News and Prophecy Staff

Two thousand years ago, Jesus forewarned His disciples that certain events would occur just before His return to this earth at the end of the age (Matthew 24:3-13). About 70 years later, the Apostle John recorded a vision of a woman riding a beast, picturing a future church-influenced governmental system that would arise in the last days and influence not only Europe but the world (Revelation 17).

A leading German news magazine recently published a cover article about the sad state of affairs in America (Der Spiegel, November 5, 2012).  This sobering article, entitled “Notes on the Decline of a Great Nation,” cites numerous reasons for America’s decline.  “The United States is frittering away its role as a model for the rest of the world.

In 2001, the United States declared the “War on Terror” and began fighting against the Taliban in Afghanistan.  Twelve years later, the U.S. has spent more than $1.1 trillion dollars, and lost 2,000 American lives (ABC News, October 1, 2012).

During an interview in London last week, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak conceded that an attack on Iran may have been delayed for eight to ten months. He “predicted that sanctions and diplomacy would still fail to resolve the stand-off.

Germany’s international influence is growing economically and militarily.  With the United States reducing its foreign involvement in the Middle East and Africa, and the threat of Islam increasing by the day, Germany is emerging as a new force for peace on the world stage.