During the Times of
Distress, the United States will become divided from the nations
of Europe.
Daniel saw a goat attacking the Middle East.
As I was thinking
about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes
came from the west (Dan 8:5).
In Daniel 8:21, we
are told that the shaggy goat represents the King of Greece. The
King of Greece
is not the nation of Greece, but is the
civilisation that came out of Greece. Many historians and
philosophers consider that Western Civilisation emerged out of
ancient Greece. The King of Greece symbolises Western
Civilisation centred on Europe.
During the
twentieth century, the United States merged from Europe's shadow to
dominate Western Civilisation, both in terms of military power and
cultural influence. the prominent horn on the goat in Daniel 8
represents the United States leading a coalition of Western Nations.
Daniel prophesied
that this coalition would not last.
The goat became very great, but at the height of his power his
large horn was broken off, and in its place four prominent horns
grew up towards the four winds of heaven. Dan 8:8
During the Cold War the Western alliance was locked in a struggle
with the Soviet Union and China. The economic collapse and
break up of the Soviet Union, means that it has ceased to be a
real threat to the West. China has also been revealed to
be much weaker than was previously thought. Accordingly, the
Western alliance is now at the peak of its power.
Daniel warned that when the goat was at the peak of its power the
large horn would be broken off. This represents the United
States being separated from the Goat. Daniel is warning that
the United States will be come separated from Europe and cease to be
its leader. The goat will continue on, but its leadership will
come from within in Europe.
Cracks in the Western alliance are already starting to
form. In the build up to the war with Iraq, the coalition
became fragile. France and Germany refused to support the war
against Saddam Hussein. France actually threatened to veto the
American proposal in the Security Council. It will continue to
be the dominant power in the world.
Daniel says that four horns replace the large horn on head of the
goat. This indicates that leadership of Europe will rest on
four nations. These are probably France, UK, Germany and one
other. The power and influence of the four will not be as
great as that of the United States. It will continue to be the
dominant power in the world.
Timing
The final division will take several years to occur, but
eventually, Europe will separate itself from the power of the United
States. However, before the large horn is broken off, it
shatters both horns of the ram (Dan 8:7,8). This suggests that both
Iraq and Iran will be defeated by the Western Alliance, while it is
still being led by the United States. However, the Ram itself is not
destroyed. This means that the King of the South will live on for the further battles
described in Dan 11:13-45.
The shattering of Iran (or perhaps Saudi Arabia) may be the battle described in Dan
11:13-15.
For the king of the North will muster another army, larger
than the first; and after several years, he will advance with a
huge army fully equipped. In those times many will rise
against the king of the South. The violent men among your own
people will rebel in fulfillment of the vision, but without
success. Then the king of the North will
come and build up siege ramps and will capture a fortified city.
The forces of the South will be powerless to resist; even their
best troops will not have the strength to stand.
This is just one of several future battles in the Middle
East. Daniel 11 describes four further battles with the King
of the South (vv. 13, 25, 29, 40). These invasions all come through
Israel causing that nation to be "trampled by the
gentiles" (Luke 21:24). United States remains Powerful
Although the United States is separated from Europe, it will
continue as an independent power, rather than as leader of the
Western Alliance (King of the North). In Daniel 11, there is
no mention of the King of the North (Europe) between verse 15 and
verse 40, although a number of battles take place. This
suggests that Europe goes quiet during this period.
European passivity may be the result of the anti-war tendencies that
are increasing all over the continent. During this period, the
United States will continue to be the dominant power in the world,
but it will no longer be part of the European/Western
Alliance. The dominating ruler described in Daniel 11:21,36-39
is most likely the United States acting alone.
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