During the “Third Reich” they were singing, “Today Germany belongs to us, tomorrow the whole world”. Now in the “fourth empire” the text could read, “Today Europe, and tomorrow the whole world belongs to us.” The Prophet Daniel saw the successive empires in visions. He was shown the historical and political part in an overall view. It started with the Babylonian empire (606-536 BC), which was followed by the Medo-Persian one (till 330 BC), then the Greek empire (till 30 BC) and finally, how could it be otherwise, the Roman Empire. We cannot go into all the details here. In chapter 2:31-44 the prophet describes specifically the last empire, “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.” (v. 40).

The empire has the iron strength of the Western industrial nations and the fragility of clay comparable with the unstable economy of the Eastern European states. Symbolically he saw it in a shape of a person, from the head to the chest and arms, down to the hips and legs, right to the feet and the ten toes. This alliance will only be for a predetermined amount of time, as iron and clay do not mix, but they adhere to each other to form the fateful end-time force. It will be at that time when the God of heaven will establish His Kingdom and all who unite in the last world power will be destroyed. The stone, whom we know as the chief cornerstone, is also the headstone who without any man’s hand will break forth and destroy the last world power (2:34-35).

In chapter 7 the prophet describes the forth empire in detail, “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns … Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet …Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” (vv. 7, 19, 23-24).

Whoever knows Bible prophecy will comprehend that heads signify leadership and rulership and horns stand for combat and spiritual strength. In the West we have the G7, which are the most significant industrial countries on earth. Russia is just tolerated as the eighth, without having any say. In Rev. 13:1-10 we also have a description of the last world power. The dragon himself will give this last beast his throne, his power and great might (v. 2).

As God has chosen a city on earth, namely Jerusalem, to reign from, so Satan has taken Rome as his world headquarters. In biblical prophecy the constellation of the final political and religious world empire is being clearly described in Rev. 17 and 18. The picture with the great whore on the beast is clear. The religious power is riding the worldly/political power, holding the reins in her hands. The whole constellation is “Babylon the Great”. The seven heads take care of the leadership and point to the seven hills where this religious world power, which also exercises political power, is at home. The eighth is the vicar, the one who represents the whole religious world and politically belongs to the seven. The ten horns/states have to join in and provide their strength until the Words of God are fulfilled (vv. 12-18).

At this time 10 willing countries from the former Eastern block are to join the Western Alliance and be fully integrated by May 1^st, 2004. The first joint Nato-Conference was held on the 22^nd and 23^rd of November this year in Prague and of course has historical significance. Even Russia is being asked by politicians in Brussels to join the European Union. The US-President George W. Bush met right after the Nato-summit in Prague with the Kremlin-chief Wladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Before our very eyes biblical prophecies are being fulfilled. We see it; we experience it. Even in regards to the political development we are close to the end. Only right towards the very end it will become obvious who the ten horns really are, which will not only use combat strength on the ground, but have the capability to burn the old harlot with fire (Rev. 17:15-18). A decisive moment will be when Israel will join the European Union, as Netanjahu, who was recently appointed into the Sharon cabinet as minister of foreign affairs, proposed in his first press conference in November 2002. That will be done by a seven-year contract, as was the Oslo Treaty before. According to Dan. 9:27 the seven-year covenant will be broken after three and a half years.

Since January 1^st, 2002, we have one single currency within the European Union. 380 million people on the old continent pay with the same currency. The fourth empire is a reality and by way of the UN-resolutions it rules over the whole world with an iron fist. For the time being, following the uniting of Europe, the United States of America lead as the world-power under the keyword “anti-terror-war”. The united Europe will eventually take over world leadership, because here the religious, the political, and the economic powers are consolidated.

It is also noteworthy that the Vatican, to demonstrate its sovereignty as a state, has issued a total of 65,000 Euro coins with the pope’s portrait embossed on it, under the protest of the European Central Bank. The eight different coins are not freely provided for general circulation. Collectors are already paying over 500 Euro for the whole set, which has a nominal value of 3.88 Euro. That shows the high esteem of the pope, who in 1989 brought world-communism down and has united Europe under Christian-Catholic rulership. All insiders know about the main role the Vatican played in the uniting of East and West Germany as well as in the uniting of Europe and also in the globalisation to unite the world community for the realisation of the new world order. The USA has since its founding tried to establish a new world order, as is shown on the one-Dollar-bill and written in the Latin language “novus ordo seclorum”, but must eventually be content with second place as the new world order emerges and relieves the USA of the status of the leading world power.

