“Breathtaking” EU-wide Corruption!

A European Union study on governmental corruption revealed that it costs the union over €120 billion annually (BBC, February 3, 2014). “In Croatia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, between 6% and 29% of respondents said they had been asked for a bribe, or had been expected to pay one, in the past 12 months. There were also high levels of bribery in Poland (15%), Slovakia (14%) and Hungary (13%),” often in healthcare (ibid.). Reasons cited for the high corruption rates included: “existing rules on conflicts of interest are inadequately enforced,” and “quality of corruption investigations varies widely across the EU” (ibid.). There was no mention of poor character and dishonesty in elected officials.

Isaiah reveals that end-time leaders will be “shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain, from his own territory” (Isaiah 56:11). Of course, non-Israelites and their leaders have these same character flaws. Is it any wonder that “the creation itself” yearns to be “delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21)?

Christ will return one day soon and finally the world will have a leader who will “reign in righteousness (Isaiah 32:1; 11:4), and with the needs and future of all people being the driving force of His rule. For more on this exciting future time, be sure to watch our telecast entitled: “Blessings of Righteous Government.”