Humbling Three

and Taking the Lead

 

   Something foul is in the air. Like the stench of Mordor in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, the ascendancy of evil in this spiritual age of Laodicea is happening right before our eyes in concert with Biblical prophecy at a surprisingly quick pace.
   Economic perplexities have continued to set the stage for the fulfillment of Daniel chapter seven which says, “After this I saw in the night visions and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
   “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.” (Dan 7:7,8) And is explained later in the chapter: “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 shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first and shall subdue (humble) three kings.” (Dan 7:23,24)
   In other lessons, the identity of this fourth beast has been explained (see Daniel 7 – The Quartet? @www.heavenlyminded.com/essays/) as being a revived Roman Empire of sorts. The modern EU forms the basis for this and we can see the possible identity of the ten horns in the WEU, the ten permanent members of which are the European NATO members. However the beast is incomplete until the last member, the "little horn‟ joins in and humbles or uproots from dominance three of the first ten.
Now, the identity of this last member is as yet uncertain, but, I contend, it is very possibly the US - see “Little Horn and the Ten” at www.heavenlyminded.com/essays/. “Little” in the prophecy, does not mean diminutive but rather newer or "new to the EU party‟ so to speak. It can also mean a power (i.e. a horn) that is shrinking or losing its power. Both of these fit the US. Not coincidently, much has been going on economically, politically, militarily and otherwise which could potentially fulfill this prophecy in Daniel. The goal is referred to as the Transatlantic Union. Now, this union of the US with the EU is not a brand new idea, but its accomplishment is indeed contemporary and imminent. If you haven‟t heard much about it, that‟s no accident. It is being pursued by both sides of the Atlantic “quietly” and in a manner that emulates the evolution of the EU itself – that is, a gradual economic harmonization that leads to the inevitable union on other fronts such as governmental, judicial and military. The movement to create this massive union, though promoted by governmental leaders on all sides, is consciously „sidestepping‟ the involvement of the respective congressional bodies.
   “Six U.S. senators and 49 House members are advisers for a group working toward a Transatlantic Common Market between the U.S. and the European Union by 2015. The Transatlantic Policy Network – a non-governmental organization headquartered in Washington and Brussels – is advised by the bipartisan congressional TPN policy group, chaired by Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah.”
   “The plan -…implemented by the Bush administration with the formation of the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) in April 2007 – appears to be following a plan written in 1939 by a worldgovernment advocate who sought to create a Transatlantic Union as an international governing body.” “…Bennett …confirmed that what has become known as the “Merkel initiative” would allow the Transatlantic Economic Council to integrate and harmonize administrative rules and regulations between the U.S. and the EU “in a very quiet way,” without introducing a new free trade agreement to Congress.” (7-year plan aligns U.S. with Europe‟s economy – Jerome Corsi, WND, posted 1/16/2008)
    He claims that creating a Transatlantic Common Market would combine markets that comprise 60 percent of world Gross Domestic Product under a common regulatory standard that would become “the de facto world standard, regardless of what an other parties say.” Quite recently, the TPN formed an Implementation Group to put in place “a roadmap and framework” to direct the activity of the TEC to achieve the creation of the Transatlantic Common Market by 2015.
   Today, the TEC‟s own website openly proclaims itself as “a political body to oversee and accelerate government-to-government integration between the European Union and the United States of America.” This thinking is championed as well by foreign affairs policy shapers. 
   Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow for Europe and the Council on Foreign Relations writes, “The West has triumphed over its adversaries, but all is not well in the realm. Its voters are unhappy, its politics adrift. Now is not the time to pursue ambitious plans that would simultaneously deepen and broaden existing institutions. The West must lock in and eventually extend the greatest achievement of the past century: the creation of a community of democratic states among which war is unthinkable. The mechanism would be a transatlantic union committed to a single market and collective security.”
   I suggest that we can consider the current economic turbulence as potentially a prophetic catalyst leading to the fulfillment of Daniel‟s prophecy above. The unimaginable debt and international financial chaos of the US and EU has paved the way for the US to participate in an increasingly way in the EU‟s economic house, probably as a matter of survival. Their highly interconnected financial communities force their interests to be quite mutual. And, indeed we see in the news direct and indirect action being taken on both sides of the Atlantic to reform and harmonize. In fact, it could be that their creditors like China and the oil rich countries nurture or encourage this union to preserve the value of their own stakes.
   Now, everyone recognizes the “Big Three” of the EU as being Germany, France and the UK. I submit that the involvement of the US in the EU‟s economic house will likely escalate and ultimately may lead to the formation of this Transatlantic Union with the US replacing the leadership of the Big Three, thus humbling or uprooting them. It is also quite possible that the center for this new union may end up being in Rome.
   From the believers‟ point of view, it could happen pre or post rapture. However, how quickly it may transpire is indicated in the mutually agreed target of 2015. Of course, this is a target date only and will likely be wishful thinking on their part, but it is another sign of the momentum this movement has attained and the intentions of the participating governments.
   Now, the attributes of the little horn – “eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words” are widely understood to be characteristics of the final leader of the little horn and thus the “fourth beast” – a specific man. Whether or not this "pompous speaker‟ is the President of the US or someone else remains to be seen; however, I encourage all believers to be alert and discerning. Keep in mind that the primary characteristic of this end-of-days era is described by scripture as being deception. (see 2 Tim 3:13; Rev 20:3 as examples) 2 Thes 2:11 even states that God Himself will provide strong delusion to those who want it so that they will indeed follow this “pompous” Antichrist and believe his dogma.
   Deception, by definition, has to be believable. Like the forbidden fruit of Eden, it will be attractive but deadly. Therefore, as we move closer to the fulfillment of Daniel‟s prophecy, you can be sure that the circumstances will be spun in a way (by everyone in the "spinning business‟) so as to make it seem reasonable and beneficial. It will not "wear a sign‟ reading, “Look at me! I‟m the last days world order!” Remember, the full character of the AC will not be revealed until after the church is raptured and the Holy Spirit‟s suppression of evil is taken out of the way (2 Thes 2:6-8).
   The stage, however, is being set; the people and props are being put in place for the "grand opening‟ of the devil's big day or rather should I say, night. But, recognizing the signs of the times is insufficient in and of itself. As those who look in sincerity to our Lord Jesus for salvation and await His return, we should be motivated by these things to greater obedience to the voice of His Spirit. May God give us all the discernment, wisdom, faith and love to be His last days "candlesticks‟, placed in clear view – shining brightly with the Gospel of Salvation!