GIVING &
SHARING NEWSLETTER January,
1990 No. 8
Prophecies
Relating to Germany and United Europe
Recent
developments in Germany and Eastern Europe are stunning! These dramatic events should stir us to
study Bible prophecy. As an ethnic
German, I am excited about the prospects for a unified Germany. However, as a student of Bible prophecy, I
am aware that these developments bode ill for the continuance of a prosperous
and religiously free world, and, more importantly, the spreading of the Good
News of the coming Messianic Kingdom.
We have long
believed that the eventual emergence of a German-led United States of Europe as
a revival of the Holy Roman Empire, engineered by the Pope of Rome, would
result in the national captivity of the Anglo-Saxon peoples of America and the
British Commonwealth, and the establishment of the beast system of the book of
Revelation. We believe that Germany is
prophetically identified with Assyria, and the United States and Britain are
Manasseh and Ephraim.
However, we
were wrong in thinking these developments would happen in the 1970s. We followed the teachings of ministers who
set incorrect dates.
The Eternal is
fulfilling His timetable, but has not revealed to mortal men the exact dates
and specific events that will occur. Yet, in a desire to have “secret
knowledge” revealed only to a chosen few, or to aggrandize religious
organizations or personal charisma, certain false prophets have, and are
continuing, to make bold prophetic claims.
They never stop setting dates and naming people who supposedly will
fulfill prophecy.
The Wall
Street Journal of December 5,
1989, covered the “Millennium Fever” sweeping religious circles as the year
A.D. 2000 approaches. Sect leaders use
prophecy to separate the sheep from the goats and bind the faithful to the
prophet. More often than not, the flock
easily adjusts to failed prophecy and forgives the deceiving leaders. A minister may continue to utter prophecies
which are later proven to be false, but the congregation “forgives” so well
that they continue to be “dumb sheep,” following a false prophet.
Prophecy
Not Written So We Could Say “I Told You So!”
With regret we
recently read a letter from a well-known Sabbath-keeping evangelist who for
years has uttered prophetic speculations. He claims other religious prophets
“were all wrong!” and that he alone has known for 35 years that a
unified Germany would lead a united Europe against the United States of
America. Without shame he crows, “I
told you so!” liberally citing earlier statements of his that appear to be
prophetic. Yet he ignores and
conveniently forgets his failures. This
is not honest! For example: Recently, West German leader Franz Josef
Strauss died. For years, this “prophet”
speculated that Strauss might be the coming new “fuehrer” of a unified Germany
and Europe. Now, he fails to admit his
prophetic failures. Yugoslavia’s former
dictator, Tito, was another erstwhile “beast.”
For years, we were told that the United Kingdom would never join the
Common Market, yet she did!
Another Bible
student said, “Keep your eyes on the Middle East . . . . As
the United States loses power, Western Europe will be forced to
unite . . . . Look for the emergence of a ‘United States of
Europe’ composed of ten inner member nations . . . . the
Antichrist . . . will become ruler of the European
confederacy. Look for the papacy to
become even more involved in world politics . . . .
Astrology, witchcraft and Oriental religions will become predominant in the
western world,” (Hal Lindsay, The Late Great Planet Earth, 1970). So there are others who believe this.
The Bible’s
admonition is to not be afraid of, not to hold in awe, a minister who utters a
prophecy that fails,
Deuteronomy 18:20-22.
Even if a prophetic interpretation comes to pass, if the prophet causes
people to quit following the true Eternal, you should not listen to him, 13:1-5. Prophecies recorded in the Bible were
written so that true believers could look back, when the events are fulfilled,
and see the hand of the Almighty. Bible
prophecy was NOT written so that vain, worldly prophets could boast, “I told
you so!”
Unfulfilled
Prophecy
A major
prophecy we look for is the signing of a peace accord which will not only
settle World War II and the Middle East conflict, but also officially end the
Cold War, resulting in the drastic dismantlement of super power military
forces. When Ephraim makes a covenant
with Assyria, Hosea 12:1,
and political leaders claim great peace in our time, then we know that sudden
destruction is coming swiftly,
I Thessalonians 5:1-4.
