Post by Gary on Mar 31, 2017 12:50:43 GMT -6
While all the focus is on the upcoming Revelation 12 Sign in September, it occurs to me that a parallel, earthly sign has been developing right under our noses. This parallel sign is not the fulfillment of Revelation 12, but its similarity is pretty stunning. Could it be the sign of the enemy?
A woman:
For the last half-century the nations of Europe have voluntarily given up their sovereignty and pooled their resources to form the 28-nation European Union (now 27 members after Brexit). The continent of Europe is named after a woman - the Phoenician princess Europa - and is the only continent named after a woman. In fact Europa is the symbol of the European Union and the official website of the European Union is named after her. This woman, who happens to ride a beast in Greek mythology (see Revelation 17:3 for a striking parallel), is pictured on the euro (see here and here) and can even be found in sculpture-form outside of key E.U. facilities.
Clothed with the Son:
Notice I say "Son" and not "sun". Europe was the cradle of Christianity and for nearly one-and-a-half millennia, Christianity was a predominantly European religion. The evangelization of the Americas, Oceania, and Sub-Saharan Africa all started in Europe. To this day, Christianity is still the predominant religion in every single European country except for Kosovo, although Europe as a whole is an increasingly post-Christian, irreligious, and secular continent.
The moon under her feet:
Everywhere to Europe's immediate south and southeast are Islamic nations. The crescent moon is of course the symbol of Islam just as the cross is the symbol of Christianity. Italy is famously called Stivale ("the boot") because of its unmistakable leg and boot shape. When paired with the Grecian peninsula, Europe can be said to have "two legs" and in fact the Roman Empire was ultimately divided between western and eastern "legs" with the west led by Rome in Italy and the east led by Constantinople in the then Grecian-dominated east. Right at the eastern foot of the "woman" lies the country of Turkey whose crescent-moon flag is pictured above. Turkey is directly southeast of Europe. Directly to the south of Europe's western leg of Italy lies Libya and Algeria, both of which prominently feature crescent moons on their flags.
A crown of twelve stars:
Strangely, the founders of the European Union decided on a ring/crown/garland of twelve golden stars as their emblem and flag.
Giving birth to a male child:
The male child she ultimately gives birth to is the man of lawlessness (a.k.a. the antichrist) who is referred to as a "prince" in Daniel 9:26. In my study of Scripture his identity must be either European, of Latin ancestry, or Turkish/Syrian based on the ethnic qualifier in that verse.
Is it not fascinating that many of the pieces above did not come together until relatively recently? For example, it wasn't until the mid-18th century that the Ottoman Empire began using the crescent moon on its flags and banners, so it could be said the moon wasn't at Europa's feet until then. Additionally, it was only in the past half-century that Europe formed into "one" using Europa as its symbol and crowning itself with the twelve golden stars of the European Union flag. This earthly culmination is all leading up to the heavenly sign that seems to appear this September.
A woman:
For the last half-century the nations of Europe have voluntarily given up their sovereignty and pooled their resources to form the 28-nation European Union (now 27 members after Brexit). The continent of Europe is named after a woman - the Phoenician princess Europa - and is the only continent named after a woman. In fact Europa is the symbol of the European Union and the official website of the European Union is named after her. This woman, who happens to ride a beast in Greek mythology (see Revelation 17:3 for a striking parallel), is pictured on the euro (see here and here) and can even be found in sculpture-form outside of key E.U. facilities.
Clothed with the Son:
Notice I say "Son" and not "sun". Europe was the cradle of Christianity and for nearly one-and-a-half millennia, Christianity was a predominantly European religion. The evangelization of the Americas, Oceania, and Sub-Saharan Africa all started in Europe. To this day, Christianity is still the predominant religion in every single European country except for Kosovo, although Europe as a whole is an increasingly post-Christian, irreligious, and secular continent.
The moon under her feet:
Everywhere to Europe's immediate south and southeast are Islamic nations. The crescent moon is of course the symbol of Islam just as the cross is the symbol of Christianity. Italy is famously called Stivale ("the boot") because of its unmistakable leg and boot shape. When paired with the Grecian peninsula, Europe can be said to have "two legs" and in fact the Roman Empire was ultimately divided between western and eastern "legs" with the west led by Rome in Italy and the east led by Constantinople in the then Grecian-dominated east. Right at the eastern foot of the "woman" lies the country of Turkey whose crescent-moon flag is pictured above. Turkey is directly southeast of Europe. Directly to the south of Europe's western leg of Italy lies Libya and Algeria, both of which prominently feature crescent moons on their flags.
A crown of twelve stars:
Strangely, the founders of the European Union decided on a ring/crown/garland of twelve golden stars as their emblem and flag.
Giving birth to a male child:
The male child she ultimately gives birth to is the man of lawlessness (a.k.a. the antichrist) who is referred to as a "prince" in Daniel 9:26. In my study of Scripture his identity must be either European, of Latin ancestry, or Turkish/Syrian based on the ethnic qualifier in that verse.
Is it not fascinating that many of the pieces above did not come together until relatively recently? For example, it wasn't until the mid-18th century that the Ottoman Empire began using the crescent moon on its flags and banners, so it could be said the moon wasn't at Europa's feet until then. Additionally, it was only in the past half-century that Europe formed into "one" using Europa as its symbol and crowning itself with the twelve golden stars of the European Union flag. This earthly culmination is all leading up to the heavenly sign that seems to appear this September.
