Hi all,
In case you missed it
I explained in June’s e-newsletter that having the UK independent of the EU sets the stage for what I put forth as my understanding of the war of Ezekiel 38 and 39, in which Russia and her allies attack Israel, but Israel’s allies help defend her and defeat the invaders. The language of Ezekiel 38 seems to identify an independent Britain (or at least England) joining other nations to help defend Israel. You can find that e-newsletter at our web site www.cwowi.org, click ‘articles’, and then click ‘newsletter’.
Where does Britain’s exit from the EU leave the EU? The Revelation gives clues
When the UK makes it official EU membership will be 27. The founding 6 nations have called a meeting to discuss that transition. Those 6 are: Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg.
The remaining nations are: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden.
My goal today is to look at point A being Brexit and point Z being the European structure at the return of the Lord. So with that said, let us go back to the end of the first century when the apostle John was caught up into heaven and saw the Lord unseal a scroll about the end of the age, what we call The Revelation.
Understanding Rome as Revelation 18’s Babylon in John’s time
30 years before John was caught up into heaven and saw the vision we know as The Revelation, in I Peter 5:13 writing from Rome, Peter called Rome ‘Babylon’. That letter had been circulated to all the churches in the Empire, so that over those 30 years every disciple of Jesus knew Babylon was code for Rome.
So when The Revelation chapter 18 calls a city ‘Babylon’, and notes she was ‘drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus’ and apostles, prophets and all who were slain for their faith, and he described the capital city as clothed in purple and scarlet, the colors of the Roman royalty and Caesars – it was clear to the original readers ‘Babylon’ was Rome, the capital city of the Roman Empire and seat of emperor worship and martyrdom. (18: 6, 16, 20, 24)
What kind of structure does The Revelation describe?
With 27 remaining nations in the EU, will there be further exits after Britain? John describes the city of ‘Babylon’ sitting upon many waters (17:2). He is told in 17:15: “The waters which you saw…are peoples and multitudes, and nations and languages.” The prediction is a European governing body over many nations.
John is told the city Babylon sits on a ‘beast’ with 7 heads and 10 horns*, and is told the 7 heads are 7 mountains. The use of ‘mountains’ in prophecy means nations. It is used in Daniel 2 to describe the kingdom of the Father when he describes a stone (Jesus) cut out of a mountain (The Father) and that stone (Jesus) comes down to earth and grows to become a mountain that rules the whole earth (The kingdom of the Father through Jesus). We also saw it in Ezekiel 38:21 when God calls for calls ‘my mountains’ to join them fighting the invaders. So 7 mountains means 7 nations at the core of European government. *17:9
But the fact ‘the beast’ sits on many nations, would hint that there are more nations it rules over than the core 7, but John focuses on events surrounding the core 7 nations. In early Roman history these were 7 regions and the Empire was a ‘superstate’ while retaining individual regional differences. In Revelation 17:12 it is further explained to John the 10 horns are 10 kings, with this description: “…which have received no kingdom, yet have the authority of kings…”
The issue before the EU and world
That is a perfect description of the basic structure of the EU ruling body, and what contributed to the Brexit vote – the idea of Britain giving its sovereignty away to a group of leaders in the EU who don’t have a nation, yet who have the authority to make decisions for the UK and all member nations. Look for the issue of nationalism versus being more of a ‘superstate’ in unity to be with us to the end, because…
…the last half of The Revelation 17 is about how these 10 kings overseeing 7 core nations will give their hearts to the ruler, while also hating they system, seeming to indicate a love/hate relationship and much infighting going on in this end times governing body and member nations.
In between point A and point Z: What happens after the war of Ezekiel 38 & 39
Think about the world Ezekiel describes post-war. God says He will send ‘fire’ on the attacking nation’s homelands when they attack Israel. In war then and now, you want to take out their command, control, and communications, which means not the whole nation but rather their government seat and ability to govern will be destroyed, effectively removing Russia, Turkey, Iran, and Libya, from the world stage.
That leaves Israel standing alone as the dominant authority and power in the region. Europe will be scrambling to make treaties with Israel in light of the suddenly new arrangements of oil, gas, food, and other trade flowing into Europe from the Middle East.
A leader will emerge in the Mediterranean region, presumably centered in Europe as The Revelation would indicate, but could also include an alliance of other nations around the Mediterranean all looking to make treaties with Israel. I believe that treaty will also allow Israel to build their temple on the Temple Mount – who is left right after the Ezekiel 38 war to oppose them other than verbal objections?
Natural disasters between now and then
The Revelation also details that in the midst of Europe and the Mediterranean region going through rearrangements in governments, there are 2 asteroid hits the earth takes, 1 on land and 1 in an ocean, blocking 1/3 of sunlight and moonlight – resulting in poisoning of the waters of the earth and a large dust cloud described in chapter 9 as causing a 5 month long plague of sores and famine, and wars. The Revelation says 1/4 of all people die as a result. Additionally, 16:8-9 says (in modern language) solar flares will reach to the earth and burn people and cause great heat, indicating the normally protective magnetic field covering the earth will be breached temporarily. I have a series on the natural disasters of The Revelation if interested in more information.
My point today was to look at point A, Britain’s vote to leave the EU, and to look at point Z, the European governmental structure in place at the Lord’s return. The rest is filler information and should not be our focus, but just to provide insight into where the world is headed.
Look for a rise in nationalism driven by immigration policies of liberal leaders. Look for possible talk of the core EU members forming a super state, or at least go more towards ‘oneness’. Maybe others will drop out before that, maybe they will remain basically unchanged for awhile, we don’t know. Look for economic turmoil as it gets sorted out.
Remember that the Brexit vote didn’t catch the Father by surprise, and whatever promises He has made to you, He did so knowing full well about world events, meaning what He has said will come to pass regardless of world events. Our mind should be set on doing right in all things as we seek to become more like Him every day, and watch and pray concerning events around us – but our individual focus remains on Christ in us, and living godly lives.
I refer again to something Corrie ten Boom famously said, “It is never unwise to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Amen.
Random thought next week…until then, blessings,
John Fenn