The most terrible event of September 11^th, 2001, in the USA, when the Islamic terrorists killed the pilots and flew the airplanes with all the passengers into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, has special significance. The concern of the American president is to get everyone “aboard” in his fight against terrorism. A very peculiar constellation is forming, some join voluntarily, others cave under the political and some under the “oil” pressure. Since it is end-time, we also have to look into end-time prophecy in this regard, for the events of history are written therein in advance. Speaking of Iraq, the River Euphrates is the main issue. It springs up in Turkey, flows all the way through Iraq, past Baghdad, right through Mesopotamia, past Ur in Chaldea and Basra, merging into the Persian Gulf. There, where paradise was, where the cradle of humanity stood, where Abraham lived, there the four angels of judgement are bound who are waiting to be set free, so a third part of humanity would be killed. “Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” (Rev. 9:13-14). There in paradise Satan succeeded in bringing the first human beings under his influence. There began the human tragedy under the direct rulership of Satan. In that region Satan will unite all the kingdoms of the North, join them with those of the East to attack Israel. That will be the moment the world will be in flames — especially the United States, which take sides with Israel.

The main focus in world politics is once again Israel. The concern is especially Jerusalem, the Temple Mountain where Abraham sacrificed Isaac (Gen. 22), the piece of land that David bought from the Jebusite Ornan for 600 shekels of gold (1 Chr. 21:25), and the area upon which Solomon built the Temple (2 Chr. 3:1).

Whoever receives a letter postmarked in Iraq will see on the stamp the Iraqi president with the riffle in his hand, standing before the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mountain in Jerusalem. Whatever the USA, the UN or the EU might undertake: Israel and the Temple Mountain will remain the bone of contention right to the end. Even well-meant prayers of true believers will not change the course of the predestined end-time plan. Right at the very end, that is, at the new beginning will be fulfilled, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills.” (Micah 4:1). If the preparation for that great tragedy which will take place after the rapture is now going on, then how close must the taking away of the Bride Church be! Our preparation, getting ready is the urgent command of the hour and should be our desire and prayer, to be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.

When observing all the things which are now taking place in Europe, in Israel, in the Orient and the world over, one can in view of the fulfilment of the biblical prophecies repeatedly say, “This day this scripture is fulfilled before your eyes!” Among true Bible-believing Christians, who have truly recognised the time and the message, the call should become ever louder, “Maranatha, come soon!”

During the “Third Reich” they were singing, “Today Germany belongs to us, tomorrow the whole world”. Now in the “fourth empire” the text could read, “Today Europe, and tomorrow the whole world belongs to us.” The Prophet Daniel saw the successive empires in visions. He was shown the historical and political part in an overall view. It started with the Babylonian empire (606-536 BC), which was followed by the Medo-Persian one (till 330 BC), then the Greek empire (till 30 BC) and finally, how could it be otherwise, the Roman Empire. We cannot go into all the details here. In chapter 2:31-44 the prophet describes specifically the last empire, “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.” (v. 40).

The empire has the iron strength of the Western industrial nations and the fragility of clay comparable with the unstable economy of the Eastern European states. Symbolically he saw it in a shape of a person, from the head to the chest and arms, down to the hips and legs, right to the feet and the ten toes. This alliance will only be for a predetermined amount of time, as iron and clay do not mix, but they adhere to each other to form the fateful end-time force. It will be at that time when the God of heaven will establish His Kingdom and all who unite in the last world power will be destroyed. The stone, whom we know as the chief cornerstone, is also the headstone who without any man’s hand will break forth and destroy the last world power (2:34-35).

In chapter 7 the prophet describes the forth empire in detail, “After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns … Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet …Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise; and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” (vv. 7, 19, 23-24).

Whoever knows Bible prophecy will comprehend that heads signify leadership and rulership and horns stand for combat and spiritual strength. In the West we have the G7, which are the most significant industrial countries on earth. Russia is just tolerated as the eighth, without having any say. In Rev. 13:1-10 we also have a description of the last world power. The dragon himself will give this last beast his throne, his power and great might (v. 2).

As God has chosen a city on earth, namely Jerusalem, to reign from, so Satan has taken Rome as his world headquarters. In biblical prophecy the constellation of the final political and religious world empire is being clearly described in Rev. 17 and 18. The picture with the great whore on the beast is clear. The religious power is riding the worldly/political power, holding the reins in her hands. The whole constellation is “Babylon the Great”. The seven heads take care of the leadership and point to the seven hills where this religious world power, which also exercises political power, is at home. The eighth is the vicar, the one who represents the whole religious world and politically belongs to the seven. The ten horns/states have to join in and provide their strength until the Words of God are fulfilled (vv. 12-18).

