

The EU, the UN, the Russians, the Chinese, the Iranians, the Syrians, Castor and Chavez, et al, are mere pipsqueaks versus the insurmountable military superiority of the USA. In particular, these puny, perfunctory, pesky little outbreaks with their marches and sieg heils to nowhere are but a drop in the bucket versus the raging fire of American military might and strategic planning—we’ll do what we want, when we want, where we want and how we want and that’s that. This entire EU posturing and contrivance envisioned by James and Strandberg in order to produce the final Beast nation and Antichrist is either strategic hallucination or abject false prophetic misunderstanding of the Scriptures or both.

SCORES HAVE IT WRONG –

Terry Dasher, whose article appeared in the Indian (South Asia) web site Bharat Bhasha, awaits the Antichrist from the EU as well:

“The EU is ripe for a powerful leader to advance himself by unifying the federation. A unified Europe will certainly exceed America in financial strength and market accesses. I don’t need to remind you that the revived Roman Empire alluded to in Revelation will be powerful because of its ruler and financial strengths.” (Pastor Terry Dasher, “Will the EU fulfill the Revived Roman Empire?” – Broken Arrow, OK, as seen on Bharat Bhasha).

Contender Ministries’ Jennifer Rast, another respected evangelical ministry, in her article, “Is the E.U. the Revived Roman Empire?” suggests that the original purpose of the EU is “a European super-state or ‘United States of Europe’ . . . that would eventually rival the United States in influence and military might . . . in 1999 Javier Solana became the High Representative for the EU’s foreign and security policy, and through recommendation 666 he was given emergency powers over the military wing of the EU in 2000. All that currently remains to create a truly revived Roman Empire is the creation of a permanent executive branch of government and the full integration of the new Euro currency.”

Ms. Rast, then oddly enough, suggests that, quite possibly, the “three kings who are subdued will probably not approve of his rise to power or will object to his far-reaching powers . . . It’s interesting that, prior to the war in Iraq, France, Germany, and Belgium threatened the EU nations that sided with the U.S. with serious consequences if any EU partner joined the coalition to remove Saddam Hussein.” How is it that Ms. Rast could proffer the notion that these “soon-to-be uprooted kings” threaten the other seven kings without recognizing the magnitude of the one (the Eleventh Horn?) who is causing all of this consternation amongst the ten kings in the first place? Also, there’s nothing in the prophetic Scriptures that says the seven kings not involved in the “uprooting” are harassed by the three who have been uprooted.

She continues:

“We know that the people who destroyed Jerusalem (the city) and the temple (the sanctuary) were the Romans. From this people (Daniel 9:26-27) shall come the “prince that is to come” or the antichrist. We can expect then for the antichrist to rise up from a fourth kingdom that will be the revived Roman Empire . . . The Antichrist will speak blasphemous words against God as he rules over the world, and there will be intense persecution of the tribulation saints, those who accept Christ after the rapture of His church.

“The EU (has) definitely become a world power of clay (diversity) and iron (power) with striking similarities to the fourth kingdom or fourth beast of Daniel’s prophecies. A world power of so many ethnic groups and representing so many states could easily become a very influential leader at the United Nations and the world. It’s possible that the U.N. is a beginning for this world government that will eventually be ruled by a revived Roman Empire and the Antichrist.”

“As you can see, the stage is being set for the emergence of a global political system (the EU and the UN), a global economic system (the Euro and WTO), and a global religious system (the interfaith movement). The EU would seem to fulfill many of the prophesies of the fourth kingdom that is to come, from which will arise the Antichrist of the end-times.” (Ibid.) (Ms. Rast’s parentheses.)

In the mid