World News and End-Time Prophecy: The Nations

In the first blog post in this series, we identified the groups at the center of many end-time Bible prophecies. This second post will focus on specific prophecies for these nations and what we should be watching for in world news. 

God says He does nothing unless He “reveals His secret to His servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). God’s Word is like a lamp that illuminates the darkness. We can use the lamp of God’s prophetic Word to illuminate what will come to pass in the future (Psalm 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19). 

By understanding what the Bible’s prophecies say about the future of the nations of our world, we can determine what news is truly relevant and worth our time. 

Let’s explore the future events the Bible prophesies for the nations around the world. 

Watch the Israelite nations

When God brought Israel out of Egypt, He wanted them to be “a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). In simple terms, He wanted them to be a shining example of His way to the nations surrounding them. But they have largely failed to do that, and as God warned, they have been scattered “among the nations” (Deuteronomy 4:23-27). Most of the tribes do not know their identity and have become known as the lost 10 tribes of Israel. 

The descendants of the Israelites can be found in the State of Israel and among the peoples of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth nations and some nations of Western Europe. The prophecies for the modern Israelite nations center around the consequences of their forsaking God (Deuteronomy 31:16).

Here are some of those prophecies and some examples of news stories that demonstrate these trends today. 

They will forsake God and reject His knowledge (Hosea 4:6; 5:7; Amos 8:11).

• “‘Nones’ Now Largest Religious Category in U.S., New Report Says” (Jan. 25, 2024).
• “Young Brits Open to Banning the Bible ‘Unless the Offend[ing] Parts Can Be Edited Out’” (Dec. 4, 2023).

They will become an upside-down society, accepting immoral lifestyles and being proud of their sinfulness (Isaiah 1:10; 3:9; 5:20; Jeremiah 6:15; 8:12).

• “High Schools Must Teach LGBTQ-Inclusive Sex Education in England” (Sept. 8, 2020).
• “Supreme Court Leaves Pennsylvania School Transgender Student Bathroom Policy in Place” (May 28, 2019). 

Those who oppose or avoid evil will be attacked (Isaiah 59:15).

• “Christian Baker Jack Phillips Back in Court as 8-Year Legal Saga Drags On—This Time It’s a Transgender Cake” (March 23, 2021).
• “Teacher Refusing to Use Student’s Chosen Pronouns Jailed for Ignoring Order” (Sept. 6, 2022).

Growing numbers of fractured families with absent fathers and rebellious children (Isaiah 3:5, 12).

• “London and U.K.’s Divorce Hotspots Revealed: New Data Shows How Many Marriages and Partnerships Breakup” (Feb. 24, 2023).
• “‘Life Without Father’: Less College, Less Work, and More Prison for Young Men Growing Up Without Their Biological Father” (June 17, 2022).

Rising crime and violence (Isaiah 1:7, 15; 59:7; Ezekiel 7:23; 9:9).

• “It’s Not Just Big Cities—Rising Crime Is a Problem Everywhere” (Oct. 16, 2023). 
• “In-N-Out to Close Oakland Location Amid Crime” (Jan. 21, 2024).

Lack of solid leadership and childish leaders (Isaiah 3:2-4).

• “Oklahoma Senator Challenges Teamsters President to a Fight During Senate Hearing” (Nov. 14, 2023).
• “America Suffers from Chronically Poor Leadership” (Sept. 29, 2023).

Because of disobedience and the growing acceptance and celebration of blatant sin, the Israelite nations are losing the blessings that God had given them. God told Israel He would “break the pride of your power” if they lapsed into open sinfulness (Leviticus 26:14-19). This includes losing economic superiority (Deuteronomy 28:44), military supremacy (Leviticus 26:17) and control of the “gates of their enemies” (Genesis 22:17). 

Our national sins have become more glaring and unapologetic. As such, God declared He would “bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah” (Jeremiah 30:3; Ezekiel 5:7-9). This time of trouble and captivity is prophetically known as “Jacob’s trouble.” 