Before the
fall of our nation, our people must be warned by God’s true servants, Hosea 5:9, 7:12. This was not fulfilled in 1972. Nor is it being fulfilled today by those who
preach a “pabulum gospel” instead of a ringing denunciation of sin, and a call
to repentance which convicts a few but grits the teeth of most of those who
hear it. When it is the Creator’s time,
He will use faithful servants to warn us. Their prophecies and teachings will
be 100% correct.
Japan
and the “Yellow Peril”
We should
study prophecy, and not avoid the subject due to horrible abuse by false
prophets. We need to watch Germany and
Japan. Prophecies relating to these two
economic powerhouses are discussed in two useful books we are making available:
The Yellow Peril:
Or, The Orient vs. The Occident, by G.G.
Rupert. Britton, Oklahoma: Union Publishing Co., 1911. 544 pages, available from Giving &
Sharing.
There is much
that we disagree with relative to Rupert’s analysis of prophecy. His identification of Europe as the beast,
America as the false prophet, and Russia, China, Japan and the rest of the
Orient as the dragon seems difficult to prove.
Yet there is
also much to learn from Rupert. He
makes the book of Hosea come alive. In
the early 1900s, G.G. Rupert successfully predicted the eventual war
between the United States and the “Yellow Peril,” that is, Japan, which
occurred in the 1940s. Rupert said that
“Prophecy reveals that Ephraim [identified by Rupert as Protestant America]
will be trodden under foot by the hordes of the yellow races of the East,”
(page 263). As Japan’s economic
conquest of the world continues, Rupert’s concerns with the “Yellow Peril” make
sense. So does the statement in Hosea 12:1 that
Ephraim feeds after, pursues the “east wind.”
Is this a reference to bowing before the superior power of Japan and the
Orient? Revelation 16:12‑16 describes the Battle of
Armageddon, in which the “kings of the east” cross the River Euphrates. The original Greek for “east” is literally
“rising sun.” Japan, as even its flag
shows, is the “land of the rising sun.”
The Japanese are the natural leaders of eastern nations.
Made
to Dwell in Tabernacles
Rupert
corrected a misunderstanding that I had.
For years I had pointed to
Hosea 12:9 to show that Ephraim (Israel of today, which we
believe are the peoples of Anglo-Saxon America, Britain and Northwestern
Europe) will be made to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the Feast. “See,” I have said, “our nation should keep
the Feast of Tabernacles.” Yes, they
should, but the context of this scripture is prophetic. After Ephraim is
desolated by a vast army of the East, those remaining and those scattered as
slaves in captivity, will have to dwell in tabernacles (tents, shelters,
shanties) as Israel did of old when they camped in the wilderness on their way
from Egypt to the Promised Land.
Hosea 5:15, 9:3, 17 and other scriptures indicate a coming national
captivity because of our sins. A lesson to be learned from keeping the
Feast of Tabernacles is that we will never enter the Promised Land unless we
exercise humble faith and trust in the Almighty. Why not keep the Feast of Tabernacles voluntarily, now,
and not have to be forced to keep it under the duress of captivity later on.
Who Are the Germans? Their Ancient
Roots and Future Might, by Craig Martin
White. Sydney, Australia: History
Research Projects, 1992. 162
pages. Revised version of 1990 book, The
Assyrians in the Modern World.
Germany
in Prophecy
In his
thoroughly researched study of the historical origins and Bible prophecy
relating to the Germanic peoples, Craig White proves that the Assyrians and
Hittites of history are the Germans of today.
Israel, Assyria, and Egypt will be the leading nations in the millennial
kingdom, Isaiah 19:23-25.
This book is
one of the best and most interesting historical and prophetic studies we have
ever seen. We highly recommend it.
Rather than
follow sensationalism of boasting, false prophets who do not have a rational,
objective approach to the Bible, we need to seriously study history and
prophecy. Especially now that we see
the hand of the Almighty in recent European developments. Let us reject false prophets and put our
noses in the Bible. Ω