So there I was this afternoon, watching the BBC News America (where a typical half-hour broadcast devotes one quarter of its time to the developing Signposts) and there in Brussels was a moment of silence to remember the victims of the latest bombings. How terrible and ghastly these attacks have become, seeming to happen every couple months now in Europe. The world witnesses these random acts of the snuffing out of lives of those living in a peaceful society.
What struck me was the scene with all these people laying down flowers, burning candles, huddling together in a moment of “solidarity” with sad or expressionless faces. There was no visible outrage. There was no sense of vengeance or justice, just the promises by the authorities to chase down the last man responsible.
Europe is a continent that was torn down, and almost destroyed itself in two world wars. It then endured the cold war with the iron curtain coming down right through its heart. And now they have their Union with 28 member nations all getting along – the backlash from a century of war. And they have their socialism so they all can lead safe and comfortable lives while their nations’ governments grapple with increasing mountains of debt.
If Europe was truly the future power base of the Antichrist, wouldn’t it at least have some vestige of outrage calling for a military confrontation? Why aren’t the Germans, French, Belgians, Dutch and Brits calling for forming a 200,000-man army and smashing the teeth in of Islamic State, the source du jour of Islamic jihadists, um, I mean, terrorists? It’s because Europe is simply not the future power base of the Antichrist. Islam is.
The European Union flag on the left, the flag of IS on the right.
The future power base of the Antichrist is the one doing the bombing. And it just occurred to me that these attacks – claimed by IS – are yet another data point showing in reality what is really happening right before our eyes. If you knew nothing of Bible prophecy, which political sphere of influence might have the culture and attitude to support the Antichrist’s ambitions? The Continent tired of war, or the Realm that is in places acting like a wild beast wanting to rip into its victims?
Of course Islamic State itself will not be the future power base of the Antichrist. But it is representative of the embryonic state that the future power base is in, one the eve of the Second Signpost.
Europe will not be the aggressive world conqueror under the Antichrist. No, it is likely going to be one of the victims of the Antichrist and his power base, Islam. We are seeing previews of this awful state of affairs, right now.
Categories: In The News, Signpost Theology
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
All Glory to God
Mark,
I believe when the anti-Christ rises to global power, it will be by consensus not conquest. The consensus will be an act of God.
Consider Revelations 17 v 12-13 & 17
” And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled”.
This tells us the anti-Christ organization is separate from the 10 kingdoms and the anti-Christ has little direct political power until God makes the 10 kings give their kingdom to him. The 10 kings only come to power a short time before the anti-Christ does.
God Bless
Curtis,
The ten are nations within the Islamic Realm.
Thank you Mark for inspiring a blog on popping the theological speculations re the revived Roman Empire, plus supportive material.