This week Jimmy DeYoung of Prophecy Today is reporting on a European Union proposal to create a Super European Presidency, with enormous power. This plan will merge the roles of the presidents of the European Union Council and the European Commission, to form an over-all European presidency, elected by the European parliament.

The person in this position would have control over all fiscal matters, foreign policy, and any military action, in which Europe participates. This person would become the supreme leader of Europe and would not only be instrumental in further uniting all of Europe, but would have the final say in the way Europe interacts with the world.

Mr. DeYoung’s perspective is that this person will lead the revived Roman empire and one of these presidents will be the Antichrist. Citing Daniel 7:7, 7:8, 23-24, Mr. DeYoung states that this person will fill the role written of by Daniel the prophet some 2,700 years ago.

I have a question for you to ponder for a moment; What if Mr. DeYoung, and other prophecy scholars, are wrong on this point? What if events appear to confirm what they are saying, but this president is actually a decoy, or patsy? What if Satan actually has some tricks up his sleeve?

In researching for The Spirit of Prophecy I started with the idea that the European Union is the fulfilment of these prophecies. As I did further study, however, I realized that the Antichrist will not come from Europe, but from the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, and most likely from the nation just to the east of Israel, across the river.

So, why is there confusion over which city is the “city of seven mountains”, spoken of in Revelation 17? Could it be Rome, or some other city?

My conclusion, and the best answer I have seen, is that Rome is a decoy, intended to distract attention away from the real city of seven mountains, Amman.

I expect that this European Presidency will progress to the point that there is a man in that office who very closely resembles the picture of the Antichrist, which has been painted by many of our prophecy scholars, for many years.

As Mr. DeYoung states, this man will have control over Europe’s army, and foreign policy. I also expect him to be involved in brokering a peace treaty between Israel and the Arabs after the Psalm 83 war. During that war Israel will be forced into using weapons of mass destruction against her enemies. I expect that the peace treaty which results, in the aftermath of this war, will require Israel to relinquish her nuclear weapons, in exchange for a guarantee of protection from the European army.  We can also expect this treaty to allow Israel to begin the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem.

In order to ensure Israel’s security from further attack by the Arabs, they too will be required to disarm, and may be under some sort of administrative control by Israel herself. This would explain why the Arabs are only able to lodge a diplomatic protest when the next attack against Israel occurs. Ezekiel 38:13 speaks of these nations as Sheba, Dedan, and Tarshish, who say to the enemies of Israel “Art thou come to take a spoil?” Notice that the word “come” indicates their near proximity to Israel.

The problem with Mr. DeYoung’s interpretation is that both the Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 wars are Church Age events, and the European president will most likely be destroyed during the second war, commonly known as Gog/Magog. These two wars, and the intervening period of peace, will be interpreted as being the Tribulation period itself. There are many similarities between these wars and the accounts of the Tribulation, and Armageddon. I believe that Satan himself has the power to create even more similarities, than I have already noted.

The key is that we need to study the details, and not just the “big picture”.

If the European Union President guarantees Israel’s security, then, when the Russo/Iranian coalition attack Israel, they will first have to eliminate the European threat. As many have noted, Iran is today attempting to produce nuclear weapons. They have wanted to since the Shaw was in power, and I predict that their efforts will shortly be thwarted, by either Israel, or an international coalition. Probably the latter.

Once Iran is allied with Russia, they won’t need to develop their own nuclear weapons. I expect the Russo/Iranian coalition will use at least one nuclear weapon on the European president’s home town/capital city. I expect that city to be Rome, Italy.

I think we will find that the pope will back this European leader in his take-over of Europe. The pope could well be identified as the false prophet of the book of Revelation. I would expect these two men to be together when they are both destroyed, and this event will be interpreted as fulfilment of Revelation 17 and 18. The Gog/Magog war, which immediately follows, will be interpreted as Armageddon. Many have done so already, but there are some problems with this interpretation.

The Gog and Magog war will be followed by the rise of the Antichrist! Armageddon, however, will be ended by the return of Jesus Christ! Those who allegorize Scripture will be willing to accept the idea that Jesus does not really return, but that another will take over in His place… The Antichrist!

This is why the allegorical interpretation of Scripture is incredibly dangerous! Amillennialism, and Preterism, are both based on this interpretation method, and I’m afraid many followers of these Eschatologies will end up supporting, and following, the Antichrist!

Mr. DeYoung, as a dispensationalist, is essentially correct in his big picture understanding, but he has missed some important details. These omissions can play into the hands of the Antichrist, unless he backtracks first.

The European President will not be the Antichrist, but a patsy the real Antichrist can point to to say “the Antichrist is dead! Now we can create the kingdom of God on earth. It’s up to us!”