Who are the present End Time powers? Some scholars say you cannot take Scripture and compare events in the news. Others believe current events are important yet neglect recent history. Despite Scripture, Jewish religious leaders were unaware about Jesus Christ's First Coming and the world is just as unaware about Jesus Christ's Second Coming.

You can discern the face of the sky; but can you not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3).

Commentaries written thirty years ago are out-of-date because three Iraq Wars change everything. Look at a map to see the End Times. China, European Union, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Russia and United States are described in Bible prophecy. In God's plan, prophecy is all about regime change. By the Second Coming, all nations fall and Jesus Christ reigns.

God is sovereign over all peoples and keeps nations in check. Look at the world from God's perspective. He makes nations rise and fall and uses all things for good. His purpose since creation has been the redemption of humanity through Jesus Christ. God has stirred up nations and reached out to individuals so that people repent from their sins and turn to God.

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding (Daniel 2:20-21).

In algebra, A + B = C. A is the current nations: America is superpower. C is fulfilled Bible prophecy: Christ reigns. B is the unknown of how to get from America to Christ. The unknown is known by understanding history, current events and prophecy. The End Time powers are ready for the Tribulation.

There is a way to connect the dots, to anticipate future headlines.
----Joel Rosenberg, Epicenter

End Time Nations

United States

The United States is the undisputed superpower. It is the leading economy, military, government, agriculture, innovator and culture in the world. It sends more missionaries and humanitarian aid to foreign countries. It is a member of the United Nations Security Council, G-8 (Group of Eight), G-20 (Group of Twenty) economic leaders, NATO, nuclear club and Quartet on the Middle East (European Union, Russia, United Nations, United States) (Revelation 13:2). See Daniel's Dream. It uses its economic and military resources to spread democracy, improve human rights and increase wealth.

After the Soviet Union fell, America became the only superpower. The United States is coasting on its past greatness as a shadow of its former glory. It is undermined by government spending, trade deficits and bureaucratic corruption. Taxes and interest payments rise as the value of the dollar falls. As a result, Americans lose more liberty and the federal government gains more power over our lives. Our dependence on foreign oil makes Middle East peace and fighting radical Islamic terrorism a national security priority. Losing good manufacturing jobs to Asia worsens economic problems.

Our actions result in global consequences. We saw the writing in the sky as America's days are numbered (Daniel 5:4-5). See 2024 Eclipse. The United States is missing as a leader during the Tribulation. Since the Cold War ended in 1991, we have seen a sharp decline of the United States. Nature abhors a vacuum. Our allies and enemies exploit our weaknesses and plot to replace us as the world's lone superpower.

We have been the recipient of the choicest bounties of Heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in number, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God.
----US President Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day, 1863

Just changing political parties, economic policy or society's morality will not fix the problem. America's economic crisis is a direct result of our rejection of God. That results in broken families, powerless churches, moral weakness and judgment from God. Only faithful Christians working together in strong churches have the Holy Spirit's power to change our communities and nation.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Through the World Wars, Iraq Wars and End Wars, the Bible describes in many details the great rise and even greater fall of the United States and rise of the next world superpower. See America in the Bible.

Russia

Russia, as part of the Soviet Union, was a superpower. After the Berlin Wall fell, the bear went into hibernation. It is still a political, economic and nuclear power supplying weapons to about eighty countries. It is the largest country by area and first in oil exports with Saudi Arabia second. As part of the United Nations Security Council, BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), Quartet on the Middle East and since 1997, partners with the European Union.

Since 2000, President Vladimir Putin has awakened Red Russia and reverted to old Soviet ways. He increased centralized power, bypassed the democratic process, reversed human rights and invaded Georgia and Ukraine. Russia joins China, Europe and radical Islam for future wars (Ezekiel 38:1-3, 8).

China

Since 2023, China is the second most populated country in the world with 1.4 billion people. It is a member of the United Nations Security Council, G-20, BRICS and nuclear club. The economy is third to the European Union and United States. Financial success results in a better standard of living for some citizens but not greater personal liberty. Problems exist with overpopulation and aging because of the one-child policy. China funds billions to countries for economic development but seizes ports and other national assets when borrowers default. A growing Chinese economy significantly increases its military. China is strengthening their control over the South China Sea.

The question that the American people have to ask is why it is that corporate America-with the active support of the president of the United States and the congressional leadership-is selling out the American people and making China the economic superpower of the 21st century.
----US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 2005

Both China and the United States compete for limited natural resources such as oil and iron. America is at a growing disadvantage because our federal deficits, imports and greedy corporations seek cheap labor. Some US politicians collect bribes from foreign countries. Red China will challenge the United States for world leader before their elderly population undermines their economy (Revelation 9:13-14, 15-16). In the last one thousand years, war always preceded a change of superpower.

India

India is the most populated country with 1.4 billion people and is a member of the G-20, BRICS and nuclear club. In 1947, India gained independence from the United Kingdom. With the help of its democracy, global trade and large English-speaking population, it is an emerging global power with a fast-growing economy. India has joined Brazil, Germany and Japan to request membership of the United Nations Security Council.

India faces major problems with overpopulation, poverty, corruption and ethnic strife. It has border disputes with China and Pakistan. After four wars, its relationship with nuclear Pakistan is a fragile coexistence. India's location, population and economy make a good counterbalance to China. Its workforce and growing economy make India an emerging world power. India joins the United States against China aggression.

Israel

Israel is a small country of 9.5 million people and is about the size of New Jersey. It has a good economy and stable democracy in the Middle East. Israel has a strong military and membership of nuclear club. Since 2000, Israel has been an associate member of the European Union.

