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Will God bless the European Union?

May 1, 2004 brought ten more nations under the flag of the European Union. With great ceremony Europe opened its arms to a reunification effort that brings Europe’s old wounds new healing. Stability along with economic prosperity ride on the wings of the induction of ten new nations into the Union, and hope along with certain trepidations have been rekindled on the European continent. Now 25 nations will fly the blue and gold flag bearing the EU’s twelve stars, and more countries look on with hope that they will be the next to be initiated. Is it the destiny of Europe to succeed in its endeavor to unify, under one flag, countries from a continent that is no longer certain where its borders lie?

Finding entry into the Union a reason to let old conflicts fade, many nations now symbolically have laid old boundary markers aside, thus inviting the free flow of citizens from the various EU member states across their borders to find work in their more prosperous zones. Literally hundreds of thousands of workers have crossed the boundaries of their homelands to Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Germany and France as well as to other member states looking for work and a new home. Once in their new location, if prosperity finds its way to these workers, it is unlikely most will return to their homelands. The complexion of Europe will change under these conditions – forever – unless...

Some in the Union fear the shedding of their nationalities under the pressure from migrant workers. Others welcome the influx as a boon to industries needing cheap labor. But the effect of such movements of populations is to change national boundaries from distinct cultural delineators to mere markers inviting people of a common designation, European, to move from one area of the Union to another. Is this in accordance with God’s plan? Will God bless the Union?

Most realize the Bible is a book of prophecy as well as a book of human history, but few know the ancient identity of today’s modern nations. But God does. The Bible tells us God set up the boundaries of the nations:

Deut 32:8 When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples… NLT

A prophecy in the Book of Daniel foretells the attempts of powerful leaders to unite Europe down through the ages. In Daniel, Chapter 2, Daniel explains a dream by King Nebuchadnezzar that involved a giant figure representing successive world ruling empires down to our modern time. These empires are identified in Daniel 8:20-15. The last world dominating empire is a description of the Holy Roman Empire as it rose and fell in its various resurrections down through history under rulers such as Charlemagne, Napoleon, and Hitler/Mussolini. These empires brought a certain amount of material prosperity, but were never godly. They used brute force to subdue the citizens of the conquered nations that were united under their rule. Yet another resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire is also foretold in scripture.
In the Book of the prophet Isaiah there is a prophecy that foretells of a nation identified as Assyria that will temporarily head this union of nations just prior to the return of Jesus Christ:

Isa 10:13-14: "By the strength of my (Assyria’s) hand I have done it, And by my wisdom, for I am prudent; Also I (Assyria) have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man. 14 My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; NKJV

God’s response regarding the effort of this latter day Assyria to subdue and unite the nations of Europe in a final resurrection of the Roman Empire is clear:

Isa 10:15-16 Shall the ax (Assyria) boast itself against him (God) who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood! 16 Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones; 17 So the Light of Israel (Christ) will be for a fire, And his Holy One (Christ) for a flame; It will burn and devour (destroy) His thorns and his briers (Assyria’s armies) in one day. NKJV

The above scripture describes the arrogant attitude of this Assyrian empire which, combined with the great pagan church of Revelation 17, represents a last revival of the Roman Empire. As scripture states, Christ will bring it down at his return.

The Bible makes it clear that any effort to change God’s plan for the nations of this earth will not succeed for long. God is the Creator and His purpose will stand. A major part of His creative handiwork has been the setting up of the nations on the earth (Genesis 10:7). Just as in the days of the Tower of Babel (which was an ancient effort to unify the people of the earth), spoken of in the Book of Genesis, the Bible foretells an end time effort to bring the nations together as mentioned in the prophecy above and in Revelation 17:12-14. This effort will take place just prior to the return of Jesus Christ to set up the Kingdom of God on the earth, but the Bible tells us Christ will again re-establish the nations and they will worship him:

Micah 4:1-3 But in the last days Mount Zion will be the most renowned of all the mountains of the world, praised by all nations; people from all over the world will make pilgrimages there. 2 "Come," they will say to one another, "let us visit the mountain of the Lord, and see the Temple of the God of Israel; he will tell us what to do, and we will do it." For in those days the whole world will be ruled by the Lord from Jerusalem! He will issue his laws and announce his decrees from there. 3 He will arbitrate among the nations and dictate to strong nations far away. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning-hooks; nations shall no longer fight each other, for all war will end. There will be universal peace, and all the military academies and training camps will be closed down. (TLB)


So while Europe basks in the glow of its recent achievement, those who understand God’s plan will be aware this latest effort by man to bring various nations together under one flag will ultimately fail; for it defeats God’s purpose for His creation:

Acts 17:26-28 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him…NKJV

To gain further understanding of the modern identities of ancient nations mentioned in the Bible, please download your free copy of The United States and Britain in Prophecy from this website. Visit our free publications page to begin your download.