Who Will Be the Next Leader of the Free World?
A commentary by Melvin Rhodes
Good News writer and regional pastor, Ghana
Will the next U.S. president still be the leader of the free world?
Before Inauguration Day on January 20th another president will
be on the world stage who could ultimately have greater power and
influence in the free world than the American president. This position
does not yet exist. But plans are now in place to appoint the first
federal president of the European Union (EU).
This 27 member union surpassed the U.S. as the world's biggest
single market when it expanded from 15 to 25 member countries
in May 2004. Two additional countries were added later. Even more
wait on the sidelines, hoping they can join. Just a few weeks ago,
with the dollar falling and the euro rising, the 15 countries of
the euro zone became the world's largest market. The U.S.
now leads Europe in only one category—its military power.
In every other respect the EU is more powerful.
As Washington Post Bureau Chief T. R. Reid put it in his 2004 book, The
United States of Europe: "The new United States of
Europe, to use Winston Churchill's phrase, has more people,
more wealth, and more trade than the United States of America.
The New Europe cannot match American military strength (and doesn't
want to). But it has more votes in every international organization
than the United States, and it gives away far more money in development
aid. The result is global economic and political clout that makes
the European Union exactly what its leaders want it to be: a second
superpower that can stand on equal footing with the United States" (Prologue).
The EU is the world's largest trading bloc, and EU member
nation Germany is the world's single biggest trading nation.
At a time when the rising euro should lead to exporting fewer goods,
Germany is increasing its sales overseas. Dozens of nations have
trade agreements with the EU, which adds to its power and influence.
The new European Treaty is set to come into force on January 1,
2009. It provides for an EU diplomatic force to represent the union
around the world, and for the appointment of the first EU president.
There will be no popular election; in fact people in one EU member
nation are rarely familiar with the politicians in another. The
appointment will be made by the leaders of the 27. It is still unknown
who the first president will be.
There is also increasing talk of expanding the European Army. According
to the BBC's "Newshour" (June 6), the EU Army
now has peace keeping forces in twenty countries. Because of growing
threats around the world, there are calls for an expanded army that
could handle urgent problems arising anywhere on earth. This will
almost certainly come if the U.S. chooses to shrink its global defense
role after the election.
No matter who wins the U.S. presidential
race, financial reality will soon set in. The U.S. is broke. Rising
inflation is due to an increase in the money supply as the U.S.
Federal government throws money indiscriminately at every problem!
The United States is now where Britain was in 1945. At the end
of six years of conflict the UK was bankrupt. Inevitably, London
lost its position of preeminence in the world and was replaced by
the U.S.
Similarly, the U.S. is going to have to withdraw from many of its
international commitments for the same economic reasons. Who will
replace the U.S.?
The Bible shows us that at the climax of this age—immediately
before the second coming of Jesus Christ—another superpower
will exist, a modern successor to the ancient Roman Empire.
"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received
no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings
with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their
power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb …." (Revelation
17:12-14).
A horn is a symbol of political leadership. The leaders of ten
political entities will form this final resurrection of the biblical "Beast" power.
That's ten, not 27. Clearly, more developments must occur
to get from where Europe is now to the final ten. It doesn't
seem that all EU nations will be in that final military union. But
the growing economic and political power of the EU is leading it
inexorably toward that prophetic moment when "all the world
marveled and followed the beast" (Revelation 13:3).
 For a clear
explanation of biblical prophecies foretelling the global consequences
of Europe's rise to international dominance simply
download, request or read online our free booklet: The
Book of Revelation Unveiled.
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