The End of Liberté?

All is not well in Europe. Debt woes and insolvency fears have swept the continent. Tough austerity measures have led to growing social unrest. There are increasing fears that as financial instability spreads from country to country, the "contagion" may push Europe back into recession—and that, combined with European and American debt problems, this could lead to another worldwide Great Depression (London Telegraph, "City fears of 'Great Depression Mark II,'" May 21, 2010)!

To limit the contagion, Europe has enacted painful tax hikes, payroll cuts and welfare reductions (Reuters, "Austerity measures around the Eurozone," June 8, 2010). However, it is Germany that is boldly pushing these policies. Germany's growing assertiveness has stunned the French, who find themselves on the sidelines—watching while in matters of policy and economy Europe finds itself "relying almost entirely on Germany to drive growth" (Financial Times, "German strength drives eurozone recovery," August 2, 2010).

No matter how the E.U. evolves through the current crisis, Scripture reveals it will not be France at the helm of the final European empire. Rather, it will be a powerful and resurgent Germany. And this new world order will be catastrophic for France, Britain and the United States!

France, Britain and the U.S. are brother nations—much more literally than most people understand! But just how is their history connected? What is ahead for them?

France's Past Glory

Understanding France's history provides insight into its European aspirations. France has long considered itself the custodian and protector of Western civilization, and has taken for granted a dominant role in Europe. It is partially because of this heritage that France aspires to future glory.

Rising in the wake of the ancient Roman Empire's sudden collapse in 476ad, the Frankish Merovingian warrior dynasty ruled from Paris, establishing order even while much of the rest of Europe was suffering the horrors of constant barbarian invasion—and even barbarian rule.

It was the Frankish ruler Charles Martel who—in 732, at the Battle of Tours—defeated the Umayyad armies of Islam, which had previously conquered Spain. This marked the end of Islam's incursion into Europe from the west, and set the stage for the powerful Carolingian dynasty, which had come into power by 751. The famous Carolingian ruler Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 800.

In 1066, after England's King Edward died childless, his cousin William, the Duke of Normandy, invaded and was crowned England's king at Westminster Abbey. France and England continued to maintain a tight connection—sharing lands, royal bloodlines, customs and laws, and participating in numerous Crusades into the Holy Land.

Eventually, the French would become embroiled in the Hundred Years' War. The House of Valois fought to expel the House of Plantagenet. By 1453, the House of Plantagenet was defeated, and so was the Plantagenet dream of a unified French-English empire. From then on, the French and English kingdoms would grow as separate nations, but in spite of intermittent conflicts they would share a common heritage and an enduring bond. As we will see, they also share a common future.

With the French Revolution in 1789 came the battle cry: liberté, égalité, fraternité! France today sees itself not only as a nation with a proud historic past, but also as one whose values ought to be at the heart of future European power. For all these reasons and more, French leaders believe their nation deserves a leadership role in the Europe of the future. But Bible prophecy reveals that France's dreams will not be realized within the coming European empire!

Empire of Iron and Clay

Germany is taking the lead in enacting strict financial regulatory measures to bolster the European financial system. Germany is the most powerful economy in the European Union, and the most bold. Germany is most powerfully driving economic and political unification. And Bible prophecy helps us understand that it is under the aegis of a powerful German-dominated European Union that the final resurrection of the ancient "Holy Roman Empire" will occur. To learn more about this fascinating topic, please request our free booklet, The Beast of Revelation: Myth, Metaphor or Soon-Coming Reality?

As God's Church has long warned, this final revival of the old Holy Roman Empire will be an uneasy alliance of ten national or regional "kings" who will give their authority to one supreme king (known in Scripture as the "beast"), whose armies will be among those fighting Christ at His return (Revelation 17:12–14, 17)! Your Bible describes this end-time superpower as a mixture "partly of iron and partly of clay" (Daniel 2:33). This empire will briefly lead the world in economic prosperity (Revelation 18:3). And it will quickly turn to military dominance (Revelation 13:4).

But, what of France? And what of England, the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other descendants of ancient Jacob?

In Matthew 24, Jesus Christ warned of the coming Great Tribulation—a time also described as "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jeremiah 30:7). What does this mean? As long-time Tomorrow's World readers understand, the U.S. and Great Britain are modern-day descendants of the patriarch Jacob (whose name God changed to "Israel"), through his son Joseph. Modern France is largely descended from Jacob's first-born son, Reuben, whose descendants—known as Gauls—migrated to northwestern Europe long before Charlemagne, hundreds of years before Christ, along with remnants of other Israelite tribes, including their cousins the Celts.

Scripture shows that although Reuben's descendants would partake in the blessings promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the first-born son's birthright blessing of future national greatness was transferred to Reuben's nephews, "the sons of Joseph" (Genesis 49:3–4; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2). To learn more about the modern-day descendants of ancient Jacob, please request our free booklet, The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy.

Tragedy and Glory Ahead!

Thousands of years of history, and the pages of today's newspapers, are setting the stage for the fulfillment of Bible prophecy regarding France and its European neighbors. Neither France nor Britain will lead a united Europe. Rather, they will find themselves increasingly at odds with—and eventually subservient to—a resurgent Germany.

History shows that Germany (which can be identified in Scripture as the modern descendant of ancient Assyria) has in the past been willing to act unilaterally, and aggressively, to advance its interests. Prophecy shows that it will again, while the nations descended from ancient Israel will together "stumble in their iniquity" (Hosea 5:5)!

France, Britain, America and the rest of "modern Jacob" have much more to fear than a "double-dip recession" or even a terrible, devastating "Great Depression II." Absent true repentance, these nations are destined to partake of the "time of Jacob's trouble"—and will exchange their liberté for austerity. God will use a German-led European empire to punish modern Jacob for its sins (Isaiah 11:10–12; 48; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 17:12–13).

But there is good news, in the end! Jesus Christ will then return and redeem the entire house of Israel. He will smash the Beast power and rescue Jacob's descendants from bondage (Jeremiah 31:8–11; Daniel 2:33–35; Revelation 18:5–8). Then, the "Son of the Highest" will sit on "the throne of His father David," and "He will reign over the house of Jacob forever" (Luke 1:32–33)! He will establish His perfect, righteous kingdom on this earth (Romans 14:11; Revelation 5:13), for all nations and all peoples (Isaiah 11:9; 19:23–25)!

Will the ideals of true liberté, égalité and fraternité ever be fulfilled? Yes! In the coming Kingdom of God!