As prophesied, there were four Gentile superpowers: Babylon, the Medes and Persians, the Greek-Macedonians, and Rome (Dan. 2: 31-45). Thesis they are the roots that Europe would do well to investigate.
Nebuchadnezzar, the first leader of this series of human governments, had an impressive and disconcerting dream. It was not a normal dream or an imaginative flight; it was a prophetic message from God.
But none of the king’s priests or pagan magicians could tell him what was happening. They had no idea nor did they represent God. As “Neb” saw that they were on the payroll for nothing, wasting time and taking up space, he sentenced them to death. They were exposed like useless charlatans, left shivering in their boots. But God saved the day and forgave them all.
God intervened for Daniel, a prisoner in the palace, and used him to clarify what the nightmare meant. This Jewish ambassador rejected any extraordinary credentials, but attributed His God-given understanding to the God of Israel. He testified before the king and court that the Most High God far transcended pagan superstitions. He then proceeded to offer the inspired explanation.
The king had seen this monstrous statue of a man, with different body parts made up of different materials. Daniel interpreted the “members” as representatives of successive governments. Each kingdom would have its own characteristics and would reflect the disposition of its ruler. Different men are made of different tempers. Each emperor would leave his mark in history. Just as the huge statue had two legs, descending in time sequence to the last throes of misrule of mankind, the original Roman Empire was split in two, between east and west. Power was divided between Rome and Constantinople.
After the fall of Rome (in 476), his spirit was determined to transform itself ten times, seven under the influence of the Catholic Church. The three ancient entities of the Germanic tribes (the Ostrogoths, the Vandals, and the Heruli) embodied the Roman form of government, but they were Arian kings, neither Catholic nor Italian (Dan. 8:24). Justinian’s “Imperial Restoration” in AD 554. C., cured the “mortal wound” of Rome inflicted by these barbarian invaders (Revelation 13: 3) and exorcised Italy from its foreign occupation. It lasted, as predicted, 1260 years.
In 800 AD. C., Charlemagne was crowned as imperator Romanorum, an “heir” of the Western Roman Empire. He was truly considered the “King Father of Europe”. It was this Christian Caesar who firmly established the “ideal” of a unified Christian Empire in the heart and mind of Europe.
In 962, Otto the Great’s “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation” conjures up images of the Empire of Charlemagne. Germany became the new center of power, the heart and core of the Roman Empire. After all, it was their kings, throughout the Middle Ages, who maintained an iron grip on the imperial title. They were the “Protector of Europe”.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Carlos V set about rebuilding the Gothic style of the Church-State union. He wanted to bring back (from the dead) a coalition of nations that maintained their own identity, but shared a common faith. Although his project didn’t take off, or his dream home materialized, his grand design sparked the imaginations of others.
Dr. Habsburg, his descendant, has predicted: “Our generation will find its historical inspiration in the concepts last embodied in the person, mind and political views of Charles V … Insofar as it represents a eternal ideal, the Emperor (Charles V) … continues to live among us, not only as our European ancestor, but as a guide into the centuries to come. ” Can’t you feel his “presence” in the Pope’s plea for Europe to “rediscover” its roots?
Napoleon considered himself Caesar’s heir apparent. At first, during a pilgrimage to the tomb of Charlemagne, he intoned: “There will be no peace in Europe until the whole continent is under one sovereign, an emperor whose chief officers are kings, whose generals have become monarchs.”
This vision of European unity and peace is being seen again. Did Napoleon get a sneak peek? Later, unable to achieve his grand design, he lamented: “I wanted to found a European system, a European code of laws, a European judicial system. There would have been only one people in all of Europe.”
Mussolini fantasized about a modern version of the Roman Empire. To accomplish this, he began his adventure by enlisting the Vatican. After restoring Italy’s honor by defeating Ethiopia, he declared it a “Roman triumph” and proclaimed “the reappearance of the empire on the predestined hills of Rome.” His almost nonexistent empire was the prophesied sixth resurrection of Rome. (Revelation 17:11).
In October 1936, the “Berlin-Rome Axis” sealed the fate of Italy with that of the Third Reich of Germany. Hitler (also in possession of a concordat with the Vatican) was destined to lead a great Germanic empire. His mountain fortress at Obersalzberg gave him a magnificent view of the Untersberg. Inside that mountain, the legend whispered, Charlemagne still slept, waiting for his day to resurface and restore the glory of Germany! The Führer would signal the visitors; “It is no coincidence that I have my residence across the street. The restless Roman spirit refuses to die!
We have reached the end of the road: THE FINAL EUROPE DEAL IS TAKING PLACE NOW! And all driven by the Pope and eager politicians! The ten toes of the image of Nebuchadnezzar, which refer to the ten kings, correspond to this carbon copy of the “Holy Roman Empire.” It will include rich and poor countries, and it will be made up of strong and weak elements, but they will not stay together for long (Dan. 2:43). They don’t share the correct chemistry.
The dream of Rome will become our nightmare! This seventh resurrection will be responsible for the nuclear fires prophesied to burn the earth (Isaiah 24: 6)! His campaign promises of peace and security will quickly be broken. EUROPE PREPARES FOR WAR! The last triumph of Europe is near! They will try to fight Christ at his coming, but they are fighting for a lost cause (Revelation 17: 12-14). Jesus will lead a brilliant campaign (Hab. 3:11) to break the Gentile monopoly on world government.
The Ray of Christ will be a resounding success! He will take over the reigns of human governments and rule supreme (Rev. 11:15). Israel (the Twelve Tribes) will be restored as the superpower.
The Gentile authorities will pay tribute to our God and King, and will recognize Israel as God’s instrument. At that time, they will realize that an evil spirit had guided them and that Rome was his capital of confusion. It will be destroyed and will never rise again. BABYLON HAS FALLEN! BABYLON HAS FALLEN! (Revelation 18: 2)
