Perspective By L. Jim Tuck January 4, 2024

Economic Crisis Could Spark Rise of the Beast

  How could it be possible that the strongest economy in Europe could cause the European Union to fall into a deep depression? Express.co.uk reported in an article titled, “EU heading for crisis as situation really bad in Europe's largest economy,” “Germany is to see the least amount of growth out of all Eurozone countries with an expected increase of 0.8 percent, according to European Commission expectations.” The article further reported, “OECD economist Isabell Koske told Deutsche Welle that Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the subsequent energy crisis, impacted Germany more than other countries.” She said, "The energy crisis hit Germany more than other countries because industry plays a more important role in this country and dependence on Russian gas was much higher than in other countries."

   What is the significance of the German economy in relation to end-time prophesy?

Perspective

   Those who are educated about American history know academically that depressions can drastically change life. The Great Depression, which occurred after the Stock Market crash of 1929, saw the longest and deepest economic downturn in the history of the United States. It took from World War II in 1939 to September 1941 to finally pull the nation out of the depression. During this time, the US unemployment rate rose from virtually 0% in 1929 to a peak of 25.6% in May 1933. 15 million people were out of work; the total population of the country was only 122 million.

   This caused enormous economic hardship. Support by welfare for the unemployed was virtually nonexistent in the nation. As a result hundreds of “Hoovervilles,” which were encampments with shacks built by the homeless out of discarded cardboard, bricks and tin, cropped up near large cities.

   In 1933, before the Nazis took control of the Reichstag, around six million Germans were unemployed; the German economy was in total collapse. The German people were demoralized because factories were going broke, and they were not getting paid their wages. Hyperinflation was out of control. After Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party came into power, unemployment was outlawed, and it was against the law not to work. Every unemployed man had to take up an available job or face being sent to prison. Germany’s unemployment went from five million to zero in just three years. The Volkswagen, which means “peoples’ car,” came about as an industry to produce cheap cars for the family. People were encouraged to buy one and pay monthly payments. Women were told to stay home to care for their families, and incentives were given to make it possible.

   A down and out economy began to flourish, and it provided for the rise of the despotic leader, Adolf Hitler, who had risen to fix the depressed plight of the German people. Currently, people are feeling that financial strain in the western world because of high inflation, and many feel the political leadership is not governing with their interests at heart. It is not hard to tell when political leaders are lying, and often the grandiose promises they make tend to hurt the poor and middle class even more.

   Isaiah 10:1-4 warns unrighteous rulers: “Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, who write misfortune, which they have prescribed to rob the needy of justice, and to take what is right from the poor of My people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless. What will you do in the day of punishment, and in the desolation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your glory? Without Me they shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain.”

The Stage Is Being Set for History to Repeat Itself

In fact, political leaders make decisions which are the exact opposite of what is fiscally responsible even though the national debt has surpassed $34 trillion. California is the first state in the United States to offer health insurance to all illegal immigrants. Who will pay? Those who work! Can America sustain its spending pace for much longer before the economy collapses? The world today is much more geared to a global economy; if a major economy falls, it would mean all the economies of the world could be impacted much faster in the event of a deep depression.

   Is the stage being set for history to repeat itself? Germany, labeled the “sick man of Europe” by economists in 1998, is earning the moniker again. While leading the way into a depression for the Eurozone, it may once again produce a leader who will give the EU a way out. However, this leader could possibly be the torchbearer for a much stronger Europe. The Bible prophesies an end-of-the-age Beast system, a ten-nation combine, with a greater economic strength, and full military power, which will be combined with the religion of the false prophet and will hold sway over the whole world. Europe is likely to be the setting for this great system which will become the major player in the world and will be nearly unstoppable. The only hope of subduing or destroying it will be the return of Jesus Christ.

   In prophecy, the modern descendants of Jacob inherited great blessings because of the faithfulness of Abraham. After he demonstrated his obedience and faith in God by his willingness to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, God made him a promise: “By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son— blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.” (Genesis 22:16-17)

   In Leviticus 26 God told ancient Israel if they kept His commandments, He would give them rich blessings and peace in the land, but if they did not obey His laws, He would visit the penalties for their sins upon them. God warned them: “And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. I will break the pride of your power…” (Leviticus 26:19)

Modern Assyria in Prophecy Is to Punish Modern Israel

   Ancient Assyria was the empire God used to execute punishment upon the Israel of old. This occurred in 721-718 BC when the ten tribes of the northern kingdom in Samaria were taken captive by the Assyria Empire. Later, in 604 to 585 BC, the Babylonian Empire took the southern kingdom of Judah captive because they too sinned and turned away from God.

   The peoples of the United States and Britain and other descendants of Jacob and Joseph are set to be punished for their sins in this modern evil time. The modern descendants of Assyria are of the Germanic peoples. This gives us cause to keep our eyes on Germany and why they are so germane to prophecy. In Ezekiel 5:12 God inspires the prophet to record what will happen to the modern peoples of Israel: “One-third of you shall die of the pestilence, and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them.”

   Ezekiel 6:6 further tells them their cities will be laid waste and the high places, their places of worship, will be destroyed. Their works will be devastated. We know these events are speaking of the end time; as Ezekiel was already in captivity when he was given this prophecy by the River Chebar in Babylon (Ezekiel 1:3).

   Ezekiel speaks of the end time when God would once again bless Britain and the United States. They would rise to great power in the world, but they, like Ancient Israel and Judah, would turn away from God (Genesis 48:15- 20). God refers to them as an ungodly or a hypocritical nation in Isaiah 10:6. We have “In God We Trust” on our money, but we don’t really put our trust in or obey God, nor do the other Israelitish nations.

   The prophesy of Isaiah 10:5-7 gives America and Britain an ominous warning: “ Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger and the staff in whose hand is My indignation. I will send him against an ungodly nation, and against the people of My wrath I will give him charge, to seize the spoil, to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Yet he does not mean so, nor does his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and cut off not a few nations.”

   As we continue to watch these events unfold, God encourages us through the apostle John: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world---the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life---is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (I John 2:15-17)

   This is my Perspective. Have a happy Sabbath and weekend!