A major development relating to the soon return of Jesus Christ has just occurred! The European Union, a very relevant Bible prophecy subject for today, placed into service a common currency on January 1, 1999. One may ask, "Why would a common currency in Europe be considered a major development in Bible prophecy"? To answer this question, let's visit with a prophet in the Bible, Daniel, a man who had a dream about this emerging final world power.

Daniel, a prophet of God, while exiled in Babylon, had a dream in which God showed him four great powers that would span history until the establishment of the Kingdom of Jesus, the Messiah. God revealed to Daniel (Daniel 2 and 7) that there would be four major powers that would rule over the world's population until Jesus Christ would come to set up His own Kingdom. It is generally agreed among Bible scholars that the four powers were Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Many have wondered why God considered these four worthy of mention while ignoring all the other powers down through history. As powerful as many of the others have seemed, their powers have not extended over the whole earth, only these four.

Rome, to be different from all the others, would be the fourth and final power to control the world, but would give way to Jesus Christ when He would appear to establish His Kingdom. Rome during the time of Jesus' earthly ministry seemed to decline into nothing and break apart, but the earthly Kingdom that Jesus spoke of (Matthew 25, Isaiah 65, Micah 4, Zechariah 14) was not established at that time. This created a great theological problem because, according to Daniel, Jesus' Kingdom was to be established during the very days of this fourth and final empire (Dan. 2:44). Some in an attempt to address this problem have tried to maintain that Jesus Christ established His Kingdom immediately after His resurrection, but this view has to be rejected, because this world has not seen anything like the times described in Zechariah 8, Zechariah 14, Isaiah 11, Isaiah 35, Isaiah 65, Micah 4, and many others. No, the conditions described in these Bible passages were to be implemented during the days of Daniel's fourth power, Rome.

This theological problem remained a great mystery to Bible scholars since the decline of the Roman empire until this century. You see, in 1948, a small meeting called Benelux took place between three countries in Europe. Those three, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg, met to discuss the awesome task of reuniting Europe. The meeting seemed insignificant to the world and the task too weighty for a war-torn Europe after World War II to warrant the world's attention. Fifty one years later that European dream has grown to include fifteen (15) member nations. They include Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Plans are to expand to twenty five (25) countries in the near future. The fifteen nations already have a combined population of 380 million, 120 million larger than that of the United States. The world is now taking notice! Since 1948, they have established a Senate, a Parliament, common laws, a Presidency, a central bank, and now, a common currency called, the "Euro". Rome is coming back together!

It is an amazing thing to observe, Rome is coming back together just as the Bible predicted! The Apostle, John, writing about this power said that a leader emerging from it would one day control the economy of the whole world (see Revelation 13:17). A giant step in that direction occurred on January 1, 1999 when eleven (11) of the European Union nations adopted a common currency, creating overnight the second largest economy in the world, second only to the United States. And keep in mind, only eleven (11) of them adopted. If all fifteen (15) were included, it would have been the largest economy in the world, created overnight!

We are a generation that is living on borrowed time! Europe (Roman Empire) coming back together is a sign to us that the day is drawing near that Jesus Christ will come to establish His Kingdom. When He comes to establish that Kingdom, He is coming in power! He is coming to conquer! He is coming to defeat His enemies and to rule with a rod of iron (see Revelation 19)! He is coming either as your friend, or as your holy terror. As we see His day approaching, make your peace with Him now. Humble your heart toward Him and ask Him to forgive you of your sins today. Take Him as your Lord and Savior while there is opportunity. When He appears, will you meet Him with praise and adoration, or "shrink back from Him in shame at His coming" (I John 2:28)?

The choice is yours.