According to present plans, the "Chunnel"—the rail link between Europe and England—will open in 1993. Already the two tunnels under the English Channel are connected and the huge task of completing the project is going forward. When completed, trains will travel from Paris to the tunnel at 180 miles an hour, and proceed through the tunnel at 100 miles an hour and on to London. Europe will then be all linked together by rail with high speed passenger trains, and freight will move swiftly also.
Surely this will influence the revival of the coming Roman empire. The prophecy of Dan. 7 gives the political view and Rev. 13 shows the moral aspect of this empire. Both the empire and its head are termed "beasts", because like a beast they know not God.
The personal beast, called the little horn in Dan. 7, will take control. His government will be one of the seven forms of government of ancient Rome, but also he will be the eighth as getting his power directly from Satan. For one hour (a short period) he will have contemporary with him the ten horns of Europe. Horns are a symbol of power, and in Dan. 7:2424And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. (Daniel 7:24) it says: "The ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise.”
At the present time it seems that action is steadily, and under great pressure, pushing toward the time when prophecies concerning the earth will be fulfilled. European federalism was an influence in bringing down Margaret Thatcher from her position as Prime Minister. For about 12 years she had ruled mostly for England and resisted European power or merging with Europe. But we see that man is driven by his own lusts and fear, and so political power is driven by economics. It is in the economic interest of Europeans to unite.
As the end of the age approaches, we see both in eastern and western Europe the will of the people rising up to have their way. We should remember that this is not to be the spirit of the assembly. In this regard, Margaret Thatcher made a most interesting statement in a speech to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
Nowhere in the Bible is the word "democracy" mentioned. Ideally, when Christians meet, as Christians, to take counsel together, their purpose is not (or should not be) to ascertain what is the mind of the majority, but what is the mind of the Holy Spirit-something which may be quite different.
We fully agree with this statement. The Church (assembly) is not a democracy. It is the Lord, by the Spirit, who is in charge and He always guides us by the Scriptures and in them "we have the mind of Christ." 1 Cor. 2:1616For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16).
C. Buchanan