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| Why Friedrich Merz Can’t Rule Europe |
New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the handover of office in the chancellery on May 6
Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
Perhaps a king but not an emperor
By Josué Michels • May 6, 2025
Germany narrowly averted a national crisis. For the first time in its postwar history, a designated chancellor failed to secure the necessary parliamentary support in the first round of voting. Stock markets quivered; weeks of political uncertainty loomed. Within parliament, suspicion simmered as lawmakers sensed rebels among their own ranks. What should have been a triumphant day for Friedrich Merz appeared to be a calamity.
Merz didn’t want to wait to end the uncertainty, so he demanded that a second vote be held the same day. After all, his schedule was already full for the week with plans to visit the leaders of Poland and France.
To repeat the vote required the approval of two thirds of parliament. This meant Merz’s conservatives had to rely on the votes of the far left—the heirs of East Germany’s Communist regime—with whom they had sworn never to cooperate. The toad had to be swallowed. Yet even then, it remained unclear whether the dissidents merely sought to humiliate Merz or were prepared to plunge Germany into deeper uncertainty by rejecting him again in a second vote.
The hours that followed may have been the most agonizing of Merz’s political career. His lifelong ambition to become chancellor had never been so near, yet so uncertain.
The vote was repeated, the mutiny dissolved, and Friedrich Merz was confirmed as Germany’s new chancellor. His relief must now be mixed with the fear that another political defeat could be around the corner.
Germany’s new chancellor has fought through countless setbacks. The timing of his election, the makeup of his government and the character of the man himself may offer valuable insight into where we stand in Bible prophecy.
Not an Emperor
In April, Britain’s Telegraph was hopeful that Merz could fill Europe’s leadership void, writing an article titled “Friedrich Merz: The Man Europe Has Been Waiting For.“Friedrich Merz: The Man Europe Has Been Waiting For.” After the debacle, it published “Friedrich Merz Was Supposed to Lead Europe. Now He’s Fallen Flat on His Face,” concluding, “Germany’s Mr. Tough has become Mr. Trousers-round-his-ankles.”
EuroIntelligence believes that his time in office is numbered: “There is a material risk that this coalition won’t last to the end. Next year and 2027, there will be five state elections each, a massive concentration of elections to happen in the first half-term of this government, with plenty of opportunities for voters to register their discontent.”
Politico wrote, “Merz Is Weakened From Day 1. Europe Will Pay the Price.” Jana Puglierin, head of the Berlin office of the European Council on Foreign Relations, noted: “The whole of Europe looked to Berlin today in the hope that Germany would reassert itself as an anchor of stability and a pro-European powerhouse. That hope has been dashed. With consequences way beyond our borders.”
Even many Germans are skeptical. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote, “This Setback Will Hurt Merz for a Long Time to Come.”
Europe was looking to Germany for a savior amid great crises. While many hoped for a leader akin to an emperor of old who could give directions to the whole continent, they found a man who may barely be able to hold his own coalition government together.
People rightfully ask, How can a man lead Europe if he can’t rule his own household?
This is exactly what Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry foretold in his Trumpet Brief last week: “Europe Needs Someone Greater Than a German Chancellor.” He wrote:
Friedrich Merz will become Germany’s next chancellor on Tuesday. For years, Europe has suffered a leadership vacuum. Growing threats in the world demand stronger leadership, especially from Germany. Many people hope Merz will help fill that vacuum. …
However, based on Bible prophecy, the late Herbert W. Armstrong believed it would take an office greater than that of a German chancellor to provide the leadership Europe is yearning for. End-time prophecy speaks of one overarching strongman who rules over 10 kings governing a European superstate.
If anyone had any doubts before this, it is now clear that Merz won’t be able to provide this overarching leadership. But could he be one of the prophesied 10 kings?
The Rise of 10 Kings
Approximately one third of the Bible is dedicated to prophecy, the vast majority of which has an end-time focus. But even though the Bible is the most-read book in the world, few pay attention to these passages.
As the late Herbert W. Armstrong explained in The Proof of the Bible, Daniel 2 prophesies of four successive world-ruling empires, starting with Babylon and followed by the Persian, Greek and Roman empires.
Rome entered a church-state union with the Roman Catholic Church forming the “Holy Roman Empire.” Daniel 2 and 7 and Revelation 13 and 17 show this empire would be resurrected multiple times, with the final resurrection ruled by 10 kings.
“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13).
Commenting on this passage, Mr. Armstrong wrote in the October 1962 Plain Truth: “The beast, then, is the leader, or ruler, over all—and 10 other dictator-kings, or lesser rulers over 10 European nations or nation-groups.” In 1951, he wrote: “These 10 lesser dictators over the 10 European nations are to unite with the supreme fuhrer and with the pope to reestablish the Roman Empire—but only for a very short duration.”
These 10 kings will be fed up with democracy and set themselves up as dictators, ignoring democratic norms. But their power will be limited: They will submit to an overarching leader. Merz’s recent struggle and weak coalition may pave the way for this overarching leader to rise. But there are also indications that Merz could be one of these prophesied 10 kings. Mr. Flurry further explained in our April 2025 issue:
We believe there will be one supreme king over 10 kings. (There is a slight possibility that there could be just 10 kings total and that the leadership would come out of Germany.) Given that Revelation 17 is a prophecy of a church-state combine known as the Holy Roman Empire, Mr. Armstrong strongly believed that those leaders would be Catholic.
We may be seeing some indications who the dictator-king, or lesser ruler, over Germany could be. Friedrich Merz is a Roman Catholic who has repeatedly called for a guiding culture in Germany based on Christian, or rather Catholic, values. He is also an outspoken advocate for a European army. Since his party won the election, he has been acting with unusual urgency and zeal to create a militarized Germany—even defying democratic norms doing so. Furthermore, he enjoys the support of [Karl-Theodor zu] Guttenberg, who we believe may be the “one supreme king.”
While there is room for plot twists, and it is far from certain, here is what suggests he could fulfill this role.
The German Catholic news agency reported on Monday that at least 10 members of Germany’s new government are Catholic, including Merz. In addition, the new government includes a Chaldean Catholic, three members belonging to Protestant churches, a nonreligious Jew and six more ministers of undisclosed religion.
His first foreign visits to Poland and France the day after his inauguration also give more proof that he wants to strengthen European defense. In France, Merz stated: “We will intensify cooperation at all levels and develop further formats.” This applies in particular to the area of defense and armaments cooperation. “We must further increase defense spending in all member states,” he added.
Merz’s urgency was again on center stage when he demanded the vote be repeated so he could continue with his travel plans.
We have also seen more proof of the fact Merz is enjoying Guttenberg’s support. On April 28, Katherina Reiche was revealed as the next minister for economic affairs. The same day it was publicly confirmed that Reiche is in a relationship with Guttenberg. Through her and his connection to Merz, Guttenberg will likely have considerable influence on the new German government.
For many years, Mr. Flurry has pointed to Guttenberg as the most likely man to fulfill the role of Europe’s overarching king. We may see a growing connection between one of Europe’s 10 kings and the prophesied overarching emperor. To learn more, read Mr. Flurry’s recent article Europe Needs Someone Greater Than a German Chancellor.”
Where It Will Lead
World events show we are nearing the fulfillment of the Bible’s most fascinating prophecies. But notice the most exciting part of these prophecies: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).
Whoever fills the highest offices in Europe’s rising superpower, they are a sign that man’s rule over man is about to be replaced by God’s Kingdom.
source:
https://www.thetrumpet.com/31517-why-friedrich-merz-cant-rule-europe.
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