However, the good news is that God promised to once again save the Israelite peoples (Jeremiah 30:7). God will bring Israel to repentance and restore their relationship with Him (Ezekiel 36:31; Zechariah 13:9).  

So, Christians should watch world news for stories highlighting the trend of the ongoing moral and spiritual degeneration of our world, with a focus on the nations descended from Israel—particularly the United States, Britain, the Commonwealth nations and the State of Israel. 

To learn more, read “The Spiritual Decline of the English-Speaking Nations,” “What Is Jacob’s Trouble in End-Time Prophecy?” and “A Second Exodus?” 

Watch Judah and Jerusalem

Bible prophecy also includes many prophecies to the descendants of Judah and the city of Jerusalem—which primarily applies today to the tiny nation of Israel in the Middle East. Here are some of the key prophecies directed toward Judah and Jerusalem: 

• The leaders will fight and be at odds with the nations surrounding them (Zechariah 12:6).
• Jerusalem will be an unsolvable problem and a burden for the world (Zechariah 12:2-3).
• Armies will surround Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-24; Revelation 11:2).
• Animal sacrifices will resume, but will eventually be stopped by invading armies who will set up the abomination of desolation (Daniel 12:11; Matthew 24:15).
• Jerusalem will be divided by force (Zechariah 14:2; Joel 3:2).

• “UN General Assembly Condemns Israel 14 Times in 2023, Rest of World 7” (Dec. 20, 2023).
• “Arab States, EU Agree on Need for Two-State Solution to Israel Crisis” (Nov. 27, 2023).
• “Israeli Man Attempts to Sacrifice Sheep on Temple Mount” (Oct. 1, 2023).
• “Texas Red Heifers’ Arrival Stirs Prophetic Excitement in Israel” (Sept. 23, 2022).

Watch world news for articles highlighting tensions between Israel and its Muslim neighbors and for calls to establish a Jewish religious presence on the Temple Mount.  

To learn more, read “Does Bible Prophecy Require a Third Temple to Be Built?” and “What Is the Abomination of Desolation?”

Watch the king of the North: Europe, a revived Roman Empire

The Bible prophesies that a revived Holy Roman Empire, known as “the beast,” will unite the nations of Europe and become an aggressive military and economic superpower. 

The Bible prophesies that a revived Holy Roman Empire, known as “the beast,” will unite the nations of Europe. Students of prophecy have long watched the current European Union as a possible precursor to the end-time beast.

However, the actual beast will likely replace or emerge from the EU, since the Bible describes several aspects of it that will be quite different from the current EU.

Here are some of those key differences: 

• The end-time revived beast will be pared down to 10 nations or 10 groups of nations (Revelation 17:12-13). Currently, the EU is made up of 27 nations.
• The end-time political beast will have a strong connection with a religious leader. This religious power is depicted as strongly influencing the beast (Revelation 17:1-5). This is consistent with the pattern of previous revivals of the Roman Empire, where the Roman Catholic Church had influence and special status with Europe’s political leaders. However, the current European culture is largely secular. 
• The end-time beast will be governed by a charismatic political leader. The current EU is dominated by member nations and bureaucratic institutions and has no single charismatic leader.  
• The beast will be a superpower that controls commerce and exercises global dominance (Revelation 13:16-17; 18:12-13). The EU is largely contained within the continent of Europe, and though its economic influence is significant, it still has far less global influence than nations like the United States and China. 
• The beast will have superior military strength that will cause other nations to look at it and marvel, “Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4). The nations of Europe have largely kept out of major wars and spent relatively little on their militaries, relying on NATO and especially the United States for defense. 

These prophecies show that changes are coming to Europe that will radically transform it from the relatively weak confederation it is today to an entity that’s much stronger, more powerful and more unified. Interestingly, this very transformation is increasingly being discussed by European leaders and thinkers. 

Watch world news for articles and reports covering the emergence of a more unified, dynamic and militarily powerful European Union. A recent Politico article described it this way: “The changes currently under consideration would transform the EU from a confederation of sovereign countries into a unitary federal entity, with its central government presiding over partially self-governing nation states” (“A Federalized Europe Isn’t in America’s Interest,” Nov. 21, 2023).  

