The Changing Face of Europe

With the recent change in U.S. leadership, the nation’s policy toward Europe has shifted significantly, sending shock waves across the Continent.

While many see Europe’s move toward greater self-reliance in defense as inevitable, Bible prophecy suggests that the U.S. push for Europe to assume responsibility for its security is a strategic miscalculation—one with far-reaching geopolitical consequences.

The U.S. push for Europe to defend itself

The new U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, deliberately chose Poland for his first bilateral visit. He commended Poland for its military spending and preparedness, calling it a model for Europe. He stated, “Poland gets it—strong militaries deter war.” 

Poland allocated 4.2 percent of its GDP to defense in 2024 and has plans to increase it to 4.7 percent this year, just shy of Donald Trump’s desired target of 5 percent. This marks a significant rise from 2014, when Poland’s defense spending was only 1.88 percent of its GDP.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of potential Russian aggression against NATO countries, asking, “Are your armies ready? How soon will your allies respond, if at all?” 

He also cautioned that Europe cannot rely solely on the United States—a sentiment echoed by Donald Trump, who questioned why America remains the primary financial backer of Ukraine’s war despite being geographically distant from the conflict.

Zelensky has gone even further, advocating for a unified “armed forces of Europe.” His remarks came after Pete Hegseth declared that the U.S. would no longer serve as “the primary guarantor of security in Europe,” implying that Europe must take responsibility for its own defense.

A change of focus

Donald Trump’s push for Europe to take responsibility for its own security is understandable, given America’s $36 trillion debt and the financial strain of funding NATO. Though he has been more forceful than his predecessors, he is not the first U.S. president to urge Europe to do so.

Many European nations have the economic means to strengthen their own defenses. With Russia posing a direct threat to Europe rather than the U.S., Washington increasingly views the conflict as Europe’s concern. Additionally, the U.S. considers China—not Russia—its primary geopolitical rival, as Beijing continues to challenge American global supremacy.

In his first speech, Mr. Merz emphasized the importance of reducing dependence on the U.S., stating: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.” 

His stance on this issue was evident even before the election, when he remarked, “We need to have discussions with both the British and the French—the two European nuclear powers—about whether nuclear sharing, or at least nuclear security from the UK and France, could also apply to us.”

Europe is now actively working to lessen its reliance on the U.S., a shift some view as advantageous, allowing the U.S. to focus on China while Europe deals with Russia.

Many assume that Europe and the U.S. still share the same long-term interests, but this overlooks a deeper divide. Bible prophecy suggests that these two powers are fundamentally different, and failing to recognize their distinct identities could lead to unintended consequences on the world stage.

The identity of the United States

The United States is one of history’s greatest world powers, yet few recognize its prophetic identity in the Bible. The U.S. emerged from a revolution against Great Britain, which was the most powerful empire the world had ever seen—an empire so vast that it was said, “The sun never sets on the British Empire.” 

These two brother nations, the United States and Great Britain, share a deep historical and biblical connection. Careful biblical and historical research shows they are descendants of Manasseh and Ephraim, the two sons of Joseph (Genesis 41:51-52). 

Jacob prophesied that Ephraim’s descendants would become “a multitude of nations,” and Manasseh would develop into a “great” single nation (Genesis 48:19). Notably, Ephraim was to come first, as Jacob “set Ephraim before Manasseh” (verse 20). This prophecy aligns with the historical rise of the British Empire and later the Commonwealth of Nations, which was the world’s most powerful global empire before the emergence of the United States as the world’s greatest singular power. 

To learn more, read “Who Are the United States and Britain in Prophecy?” 

The identity of Europe

If the United States and Great Britain are part of biblical Israel, then what is Europe’s identity in the Bible? 

The book of Daniel outlines four major gentile empires—Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome—that ruled over Judah. Though the Roman Empire officially fell in A.D. 476, prophecy foretold that it would be revived, in various forms, 10 times before Christ’s return. 

