Back in March, the European Union discussed establishing a so-called rapid reaction force, with around 5,000 troops “to be swiftly deployed in a crisis.” This rapid reaction force is likely just the beginning. For some time now, the idea of a European army has being promoted within the European Union. Former German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen has argued that an integrated EU army is going to become a reality. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has made it clear in the past that the EU needs to collaborate on weapons systems development. The Germans have even floated the idea that France’s permanent seat on the UN Security Council should be converted into a European Union seat. That’s quite presumptuous, isn’t it?
The Antichrist’s empire is described in Revelation as a beast with seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:12 says the ten horns are ten kings that will rule with the Antichrist for a short time. The ten kingdoms will come out of the geographic area of the Roman Empire. How do we know that? Let’s take a look at Daniel’s vision of the four beasts. Thankfully, we’re given the interpretation: the various beasts represent successive empires. Put differently, each empire conquered the one that came before it. The Babylonian Empire was a lion, which was followed by the Medo-Persian Empire represented by a bear. Next, the Greek Empire, symbolized by a leopard, would reign. Finally, the Roman Empire was represented by a beast with iron teeth and ten horns. Here’s the interesting part: the ten horns are ten rulers that come out of the fourth empire.
On a side note, it makes sense that the Roman Empire would figure into the end times somehow. After all, the Roman Empire carried out the crucifixion of Christ, destroyed the Temple and persecuted early Christians. Likewise, Jesus ushered in the Kingdom of God while Rome was still in power. This is significant, because before Daniel’s vision, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream which prophesied the same succession of empires. In his dream, he saw a statue. The empires were represented by different parts of the statue. They were also different metals. During the time of the Roman Empire, symbolized by legs of iron and feet of iron mixed with clay, the Lord was going to fully establish the Kingdom of God. This was represented by a stone made without human hands which destroyed the statue and then became a mountain. The stone made without human hands that crushed the statue is the Kingdom of God and it has been expanding ever since Christ ushered it in.
Anyway, Rome controlled North Africa, the Middle East and most of Western Europe. That said, the Antichrist is going to defeat many countries in North Africa and the Middle East during the Daniel 11:22 War. Likewise, the ten kingdoms will be to the west of Israel. They’ll also be powerful enough to stop the Antichrist in his first attempt to invade Jerusalem. Eventually, the Antichrist will take control of this ten-kingdom coalition and remove three of the rulers. They’ll then attack Babylon the Great together. Putting it all together, the ten kingdoms come out of Western Europe.
With this in mind, it’s interesting that the United Kingdom isn’t going to be a part of this European army. In the past, some British politicians have mocked the EU army, while others have labeled it a threat. Regardless, the EU army is Germany’s desperate attempt at trying to maintain control over Europe. It’s unlikely to succeed, but someday, could an EU army be used to attack Babylon the Great?