Europe is being pressured to take more responsibility for its own defense, prompting Germany to begin rearming. Should this be an alarming development?
Image supplied by Kadriya via Getty Images
In recent months, the U.S. has signaled to European nations that the Russia-Ukraine war is their problem.
On Dec. 12, 2024, then President-elect Donald Trump stated, “War with Russia is more important for Europe than it is for us. We have a little thing called an ocean in between us.”
President Trump believes that ending the war requires Ukraine to make concessions, giving up territory to Russia. Ukraine, however, doubts that Russia would honor any security agreement it might make.
As the U.S. pulls back from the conflict, Europe is scrambling to strengthen its own defenses.
Germany—Europe’s strongest economy—now appears ready to take on a defensive role in Europe, a step many see as long overdue.
Germany pushes to rearm
Friedrich Merz, while working to form Germany’s next government and become chancellor, pushed through a historic bill enabling the country to take significant steps toward rearmament. Previously, Germany was restricted by a constitutional “debt brake,” which limited how much national debt it could incur—including for defense spending.
The new legislation allows the government to dramatically increase defense funding without violating fiscal rules.
In a parliamentary address, Mr. Merz declared, “We must defend ourselves against these attacks on our open society and freedom—with all the means at our disposal, in the years and decades ahead.” He put forward a 1 trillion euro spending package to invest in his nation’s infrastructure and military.
At the same time, efforts to rearm are also occurring at the European level.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has presented a package to raise 800 billion euros to bolster Europe’s defenses and defend Ukraine.
In a March 3, 2025, press statement she wrote, “We are living in the most momentous and dangerous of times . . . This is a moment for Europe, and we are ready to step up.” In a March 4 letter to her European colleagues, she introduced her proposal with the words: “A new era is upon us. Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime.”
These historic and monumental events will reshape not only Europe but the world. But should we be concerned?
Germany’s past—a reason for concern?
After winning support for his spending package, Mr. Merz told reporters, “Germany is back.”
But back from what exactly?
Mr. Merz was likely emphasizing Germany’s retaking of its position as Europe’s leading economic and military power.
To understand the significance of these developments, it’s important to consider Germany’s history. Since the end of World War II, Germany has been reluctant to engage in military actions, burdened by the legacy of its wartime atrocities and the immense destruction it caused. This dark legacy has made Germany very cautious about expanding its military.
However, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and threats against Europe—along with the increasing pressure by the United States for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defense—are now pushing Germany to reconsider its long-standing hesitation to rearm and take a leading military role in Europe.
Peace through strength
Donald Trump has frequently expressed his approach to the world through the motto: “Peace through strength.” This phrase echoes the words of the ancient Roman writer Vegetius, who said, “If you want peace, prepare for war.”
This principle—that building a strong military will deter adversaries from attacking, since they will fear a devastating response—has long guided the foreign policy of many great powers.
Considering Germany’s history and the words of prophecy, the world should not take Germany’s rearmament lightly. It is one of the most significant developments since the end of World War II.
Now, Germany appears to be adopting a similar strategy, driven in part by declining trust in the long-term reliability of the United States as an ally.
It seeks to establish a meaningful European nuclear deterrent instead of depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Mr. Merz is confronting both the taboo of a powerful German military and the country’s traditional nonnuclear stance, stating, “Sharing nuclear weapons is an issue that we need to talk about . . . we have to become stronger together in nuclear deterrence.”
Just a few decades ago, it would have raised great alarm to hear an incoming German chancellor openly discuss the possibility of Germany becoming a nuclear power.
Should we be concerned that Germany is rearming?
The European Project
In the aftermath of World War II, Europe lay in ruins, grappling with the daunting task of rebuilding and addressing the “German question”—how to reintegrate Germany into the continent while averting the risk of another devastating conflict.
It was widely feared that, if left unchecked, Germany could plunge Europe into yet a third world war.
As the Soviet Union exerted pressure from the east, the United States took decisive action by establishing NATO, a military alliance under American leadership designed to counter Russian expansion and confine Soviet influence to Eastern Europe.
NATO’s inaugural secretary general, General Lord Ismay, famously encapsulated its mission: “Keep the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.”
Parallel to this, in 1948 the U.S. launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Western Europe’s shattered economies and infrastructure. This economic lifeline spurred a quick recovery and fostered collaboration among European nations, alleviating fears of Soviet invasion and enabling them to pool resources with confidence.
Five years after the war’s end, the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community marked a turning point, laying the foundation for a united Europe.
French statesman Robert Schuman envisioned this as a way to render war between France and Germany “not merely unthinkable, but materially impossible,” emphasizing that Europe’s unity hinged on reconciling these two historic rivals.
However, the postwar effort to restrain Germany has now largely unraveled. Germany now holds economic sway over Europe and is poised to regain the military dominance it last had in the early 1940s.
Should we be concerned that the country responsible for sparking two global conflicts is once again strengthening its armed forces?
The prophetic significance of Germany’s rearmament
In Daniel 7, we read a prophecy about four furious beasts representing four kingdoms: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greco-Macedonia and Rome.
The Roman Empire is pictured as the “fourth beast” with “ten horns,” which are “ten kings” to come out of this kingdom (verses 23-24). Unlike the other empires that eventually fell and never again had a resurgence of their former glory, the Roman Empire would be revived in the end times as the beast power described in Revelation 13.
This final revival hasn’t arisen on the world scene yet, but when it does, it will rise from the heart of Europe.
To learn more about these prophecies, read “Who Is the Beast?”
Watch Europe closely
The Bible reveals that Europe will once again rise to prominence as the cradle of a revived version of the old Roman Empire, and recent events are accelerating the pace of its rise.
We should continue to watch Europe closely as its nation-states strengthen themselves and push for deeper economic and military integration.
With a deep history of militarism and aggression, Germany is likely to provide the leadership for the final revival of the Roman Empire.
Considering Germany’s history and the words of prophecy, the world should not take Germany’s rearmament lightly. It is one of the most significant developments since the end of World War II.
The testimony of history is clear: When Germany rearms, the world should tremble.
In addition to watching what’s happening in Europe and Germany, we should also closely watch the rise and integration of the eastern nations—particularly Russia and China—as they become more autocratic and hostile to the West.
We should also keep a close eye on the Middle East—because developments in Israel and the Muslim world will play a major part in the final world war of the end times.
While many nations believe that peace can be achieved through superior military force, this approach will result in only war, not peace. Thankfully, beyond all the war and doom, there is good news!
Jesus Christ is returning to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God (Revelation 11:15). When we see these events happening, we will know that God’s Kingdom is drawing near.
“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place . . . 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” (Luke 21:31-32, 36).
Continue watching and praying!
Learn more in our free booklet How to Understand Prophecy.
About the Author
Isaac Khalil
Isaac Khalil is husband to his lovely wife, Natasha, and father to son Eli and daughter Abigal. He loves to spend time with family and friends doing various things like watching movies, playing chess, playing board games and going out. He enjoys studying biblical topics and discussing the Bible with his friends. He is also a news junkie and is constantly reading and sharing news connected with Bible prophecy.
