The Bible teaches that the Roman Empire must be reborn just prior to the return of Yeshua. Many well-known theologians teach that this is taking place in the European Union. Some of these Bible teachers and pastors include David Jeremiah, Kerwin Lutzer, Tony Evans, and the late Charles Ryrie. However, why did they believe this? Daniel 2 and 7 teach that there will be four empires that rise up in world history one after another.  In Chapter 7, Daniel sees a vision of four empires symbolized by four beasts that come up out of the sea.  However, God defeats the fourth beast and sets up an eternal Kingdom. Daniel 2 describes the same four kingdoms but from a different angle, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a giant statue. The statues body had four sections each of which represent a different Empire then a rock hit the feet of the statue causing it to come tumbling down. Daniel 2 tells us that the first Empire is Babylon. Furthermore, imagery in Daniel 7 matches what we know from history of the 2nd and 3rd empires.  Finally, the 4th Kingdom is terrifying and dreadful which matches what we know of the historical Roman Empire. If Babylon is the first Empire then the Roman Empire is the fourth Kingdom. Conservative Bible scholars largely agree that the fourth Kingdom is the Roman Empire. God destroys the final ruler of the Roman Empire when he sets up his eternal Kingdom, but this poses a serious problem.

The Roman Empire does not exist anymore, and God did not destroy it supernaturally. Did God’s Word fail? Let us take a closer look. Daniel 7 says “I saw in the night visions and behold with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him in to him was given Dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples nations and languages should serve him. His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion, which shall not pass away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. Yeshua uses the same wording to describe his second coming Yeshua says and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory the Roman Empire is defeated at the second coming of Christ. In order for this to happen, history must be reborn in the end times. This is why Dr. John Wahlberg former president of Dallas Theological Seminary anticipated the revival of the Roman Empire. However, where are the end times Roman Empire located? The Bible says that the fourth kingdom comes up out of the Great Sea. This biblical term refers to the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, historians know from any map where the historical Roman Empire was. However, can we be more specific on the location of the end times Roman Empire? The final ruler of the Roman Empire is the end-time Antichrist Daniel 11:40 through 45 described his military conquests. The Antichrist is attacked by Egypt which is south of Israel and by a powerful force north of Israel. During his counter-attack, the Antichrist sweeps through many countries he eventually invades Israel then he goes on to take over Egypt, and various parts of North Africa. However, if the Antichrist goes to war with all of these places then where is he attacking? Where is his home base from which he conducts his military operations the only place left is Western Europe.

This calls our attention to the European Union in 1957 six European nations came together and signed the Treaty of Rome this formed the basis for what the European Union is today. The European Union has many features of statehood including a single currency board a free travel an executive branch that proposes laws in its own legislature.  The European Parliament in the EU is even taking steps to unify militarily. Jose Manuel Barroso who was president of the EU executive branch for 10 years compared the EU to an empire. He said sometimes we like to compare the EU, as a creation to the organization of empire we have the dimension of empire what we have is the first non-imperial empire. Not only does the EU exist on the right place on the prophetic map, but it also exists at the right time in history alongside end time Israel. The Bible predicts that the Jews will be regathered to Israel in the end times after a very long exile. The Bible talks about this gathering when Ezekiel says whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. This was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel was reborn as a nation. Isaiah also talks about the rebirth of Israel when he says “can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.” The European Union qualifies as the end times Roman Empire for three reasons. First, it is a political organization that makes laws for many different countries. Second, it exists on the right place on the map in Western Europe. Third, it exists at the right time in history alongside end time Israel. However, how can the EU be considered the Roman Empire after the entire EU is weak and divided it even has a member country that is trying to lead? As we will see, the Bible predicted that the end times Roman Empire would have troubles like this during the final generation.

ANALYSIS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

This author does not believe that the European Union is the new Rome. The prophet John said, “They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction” (Revelation 17: 10-11, NIV). These words mean that there will be a major power in place before the rise of the new Rome. This author believes that this power is the European Union, which will last for a little season before the New Rome emerges. If this authors interpretation of Revelation 10-11 is correct, then the European Union will breakup and become part of the new Rome. This author believes the New Rome will likely include a western leg and an eastern leg. The western leg will include countries like Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and England. The easte

rn leg will include Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, and Egypt. Both eastern and western legs of the new Rome will include many other countries not mentioned here, but the strong iron countries will likely include Germany, France, England, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, while the weak clay countries will be  Spain, Italy, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt.

PRIMARY SOURCES: David Wilkinson Videos on the European Union. Unleashing the Beast by Perry Stone. The 8th Kingdom by Perry Stone