The Future Of the United States And Europe Through The Lens Of The Apocalypse
by Norbert Lieth
Could it be that the United States will have to surrender her supreme position in the world to Europe and come down to the level of other nations? Is a new empire rising up from out of the sea of nations through this situation, and is a completely New World Order coming into being?
Two Bible texts form the foundation of this message:
"And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood: and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed" (Revelation 8:8-9).
"And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast" (Revelation 13:1-3).
The following exposition is according to my understanding of the Scriptures at this time, and I make no claim to its being complete. It is an attempt to explain biblical prophecy that should be looked upon as pointing in the direction of its fulfillment, the details of which may, however, be fulfilled differently. As the prophetic statements of the Bible are very complex, the interpretation can only be "in part" on the grounds of our human limitations. The best interpretation is always the fulfillment itself, and this will surely come to pass.
I am aware, of course, that some of the things you will be reading do not fit into the present world constellation, but that is the wonderful thing about Bible prophecy: God is over and above all human powers of imagination and politics. This is how it was with the Babylonian empire. When it was flourishing the most, God's prophets proclaimed its downfall, which took place rapidly (compare Daniel 5).
The difficulty of discerning between literal and symbolic exposition
It is not easy to find a key that opens to us which statements concerning the Apocalypse are to be understood literally and which are to be understood symbolically. Many things are doubtless of symbolic nature. With this statement, we place no limitations to the full inspiration of the Bible and the absolute validity of its statements. The following are a few examples from the Holy Scriptures:
• The Lord Jesus is described in Revelation 1 as having "eyes...as a flame of fire," "...feet like unto fine brass," "...his voice as the sound of many waters," and "...out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword" (verses 14-16).
Surely this vision symbolically portrays the literal, awesome, all-surpassing glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. It does not mean that the exalted Lord really had feet of brass or a sword coming out of His mouth (compare with Song of Solomon 5:10-16).
• John saw a woman in Revelation 12:1, "...clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars."
Bible-believers know that this woman is a symbol of the Jewish people (twelve tribes); we do not believe that such a woman literally lives in heaven. It is the same with the harlot, Babylon, in Revelation 17, who symbolizes apostate Christianity, and the Bride of the Lamb in Revelation 19, which is a picture of the Church.
• In Revelation 13:1 it would hardly occur to anyone to believe that the beast which rises up from out of the sea to rule the world is a real beast with ten horns and seven heads. It is rather the character of the last world empire and its ruler, who is portrayed as cruel and repulsive.
• Thus it will not be a real stone that will fall from heaven and destroy the kingdoms of this world (Daniel 2), but this is a symbol of Jesus' return, Who will come from heaven to destroy the Anti-Christian kingdom and set up His own Kingdom.
The key to correct understanding
How can we best use the key to discern between literal and symbolic prophecy? We should note the following points:
• Sometimes a statement in the text itself explains it, or the interpretation is clear from the context.
• Sometimes a symbol is defined by the words, "And I saw...like...," or "as it were."
• Sometimes we are shown that something is symbolic through parallel texts. We should always bear in mind what the context and other Bible passages say about the same subject.
Let's bear these points in mind when we consider our topic.
The mountain that falls into the sea
Revelation 8:8-9 says, "And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed."
A man by the name of Fritz Rienecker, who published a biblical encyclopedia in German, once said, "The apocalyptical statements always have a symbolic interpretation besides their literal one." I would agree with that. So I do not want to deny the literal interpretation of the above-quoted verses, but rather emphasize their symbolic meaning. We shall see that this process has its justification.
The comparison: It is "as it were" a great mountain John sees that is cast into the sea. He does not see a literal burning mountain, but something that looked like it. Also striking is that this "mountain" does not fall from heaven, but "...as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea." So we can assume that this is not a gigantic meteorite. Could these verses be pointing to the fact that this event is a symbolic sign?
The parallels: The word "mountain" is commonly used in the Bible to describe a world power, a political power, an authority or a ruler. Mountains symbolize, as it were, the "pillars" of the world.
• The future kingdom of Christ and His rule are described as a "mountain" which will fill the earth (Daniel 2:35 and 44-45).
• Seir in Edom (Jordan) is also described as a "mountain." "Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee...and I will make thee most desolate" (Ezekiel 35:3).
• Samaria is also seen as a "mountain" among the nations: "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!" (Amos 6:1).
• In Zechariah 4:7, a power that arises against Jerusalem is described as a mountain: "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain."
• In the endtimes, the mount Jerusalem will be exalted to become the seat of the government of the Lord and all other "mountains" (or powers) will be abased: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it...For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low...And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up" (Isaiah 2:2,12 & 14; see also Isaiah 40:4, & 41:15, Psalm 46:3 and Luke 3:5).
Mountains are thus often the epitome of political power, stability and strength, upon which mankind leans and depends. It is this, in particular, that is beginning to shake in the endtimes.
In the Apocalypse it is described how God's wrath shakes and destroys all the securities of this world at the end of time. Man must come to realize that there is no security apart from God, and that all godless security will ultimately fall. There is only one Rock of security: Jesus Christ!
The following press report illustrates just how insecure a large majority of the younger generation today is:
"Mental problems amongst children and teenagers are increasing. More and more young people no longer find life worth living, but find it threatening.
"Many more children and young people are having to deal with mental problems. Mania, depression and suicide are no longer problems which affect a fraction of the population. Parents are mostly unable to cope with such problems and young people don't know how to carry on - life is becoming a threat to them."
Back to the securities that are becoming completely unstable in the endtimes. I believe that the statements found in Revelation 6:12-17 have primarily symbolic significance: "And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"
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