May 14, 2012

Europe's Days of Iron and Clay
Things are not going very well for the European Union. In the past couple of weeks, there has been a series of elections in which anti-EU parties have achieved stunning victories over their pro-EU rivals.
In France, conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated by François Hollande. For a long time, Sarkozy and Germany's Angela Merkel were tag-team partners in keeping fellow EU members in line. Hollande has no intention of playing the role of EU enforcer. In fact, he will probably join sides with those seeking greater independence for France.
The biggest EU headache is now Greece. Voters have given two key opposition parties enough power to block any austerity measures tied to its financial bailout. The collapse of the bailout could mean the marriage between Greece and the euro zone is doomed. If Greece is kicked out of the club, the whole organization could unravel.
The next blow to EU unity may come when Ireland votes on a May 31 referendum that asks the public to approve an EU treaty that aims to control the nation's deficits and longer-term debts. A "no" vote would give the European Union's austerity plan another black eye and probably trigger an every-nation-for-itself panic.
There is a growing consensus that the European Union is doomed to fail. Even its staunchest supporters are having to face up to the reality that the treaty has major flaws. One of the most critical component is the rule that requires each of the twenty-seven members to keep its annual deficit below 3 percent of GDP. So far, only five have been able to achieve this goal. Another key problem is the layers of bureaucracy that have built up around the EU. To accomplish any type of major change, there needs to be the approval of the legislature in Brussels and of all twenty-seven members.
One of the most overlooked prophecies in the Bible is the prediction that the alliance that will be the launching pad of the Antichrist will be very fragile in nature. Daniel said the second stage of the Roman Empire was to be the weakest of all the empires he saw in his visions, so we should expect to see an alliance frequented by problems.
"And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of 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. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel 2:41-44).
The vision given to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 showed all the great Gentile empires that would arise on the earth. Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold; Media-Persia was the breast and arms of silver; Greece was the belly of brass; and Rome was the legs of iron. The final government will be the feet of iron mixed with clay.
The interesting thing about the series of governments is that they progressively lose value as you go down the list. As the head of gold, Nebuchadnezzar had absolute power over his subjects. At the bottom was the Roman Empire, which was represented by iron. You had a ruler who was largely beholden to the Roman senate for his power base. The addition of clay to the iron tells that the second stage of the Roman Empire will be plagued by turmoil--and boy, has that been true.
I've been watching the EU evolve since I was a teenager. During the 1980s and 1990s, there were several times when its survival was in far greater doubt. The organization faced huge obstacles, but it has always managed to right itself and move forward. It will prevail over these current issues because the Bible predicts its role on the world stage is not yet over.
We may soon see Europe erupt into a financial and political crisis that will seem impossible to resolve. Because God is guiding world events, total chaos may be the sign that the tribulation hour is very near. Once the people of Europe reach the point of absolute despair, they will be ready for the most cunning and ruthless leaders of all time.
"For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17).
Todd