The European Union in Prophecy The EU in Prophecy I | Page 351

The European Union in Prophecy
during which the papal power was to oppress God's people. This period, as stated in
preceding chapters, began with the supremacy of the papacy, A.D. 538, and
terminated in 1798. At that time the pope was made captive by the French army, the
papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, "He that
leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity."
At this point another symbol is introduced. Says the prophet: "I beheld another
beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb." Verse II. Both
the appearance of this beast and the manner of its rise indicate that the nation which
it represents is unlike those presented under the preceding symbols. The great
kingdoms that have ruled the world were presented to the prophet Daniel as beasts
of prey, rising when "the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea." Daniel
7:2. In Revelation 17 an angel explained that waters represent "peoples, and
multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15. Winds are a symbol of strife.
The four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea represent the terrible scenes of
conquest and revolution by which kingdoms have attained to power.
But the beast with lamblike horns was seen "coming up out of the earth." Instead
of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must
arise in territory preciously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could
not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World--
that turbulent sea of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." It must be
sought in the Western Continent. What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising
into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of
the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only
one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United
States of America. Again and again the thought, almost the exact words, of the sacred
writer has been unconsciously employed by the orator and the historian in describing
the rise and growth of this nation. The beast was seen "coming up out of the earth;"
and, according to the translators, the word here rendered "coming up" literally
signifies "to grow or spring up as a plant."
And, as we have seen, the nation must arise in territory previously unoccupied.
A prominent writer, describing the rise of the United States, speaks of "the mystery
of her coming forth from vacancy," and says: "Like a silent seed we grew into empire."-
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