Two Kinds of Vision
French historian Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in his book Democracy in America that most historians are too preoccupied with events and ideas, and not enough with extraordinary leaders. He realized that great leaders with vision must be recognized for changing the course of history.
One such example of visionary leadership was Winston Churchill. He warned the West about the German-led Holy Roman Empire for almost a decade leading up to World War ii. The British people finally elected him prime minister just before it was too late. He saved Western civilization!
Churchill called the war unnecessary. Adolf Hitler had violated the Versailles Treaty and other agreements, yet the West continued to let him go unpunished. Churchill knew that decisive action to stop Hitler would have prevented World War ii entirely. Waiting to confront Hitler allowed him to rapidly build up his power, making him much harder to defeat.
We all need to learn from this history.
Historical Vision
Historian John Lukacs called Churchill a visionary. Nobody had the foresight he did. God highly prioritizes vision: “Where there is no vision, the people perish …” (Proverbs 29:18). The Western world almost perished because Churchill was the only one with any vision!
Both individually and collectively, you need vision. The two most important kinds of vision are historical and biblical. You need both to become the kind of leader God expects. The vision you build can far exceed Churchill’s!
Churchill was a rare politician. He warned about the rise of the sixth head of the Holy Roman Empire. (Our predecessor, Herbert W. Armstrong, warned about the coming seventh head. Request our free brochure He Was Right to learn about his lifelong track record of accurate biblical forecasts.)
“Foresight in politics is rare …. Perhaps; but, at any rate, Churchill’s foresights were historical rather than political,” Lukacs wrote in his book Churchill: Visionary. Statesman. Historian. Churchill’s historical vision set him apart from all other politicians.
Churchill was offended when the war cabinet considered negotiating a peace deal with Hitler. British leadership couldn’t see any hope of victory! We came so close to losing World War ii. If Britain had surrendered, it would have been too late for America to get involved and conquer the Nazis. Churchill was the one man who prevented Britain from giving in! To the people’s credit, they followed him and fought. Lukacs wrote:
But Churchill did not let go; and he had his way. That was the greatest turning point—a turning point, more than a milestone—in his career. It may have been the greatest turning point in the history of the Second World War. During the succeeding months Churchill and Britain defied Hitler’s Third Reich almost alone.
Churchill didn’t become prime minister until May 10, 1940—eight months after World War ii began. The war could have been lost that very moment had Churchill lacked vision. But he could see what the world would become if Britain surrendered to Germany.
On June 18, Churchill delivered his famous “finest hour” speech. “But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science,” he warned. The Nazis performed sickening experiments on living human beings! They valued human life no more than the lives of dogs and cats! Churchill would have rather died choking on his own blood than surrender to them!
Churchill could see Hitler’s vicious hatred for the Jews while many couldn’t bring themselves to acknowledge the atrocities he was committing. Hitler wanted to blot out the Jewish people, yet the pacifist Brits tried to justify surrendering to him! This was a pathetic time in the history of Britain—and America too. We had to be bombed into the war!
Churchill’s vision wasn’t political; it was historical. He wasn’t playing political games. For most of his career, he did the opposite of what would be considered smart politically. In 1924, he was concerned to see young Germans marching and singing about getting revenge for Germany’s defeat in World War i—a war started by Germany. In 1930, three years before Hitler became chancellor of Germany, Churchill could see the threat he posed. No one else was thinking about Germany at all! Churchill was completely alone and scorned just for telling the truth about what was coming.
How important is historical vision in your personal life—your job, your family? Learning from history will help you avoid making the mistakes of the past. The past can guide your present and future.
Biblical Vision
Churchill had astounding historical vision, but he had almost no biblical vision. The late educator and theologian Herbert W. Armstrong warned even before Hitler was defeated about a final resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire to appear after Hitler. He knew his Bible, which foretells of far worse suffering soon to afflict the world if humans don’t start listening to God. For over 50 years, he warned. Most people didn’t listen.
Today, God is warning mankind one final time, giving us one last chance to repent. The coronavirus has badly shaken Europe. As problem after problem rocks the Continent, the people will turn to authoritarian leaders. The European Union now consists of 27 member nations. Your Bible prophesies that only 10 kings will be united in a formidable European power bloc. You can count on this happening very soon!
“And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space” (Revelation 17:10). Mr. Armstrong came on the scene at the time of the sixth head of the Holy Roman Empire: Hitler. Hitler has come and gone. Europe has become a dominant force once again. It only lacks a strongman to lead the seventh resurrection of its beloved empire (Daniel 8:23). Mr. Armstrong warned about this man seizing power and causing destruction!
Hitler taught that the Germans were God’s chosen people. He brought the crown jewels of Charlemagne from Vienna, Austria, to Nuremberg, Germany, in 1938. “Hitler had brought from Vienna, after 140 years, the insignia of the First Reich—the imperial crown, the orb of empire, the scepter and the imperial sword,” John Toland wrote in Hitler. “At the presentation of these symbols of imperialism he solemnly vowed that they would remain in Nuremberg forever.” These relics represented a vision of global domination. Hitler strove to pattern his Third Reich after Charlemagne’s First Reich.
Today, Europeans openly express their desire for another Charlemagne to take charge. The Charlemagne-Hitler connection is ignored! (To learn more about this disturbing history as it relates to Bible prophecy, request my free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.)
We should be very concerned when European leaders like Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz admit their religion guides their politics. That’s the essence of the Holy Roman Empire! The leader of Austria—which, through the Habsburg dynasty, led the fifth resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire—aligns his decisions with the Catholic faith. As I wrote in the October 2018 Philadelphia Trumpet: “This story should be the headline of every news media on this planet!” (“The Holy Roman Empire Goes Public—Big Time!”).
The late Otto von Habsburg, a descendant of the Habsburg dynasty and a good friend of Mr. Armstrong’s, said: “We possess a European symbol which belongs to all nations of Europe equally. This is the crown of the Holy Roman Empire, which embodies the tradition of Charlemagne.” Charlemagne waded through rivers of blood to control Europe and convert pagans. His own inner circle was shocked by his brutal violence!
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, perhaps soon to be the strongman of Europe, said in a 2017 speech that Germans must remember their history “with its dark and bright sides” and take an “unapologetic stand for our culture.” If you listen, you can hear the rumbling of the Holy Roman Empire beneath the surface!
The strongman is coming, you can be sure. “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people” (Daniel 8:23-24). The real power behind this man is Satan!
We must remember why the Holy Roman Empire continues to ravage the world: “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (Revelation 17:17). God inspires their thoughts about ruling the world. He will use this evil empire to correct all mankind. He holds His loyal people accountable for delivering this warning.
The Bible talks about the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. This bad news is also good news! “And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand” (Daniel 8:25).
Christ will return to end the Holy Roman Empire and bring mankind the peace and joy we have always wanted. The King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 17:14) will stop all plagues, wars and hatred forever and ever!