The Rise of Germany: Why Does it Matter?

In the aftermath of World War II, Germany was carved up into East and West. There were vast differences between the communist ideology of the Soviet Union and the democratic ideas of the United States and the Western Allies. The division was formalized through agreements made at the Yalta and Potsdam conferences in 1945.

Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the occupation of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union. Over time, the differing ideologies led to the establishment of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1949, solidifying the split during the Cold War. Germany became a focal point of the Cold War and the division between East and West became more pronounced.

For forty-five years, from 1945 to 1990, East and West Germany were partitioned from one another by the Berlin Wall. German reunification took place when East and West Germany were united on October 3, 1990 to form the present Federal Republic of Germany.

The denazification of Germany

In 1945, after the Allied powers won victory over Germany in World War II, German society had to be purged of all Nazi influences. Germans had to be educated in democratic values. It was easy to change Nazi laws and take away Nazi symbols, books and change physically visible things, but the real problem was what to do with the millions of Nazi Party members. Also, of the 70 million population, there were millions more who belonged to Nazi organizations. Nazism was more than a political party; it was a cultural ideology. 

These efforts in reeducation were instrumental in causing Germany to be a liberal, leftist-leaning nation. But things may be changing. In recent elections, voters have rejected a left-leaning government. The conservative opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, has won a victory in the German national election. Germany’s snap election, triggered by the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s left-leaning coalition, has resulted in a sharp rightward shift, and the next German government is almost certainly to be led by the conservative victors.

What is the significance of this development?

U.S. stance towards Europe shifts under President Trump

U.S. Vice President Vance delivered a message to Europe at the Munich Security Conference stating that the United States fears Europe is retreating from free speech and using Soviet-era words like “misinformation” and “disinformation.” He also chastened Europe for not doing more to solve the mass migration problem in Europe. He said in his speech, “The biggest security threat facing Europe was not Russia or China, he said, but the ‘threat from within.’”

Of course, they did not agree with that assessment, but it did stun the leaders of Europe to realize they should not depend on the U.S. to defend them. United States Vice President Vance chose not to meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the Munich Security Conference, marking a serious diplomatic rebuke to the leader of the host country, but rather he met with Friedrich Merz, Chairman of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) who will likely be Germany’s new chancellor.

Friedrich Merz recently expressed concerns about the long-term viability of NATO and the E.U.-U.S. relationship. During a lobby briefing on Monday, Merz commented, “US President Donald Trump is ‘indifferent’ to Europe and that NATO in its current form may not survive.”

Politico.com reported on February 23, 2025, in an article, “Germany’s Merz vows ‘independence’ from Trump’s America, warning NATO may soon be dead,” that:

“Friedrich Merz did not even wait for the final results in Germany's election before delivering what could well be a defining verdict on U.S. President Donald Trump, consigning Europe's 80-year alliance with the United States to the past. The Trump administration does not care about Europe and is aligning with Russia, said Merz, who is on course to become Germany's new leader. The continent, he warned, must urgently strengthen its defenses and potentially even find a replacement for NATO—within months.

"Merz's comments mark a historic watershed: They reveal how deeply Trump has shaken the political foundations of Europe, which has depended on American security guarantees since 1945. If he follows through on his rhetoric after assembling a new government in the coming weeks, Merz will steer Europe in a radical new direction at a critical time for the security of Ukraine and the wider region. ‘My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA,’ Germany's chancellor-in-waiting said.”

What will Merz do?

What radical new direction will this leader choose to take Europe? Will he embrace a much more conservative ideology independent of the values of other western nations? Germany may have lofty aspirations in the future with the largest economy in Europe. In 2023 Germany had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over 4.18 trillion Euros.

Germany has now turned a corner. It will no doubt assert itself and lead any consortium of nations in Europe which would form if NATO falls apart. This is not to say Merz is the coming Beast of Revelation, but someone will be the catalyst to forge a union of nations which could morph into the ten-nation combine of the Beast described in the book of Revelation. This Beast combine will deceive its citizens into believing the punishment and plagues of God are the works of the antichrist.

This will not only be a military and a political union, but a false prophet of the great false church will work in tandem with the Beast. The False Prophet will perform lying wonders, “so that he makes, ‘fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men’" (Revelation. 13:13).

Why does it matter?

Events are occurring in Europe which may be a precursor to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. The seventh head of the Holy Roman Empire will soon arise. It will emerge from Central Europe where all of the other Roman systems have existed. This evil end-time system will rear its ugly head just before the second coming of Jesus Christ. It will be composed of ten kings who exercise rule temporarily with the Beast. The kings will reign over either 10 nations or combines of nations for a short space of time.

Revelation 17:12 reveals: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast." The time setting is in the near future when man is about to destroy all life from the earth by a catastrophic nuclear war.

At the return of Jesus Christ, the nations will be angry with Him. Mankind will be in the midst world war. They will turn all their weaponry and actually fight the returning Lord of all life (Revelation 11:18)!

Revelation 17:14 says, "These [10 kings] will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."

Jesus Christ triumphs

After Jesus subdues the nations, Revelation 19:20 states the Beast and False Prophet will be executed: “Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”

When this happens, the beginning of the Millenium can begin—a time of peace and prosperity for all. We will learn war no more (Isaiah 2:4). Micah 4:3-4 greatly encourages us: “He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”

May God speed that day.