If the EU survives, watch for reforms to concentrate power at the center of the EU—with Germany emerging as the most dominant political power.  

In recent times, a number of news sources have highlighted the trend of the EU transforming itself into a more dynamic and powerful political entity:

• “France’s Macron Looking for a ‘Third Superpower’ Without U.S. Dependency” (April 10, 2023).
• “Germany Is Quietly Building a European Army Under Its Command” (May 22, 2017).

Watch world news for articles and reports covering the emergence of a more unified, dynamic and militarily powerful European Union. 

To learn more, read “The European Dream: ‘Bound by Fate’?” and “Far-Right Parties Continue to Rise in Europe.”

Watch the king of the South: An Islamic confederacy

The book of Daniel prophesies about a union of nations centered south of Israel that will attack Europe, provoking an overwhelming military response (Daniel 11:40). This union will include Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia and probably other Arab Islamic nations such as Saudi Arabia. 

Watch the news for calls for Arab and Islamic unity and continued tension between the Muslim world and the Israelis.  After the European beast power defeats this Islamic union, it will enter the Holy Land and take control of Jerusalem. It will perform an act of religious desecration in Jerusalem that will begin the prophetic period called the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15-21). 

Psalm 83 also lists a confederacy of mostly Muslim nations that will form against Israel with the goal of wiping it off the map: “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:4). 

Watch the news for calls for Arab and Islamic unity and continued tension between the Muslim world and the Israelis. 

To learn more, read “The King of the South” and “How the Israel-Hamas War Is Changing the World.” 

The kings from the east: the rise and unity of Russia and China

After the end-time beast power defeats the king of the South, “news from the east and the north shall trouble him” (Daniel 11:44). This seems to be a reference to Russia and China, the two most prominent nations to the north and east of the Holy Land. This union will likely include other Asiatic nations as well. 

According to prophecy, the kings from the east will raise an army of 200 million soldiers to fight the European beast power (Revelation 9:16; 16:12) . However, they will end up actually joining forces with the beast to fight the returning Jesus Christ. 

According to prophecy, the kings from the east will raise an army of 200 million soldiers to fight the European beast power. Recently, the leaders of Russia and China have called each other “dear friends” and described their friendship as having “no limits.” 

Interestingly, at the beginning of this year, the nations of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia joined Russia and China and the other founding members of the BRICS union. 

A recent article in Foreign Affairs, titled “Russia’s Dangerous New Friends,” highlighted Russia’s deepening ties with Iran, the Yemeni Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas in an effort to challenge the U.S.-led global order. 

Another interesting note is that the Bible describes the king of the North and the king of the South, but describes “kings from the east” (Revelation 16:12, emphasis added). This indicates they don’t act as one and are not part of a tightly-knit union. 

So, though we should watch for greater bonds of friendship between the Asiatic nations, we don’t expect to see a single entity, like a European Union, emerge. Though Russia and China have had an increasingly warm relationship, we also see them in strong competition, along with India. One recent example of this competition is the race between Russia, China and India to land on the moon’s south pole. 

At the moment, it seems the only commonality in the BRICS union is the desire to challenge the American-led economic order. 

Prophetic events like labor pains

The Bible describes end-time events as being like a woman in labor (Jeremiah 30:6; Isaiah 13:6-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Jesus said that the events leading to the end times are the “beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8). The Greek word translated “sorrows” literally refers to birth pangs. 

When a woman is in labor, her birth pangs start and stop. There are pauses between the contractions. This helps explain why prophetic events and trends sometimes seem to intensify and accelerate and at other times seem to decelerate. But as a woman’s labor progresses, the contractions become more frequent and intense. And so it will be with the overall trend in end-time events. 

Continue watching world news for prophetically significant developments and trends.

Stay tuned for part 3: “World News and End-Time Prophecy: Counterfeit Christianity.”

(Read part 1 here: “World News and End-Time Prophecy: The People”)

Date Posted: March 11, 2024