At this time 10 willing countries from the former Eastern block are to join the Western Alliance and be fully integrated by May 1st, 2004. The first joint Nato-Conference was held on the 22nd and 23rd of November this year in Prague and of course has historical significance. Even Russia is being asked by politicians in Brussels to join the European Union. The US-President George W. Bush met right after the Nato-summit in Prague with the Kremlin-chief Wladimir Putin in St. Petersburg. Before our very eyes biblical prophecies are being fulfilled. We see it; we experience it. Even in regards to the political development we are close to the end. Only right towards the very end it will become obvious who the ten horns really are, which will not only use combat strength on the ground, but have the capability to burn the old harlot with fire (Rev. 17:15-18). A decisive moment will be when Israel will join the European Union, as Netanjahu, who was recently appointed into the Sharon cabinet as minister of foreign affairs, proposed in his first press conference in November 2002. That will be done by a seven-year contract, as was the Oslo Treaty before. According to Dan. 9:27 the seven-year covenant will be broken after three and a half years.

Since January 1st, 2002, we have one single currency within the European Union. 380 million people on the old continent pay with the same currency. The fourth empire is a reality and by way of the UN-resolutions it rules over the whole world with an iron fist. For the time being, following the uniting of Europe, the United States of America lead as the world-power under the keyword “anti-terror-war”. The united Europe will eventually take over world leadership, because here the religious, the political, and the economic powers are consolidated.

It is also noteworthy that the Vatican, to demonstrate its sovereignty as a state, has issued a total of 65,000 Euro coins with the pope’s portrait embossed on it, under the protest of the European Central Bank. The eight different coins are not freely provided for general circulation. Collectors are already paying over 500 Euro for the whole set, which has a nominal value of 3.88 Euro. That shows the high esteem of the pope, who in 1989 brought world-communism down and has united Europe under Christian-Catholic rulership. All insiders know about the main role the Vatican played in the uniting of East and West Germany as well as in the uniting of Europe and also in the globalisation to unite the world community for the realisation of the new world order. The USA has since its founding tried to establish a new world order, as is shown on the one-Dollar-bill and written in the Latin language “novus ordo seclorum”, but must eventually be content with second place as the new world order emerges and relieves the USA of the status of the leading world power.

The most terrible event of September 11th, 2001, in the USA, when the Islamic terrorists killed the pilots and flew the airplanes with all the passengers into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, has special significance. The concern of the American president is to get everyone “aboard” in his fight against terrorism. A very peculiar constellation is forming, some join voluntarily, others cave under the political and some under the “oil” pressure. Since it is end-time, we also have to look into end-time prophecy in this regard, for the events of history are written therein in advance. Speaking of Iraq, the River Euphrates is the main issue. It springs up in Turkey, flows all the way through Iraq, past Baghdad, right through Mesopotamia, past Ur in Chaldea and Basra, merging into the Persian Gulf. There, where paradise was, where the cradle of humanity stood, where Abraham lived, there the four angels of judgement are bound who are waiting to be set free, so a third part of humanity would be killed. “Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.” (Rev. 9:13-14). There in paradise Satan succeeded in bringing the first human beings under his influence. There began the human tragedy under the direct rulership of Satan. In that region Satan will unite all the kingdoms of the North, join them with those of the East to attack Israel. That will be the moment the world will be in flames — especially the United States, which take sides with Israel.

The main focus in world politics is once again Israel. The concern is especially Jerusalem, the Temple Mountain where Abraham sacrificed Isaac (Gen. 22), the piece of land that David bought from the Jebusite Ornan for 600 shekels of gold (1 Chr. 21:25), and the area upon which Solomon built the Temple (2 Chr. 3:1).

Whoever receives a letter postmarked in Iraq will see on the stamp the Iraqi president with the riffle in his hand, standing before the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mountain in Jerusalem. Whatever the USA, the UN or the EU might undertake: Israel and the Temple Mountain will remain the bone of contention right to the end. Even well-meant prayers of true believers will not change the course of the predestined end-time plan. Right at the very end, that is, at the new beginning will be fulfilled, “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills.” (Micah 4:1). If the preparation for that great tragedy which will take place after the rapture is now going on, then how close must the taking away of the Bride Church be! Our preparation, getting ready is the urgent command of the hour and should be our desire and prayer, to be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass.

When observing all the things which are now taking place in Europe, in Israel, in the Orient and the world over, one can in view of the fulfilment of the biblical prophecies repeatedly say, “This day this scripture is fulfilled before your eyes!” Among true Bible-believing Christians, who have truly recognised the time and the message, the call should become ever louder, “Maranatha, come soon!”