In seventy-six years, Israel has been in eight wars with its Arab neighbors and constantly deals with Islamic terrorism especially from Iran and its proxies. Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and United Arab Emirates have diplomatic relations with Israel. One major problem to Middle East peace is border disputes with the Palestine territory and Syria. The United Nations is working on the two-state solution that causes the fall of the United States, the Tribulation and Armageddon (Joel 3:2).

Of all the nations and alliances, Israel is the least likely to conquer the world. After their last minute conversion, Israel will be the only nation standing after Jesus Christ returns at His Second Coming.

End Time Alliances

Besides individual nations, there is an unprecedented rush toward sixteen regional alliances based on the European Union model. Nations form a government that sets economic and trade policy. These unions control defense, security, foreign policy and currency. The biggest challenge is to integrate peoples, cultures, languages, nations and governments. When united together, alliances lead by consensus and provide weak countries more influence. However, top-down government weakens national sovereignty, democracy and individual liberty. God sets up nations to limit dictators and protect people. Without  opposition, one charismatic leader will become an all-powerful king of the world. See Unholy Trinity.

European Union

The European Union is the most advanced supranational alliance with twenty-seven member states, twenty+ associates and twenty-four official languages. Since the Roman Empire divided in 476, various leaders from Charlemagne to Hitler attempted to reunite the region by war. Finally in 1950, six countries of the former Holy Roman Empire unite based on economic resources. The EU has grown to be the largest economy in the world. It promotes tolerance and multiculturalism. The EU has the Euro currency and with the Union for the Mediterranean, a land mass greater than the original Roman Empire.

What is this sovereign remedy? It is to re-create the European family, or as much of it as we can, and to provide it with a structure under which it can dwell in peace, in safety and in freedom. We must build a kind of United States of Europe.
----Prime Minister Winston Churchill, United Kingdom, 1946

The EU is a complete government with executive, legislative and judicial branches. It deals with the economy, trade, agriculture, energy, environment, transportation, defense, foreign policy and security. France, Germany and Italy are the largest economies. France is a members of the United Nations Security Council and has nuclear weapons. Twenty-three nations are part of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). The EU is part of the G-8, G-20 and Quartet on the Middle East. The European Defense Agency supplies troops for the military. The EU sees itself as a counter balance to the United States. In 2020, United Kingdom left the EU but returns (Revelation 13:2).

What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man and be he god or devil, we will receive him.
----Paul Henri Spaak, prime minister of Belgium, president of the UN General Assembly, president of the European Union Parliament, secretary general of NATO

The EU has many issues to solve before its rise to superpower. The socialist policies of PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece Spain) exposed weaknesses in the EU. After the United States falls, the European Union fills the void returns (Revelation 17:12-13). Lacking a spiritual foundation, moral character and political will, it is doomed to fall more quickly than it rises.

End Time Religions

After nations and economic alliances, two major religious alliances exist. Islam and Catholicism have many worshipers and religious structures that influence the world during the End Times.

Islam

Islam has about 2 billion members. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has fifty-seven members that have authority over twenty-five percent of the world's population (Revelation 6:7-8). See Green Horse. Despite the conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, secular (Saudi Arabia) and theocratic (Iran) nations, Islam is a world power in End Times.

Islamic nations are united by a political and religious system. Oil is a powerful economic and political asset of Iran, Iraq, Libya, the Persian Gulf states and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has nuclear weapons and Iran is working to develop them. Peace between Israel and Palestine is a critical foreign-policy issue.

Catholicism

For the last 1700 years, the Roman Catholic Church has been an influential world power. The Church was instrumental in leading the Crusades and controlled the Holy Roman Empire. Today, Catholicism has a worldwide structure with about 1.4 billion members. According to prophecy, the closer we get to the end of the age, the worse apostasy becomes. Many Christians in name only from Catholics and Protestant churches will abandon their faith. During the Tribulation, the apostate church will merge with false religions then unite with the political world power. See Unholy Trinity.

End Time Government

United Nations

The United Nations is a multinational alliance of 193 countries. From the start, it has failed in its mission to stop war. However, it has transformed into a powerful economic and political force controlling the World Bank, World Trade Organization, World Court, World Health Organization, International Monetary Fund and global environmental policy. These global initiatives become the policy of member states. The United Nations will be merged into world government during the Tribulation.

China                   Symbol, Events, Jewish Dates
European Union   Symbol, Events, Jewish Dates
India                    Symbol, Event, Jewish Dates
Iran                      Name, Event, Jewish Dates
Iraq                      Name, Events, Jewish Dates
Israel                    Name, Symbol, Events, Jewish Dates
Russia                  Name, Symbol, Events, Jewish Dates
United States       Symbols, Events, Jewish Dates

End Time Powers

The United States is the current world superpower. Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Islam and Russia can rise to become a superpower within the twenty-first century and take our place. The Bible describes events that explain why America falls, who pushes us off the hill and who takes our place as superpower. In the fight to control the world, there can be only one winner. God uses the nations of the world to accomplish His plan.

Take a good look at the current End Time map. Instead of focusing on national borders, look at the alliances. What are the powers that rule the world? What are their philosophies and goals? What are their strength and weaknesses? Who are their allies and enemies? Look at the world from God's perspective. Through prophecy, the Bible describes seven End Time powers: Apostasy, Capitalism, Communism, European Union, Islam, Israel and United Nations. All of these powers fall before Jesus Christ reigns.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars - Chapter 20: Players in the Game, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, 21st Century View

Basic Prophesy Principles

4. Like the rest of the Bible, End Time prophecy can be understood. Just as humanity complicates God's simple plan of salvation, we also complicate prophecy.

5. Unlike other doctrines of the Bible, End Time prophecy is changing with time. When one prophecy is unsealed, fulfilled and revealed, other prophecies are better understood.