• Vandals (429-533).
• Heruli (476-493).
• Ostrogoths (493-554).
• Justinian’s empire (began 554).
• Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire (crowned emperor 800).
• Otto the Great’s empire (crowned emperor 962).
• Charles V’s reign (crowned emperor 1530).
• Napoleon’s empire (crowned himself emperor 1804).
• Garibaldi’s unification of Italy, culminating in the Axis powers of Hitler and Mussolini (1870-1945). 

The Roman Empire (and its revivals) has historically expanded through conquest, imposing its will through warfare. One final revival remains, which will emerge in the end times. When it rises, the world will be astonished at its power, questioning who could possibly oppose it (Revelation 13:4). 

This revived empire will not only wield immense military strength but also dominate global commerce, allowing economic participation only for those who embrace its authority (Revelation 13:17). 

To learn more, read “The End-Time Ride of the White Horse of Revelation.” 

So, while the United States and Britain are linked to the biblical tribes of Israel, much of Europe is identified with the prophetic beast, which will play a major role in end-time events. 

This helps explain the current geopolitical shift, with the U.S. urging Europe to take greater control of its defense. This could be a strategic miscalculation that could accelerate Europe’s rise as a global superpower, ultimately replacing the United States. 

The world has experienced a period of relative peace while Europe has remained closely aligned with and dependent on the United States for security. However, the U.S. push for Europe to become more self-reliant could be setting the stage for the Continent’s transformation from a relatively passive player to the economic and military powerhouse it is prophesied to become.

Rise of the far right

In recent years, Europe has actively employed censorship and election strategies to prevent far-right groups from gaining power. Experts see the growing influence of these parties—particularly in Germany—as a significant threat, raising concerns about the resurgence of extreme nationalism and echoes of Nazi-era ideologies.

The concern is that a rise in far-right movements could once again destabilize Europe and potentially lead to conflict.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has taken a strong stance against leftist political movements, radical environmental policies and transgender and LGBTQ ideologies. Rather than limiting this battle to the United States, the administration has sought to influence other Western nations, framing it as part of a larger ideological struggle over cultural and political values. 

The U.S. push for Europe to become more self-reliant could be setting the stage for the Continent’s transformation from a relatively passive player to the economic and military powerhouse. Against this backdrop, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance delivered a sharp rebuke at the Munich Security Conference, arguing that Europe’s greatest threat comes from within. He criticized European leaders for abandoning what he described as our “shared democratic values”—including free speech, democracy and fair elections—warning that they should not fear their own voters. 

While Vice President Vance’s position has merit, it also shows a misunderstanding of Europe’s historical realities. Lessons of the past make it clear that such dangers, while seemingly distant, should never be dismissed outright, even in today’s civilized world. 

Unlike other conservative groups that merely oppose left-wing movements in their countries, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been accused of openly embracing aspects of Germany’s Nazi past. This has raised alarms across Europe, where memories of World War II and the threats of extreme nationalism remain deeply ingrained in political discourse. 

Elon Musk recently supported the AfD party, stating that there is “frankly too much of a focus on past guilt, and we need to move beyond that.” In addition, Elon Musk further fueled controversy by congratulating the AfD on their historic electoral success in Germany. His endorsement of the far-right party has drawn sharp criticism.

With growing support from the United States, far-right parties across Europe feel increasingly emboldened. They believe that the same political shift seen in the U.S. could soon take hold across the Continent. They see the tide turning in their favor, fueled by a broader rejection of liberal policies and a resurgence of nationalist sentiment. 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán captured this sentiment when, at a far-right rally, he declared:

“The world has been changed in a few weeks by the Trump tornado. An era has come to an end. Yesterday we were the heretics; today we are the mainstream . . . We are the future.” 

J.D. Vance was surely right that Europe’s greatest threat comes from within, but he overlooked the true danger that lies within the European continent. Europe is undergoing a profound transformation that will reshape the world in the coming years—though, unfortunately, to its detriment.

Watch and pray

Prophecy continues to unfold, and Christians must be prepared. 

In Luke 21:36, Jesus told His disciples: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” 

This serves as a reminder for believers to stay vigilant, spiritually ready and focused on the coming Kingdom of God. Christians need to pray and remain watchful to be strengthened to face the challenges that lie ahead.

Date Posted: March 6, 2025