Greetings,
This week we are awed by the momentous events on the world stage. The British people opted to leave the European Union and now there appears to be great uncertainty as to what it all means. What is clear is that Europe is reshaping itself. As the dust settles and calmer heads hopefully prevail, maybe some sense and order will emerge. We know what ultimately will come out of this – a beast will rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. This will be the prophesied resurrection of the Roman Empire – a political entity. It will be accompanied by another beast which has two horns like a lamb but speaks like a dragon – a religious entity. Together they form the re-establishment of the Holy Roman Empire. We know in general where world events are headed but we do not know the specifics — particularly in terms of timing.
What is the appropriate reaction for God’s people? One overriding factor that must be considered in our response is that it is God who orders events. We must be careful not to try to fill in specifics from what we only know in a general sense. What do you know about what is happening in Europe right now? For most of us we know what the media has fed us – and some of this changes even in the course of a single day. We simply do not have access to all the facts. Undoubtedly there are some strategies being planned behind closed doors (and have been for some time) of which we have no knowledge. The politico-religious entity may come sooner or it may come later depending upon God’s timing.
The prophet Daniel informs us that it is God who “changes the times and the seasons;” and that it is He who “removes kings and raises up kings” (Daniel 2:21). This means that God controls the circumstances and timing of setting up and casting down human leaders. The development of world events is in God’s hand. Completely in sync with this is the fact that God also provides wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding (verse 21). Does this wisdom and knowledge mean we can know with certainty the specifics of how the reshaping of Europe will unfold? Or does it mean we can exercise emotional control and focus our wisdom on the greater will of God rather than the unfolding events themselves?
As we ponder our way forward under growing instability, an old nautical term comes to mind: “Steady as she goes!” This statement is the direction given by a ship’s captain to the helmsman to keep a ship on its current course. The helmsman is to observe the compass direction on the present heading and maintain that course regardless of gusts of wind or cross currents. Not only has our “Captain” ordered “Steady as she goes” but He has also determined the compass heading we are to maintain. Jesus Christ is our Captain and our compass heading. The winds and currents to push us off course are strong indeed – “till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure and fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things unto Him who is the head – Christ” (Ephesians 4:13-15). Many will be tempted to jump into predicting outcomes of events as some have done in the past. As one COG site declared – “The Rise of a German Superstate! … All that is lacking now is the strong leader – the coming Fuhrer!” Can we be sure that the ten toes of Daniel’s image refer to political states as we know them today?
We also need to focus on our understanding of God’s plan of salvation (the good news) that God has revealed through Israel and that Israel has turned its back on. What is happening in Europe has as much to do with Ephraim’s rejection of the compass heading provided by God as it does with any rising superstate. The beast power will be a rod in the hand of God to bring correction to Israel through punishment. The real message of Europe is that God is reconciling mankind to Himself. We have been given that understanding – what are we doing with it? Personally I am more concerned about the state of the Church than I am about predicting the next steps of unfolding prophecy. Steady as she goes!
Warm Regards,
Brian Orchard
