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like a rider guides a horse (Rev.
17:3).
T he prophetic picture is clear.
In the face of a growing commu–
nist threat, a great political fig–
ure-arm-in-arm with a powerful
religious leader-will step into the
gaping void of leadership and radi–
cally alter the direction of both
Europe and the Catholic Church.
In these turbulent last days of
the 20th century, the "spiritual
unity" of the Continent-as so
often urged by recent popes and
political leaders- wi/1 be real–
ized!
The Church will surmount the
ideological division of Europe and,
in turn, the política! influence of a
united Europe will be used to pro–
mote religious uniformity. Many of
the Church's "wayward daughters"
will be brought back into the
"mother-fold."
Man of the Hour
Now notice
how
this religious–
political configuration is beginning
to take shape.
As students of Bible prophecy
understand, the ' 'ten horns"
(1
O
nations or groups of nations) of
Revelation l 7 correspond to the
1O toes on the great statue
described in Daniel 2. The proph–
ecy of Daniel reveals that these 1O
entities will constitute a political
system that will exist at the return
of Jesus Christ to establish the
Kingdom of God on this earth
(Dan. 2:44-45).
T here are, of course, five toes on
each foot. This may well indicate
that, as historically, the coming
reconstituted Roman Empire will
include elements of both
Western
and
Central
Europe! (Central
Europe as used here, refers to that
tier of states west of Russia and
east of the nations of Western
Europe.)
Will sorne nations of Central
Europe-now behind the Iron Cur–
tain-succeed in freeing them–
selves- or being freed-from So–
viet domination?
The Kremlin
fears
the Polish
Pope-politically the most
powerful pope of modero times.
John Paul II is indeed in a unique
position to lay the groundwork for
April
1982
ultimate partlC!pation of Central
Europe in the master plan of Euro–
pean unity. As Malachi Martín has
also observed, "Karol Wojty–
la .. . seems to have been born for
this hour."
John Paul II has had a great
impact on lron Curtain politics.
His voice is the source of enormous
influence in that region. Many even
in Central Europe's I ron Curtain
countries have caught his vision of
a pan-European Christian alliance
and her neighbors, weakening the
hold of the Kremlin sufficiently to
open the way for a political deal
between Europe and the Kremlin
that would allow elements of Central
Europe to associate themselves with
an evolving West European power.
Vatican specialists point out,
however, that it might be left to a
subsequent
pop~ne
with less of
a personal preoccupation with
Poland-to assemble the continent–
wide unity package. In other words,
POTENTIAL ROMAN CATHOLIC INFLUENCE
in Europe is illustrated by the above
map. Vatican initiatives toward unity with other churches could further extend papal
authority in its confrontation with communism and secularism.
against the secular materialism of
both East and Wes
t.
Austrian Cardinal Franz Koenig
has observed of the Soviet satellite
countries " ... Marxism asan intel–
lectual doctrine is no longer of
importance among the young gen–
eration. They are looking for a spir–
itual orientation, a spiritual sup–
port, and here the religious sphere
offers itself very strongly...."
Vatican observers speculate that
John Paul II's voice might continue
to stir nationalistic fervor in Poland
someone geared to think and act in
the tradition of the great medieval
statesman-popes.
Dramatic T imes
Events are taking shape that will
radically change the face of the
European continent. The coming
Renovatio imperii Romanorum–
"restoration of the empire of the
Romans"-will astound the world!
Europe-and the Church of
Rome-wi ll once again be powers
to reckon with. o
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