Gerhard Schröder was voted into a second term in the office of German chancellor in national elections September 22. But he could still lose that office in a short time.
Here is what Steven Komarow wrote in USA Today, September 23 (emphasis mine): “[Schröder’s challenger Edmund] Stoiber stopped short of conceding in a speech to supporters in Munich, but he predicted that Schröder’s majority will be too slim to form a lasting coalition.
“‘Should the result not allow us to form a government, then I predict before you that this Schröder government will rule for only a very short time,’ Stoiber said. …
“The electoral math here can be complex. The chancellor is elected by the Bundestag, or parliament. Schröder will form a coalition with the third-place Greens.
“It will be a weak mandate at best, reflecting what polls showed was voters’ ambivalence. In pre-election surveys, voters supported Stoiber’s policies more, but Schröder was the more popular leader.”
I wrote a booklet titled Daniel—Unsealed at Last! (a copy of which we will send to you free upon request). Daniel is a book only for the end time (Dan. 12:4, 9). Our booklet explains Daniel’s prophecy about a powerful leader who is to rise on the world scene and lead a European Union more powerful than America or Russia. His number-one enemy will be the U.S.
How this man is prophesied to come to power is utterly fascinating and frightening.
He is going to be a type of the ancient Antiochus. He will appear on the scene in the “last end” (Dan. 8:19). Notice how he comes to power: “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries” (Dan. 11:21). Let’s not forget, this is a prophecy for the time we are living in right now.
This man doesn’t come to power the honorable way—by being voted into office. He takes it dishonorably! He will work behind the scenes and come to power by flatteries—not votes!
What does that mean? Mr. Stoiber could now work to wreck Gerhard Schröder’s fragile and weak coalition. The public would not even be aware of his efforts.
I believe that most German leaders think more like Stoiber than Schröder. Even the German people like his policies better!
That could make it easier for Stoiber (or conceivably someone else) to maneuver behind the scenes.
Regardless, some leader is going to hijack the European Union! The person who leads Germany will also lead Europe. Germany already dominates Europe—to a degree that is shameful, if you consider its past. Remember, it started both world wars—in which 50 to 60 million people were killed. Nobody should forget or ignore that past—including the German people!
If we don’t learn from the past, we are condemned to repeat it.
Hitler also did some behind-the-scenes manipulating to come to power. That method has worked well in German history.
Today we are more intent on watching terrorism coming from nations in the Middle East. But that is not the enemy we need to fear most of all. In many ways, it is only a decoy. There is a much greater enemy that continues to rise in Europe.
Herbert W. Armstrong prophesied of Germany’s rise to frightening power again, even when they were beaten into rubble at the end of World War ii. This time they will be far more powerful than they were in the Second World War.
Since Mr. Armstrong’s death, the Philadelphia Church of God has continued to prophesy of Germany’s rise to unprecedented power.
But we need to understand why Germany and Europe are rising in power. God is going to use them to punish the very sinful nations of America, Britain and Israel—unless we repent of our sins!
We are facing the most terrifying times ever on Earth. Our number-one question is that of human survival. We must wake up and beseech our loving God for help. There is no other hope.
Germany is the number-one political power we need to watch. To understand this subject in more depth, write for our free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.