PCG’s Gerald Flurry is wrong claiming that the global crisis will cut Europe to ten nations

Gerald Flurry

Gerald Flurry of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (PCG) posted the following:

July 31, 2015

One of the greatest prophecies in all the Bible is about the union of European nations. More specifically, it’s about the political union of 10 European nations.For decades, people in Europe have tried to forge a cohesive political union. To that end, they have created the present, loosely hinged 28-nation European Union. Yet Revelation 17 says there are going to be 10 kings there that are going to unite politically and form a real superpower: a modern-day Holy Roman Empire.

Bible prophecy also reveals that this European superpower will be led by a strong German leader who will essentially hijack the European Union.

The prophesied political union of 10 nations in Europe is being fulfilled before your eyes. And the United States is playing a key role in that union—in a negative way.

It is happening in a way that was predicted three decades ago by Herbert W. Armstrong! …

On June 16, the Congressional Budget Office warned that government debt is threatening to send U.S. economy into a death spiral.

Europe’s Reaction

Greece is the latest European victim of America’s debt crisis. That nation’s troubles are threatening trouble to other nations in Europe.

But they are also presenting opportunities for a more compact Europe.

The prophecy in Revelation 17 discusses the seven times that the Roman Empire would be resurrected as the Holy Roman Empire—from the Middle Ages all the way up to our present day. These resurrections are depicted as the seven heads of a beast. …

Revelation 17:12-13 is about a more streamlined Europe, and Greece’s crisis is showing us how it all will happen. These verses say, “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.”

This is the last head of that Holy Roman Empire, and it’s going to have 10 kings. It won’t have 28 kings—it will have 10, and that is what this financial crisis is going to trigger and promote in a powerful way. …

Herbert W. Armstrong predicted years ago that the collapse of the western world’s financial system, led by the United States, would unite those 10 nations into what is called the Holy Roman Empire—led by Germany.

Gerald Flurry claims to be God’s prophet and apostle. Yet, he is a false prophet and false apostle.

Even his latest post helps prove that.

How?

Well, while it is true that financial and other world events involving the USA will be factors for Europe reorganizing to become the final King of the North Beast power, none of that changes the fact that the Bible does not teach that Europe will have ten currently existing nations as the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13 or the ten toes of Daniel 2:41-43. Nor was that the late Herbert W. Armstrong’s teaching–as will be shown later in this post.

Now below we see two future reorganizations that the Bible says will happen in Europe:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:11-13)

What are these verses saying that there will be ten of?

The term translated in English from the Greek in Revelation 17:12, basileís (Greek characters βασιλεïς), as “kings,” essentially means “possessor of the highest office of a political realm” (Bauer’s A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Church Literature, 3rd edition. FW Danker editor. 2000, University of Chicago Press, pp. 169-170).

Also the biblical fact that these ‘kings’ had no kingdom prior to becoming kings also helps prove that this is not a reference to ten currently existing nations. Furthermore, the term translated in English as “kingdoms” from the Greek in Revelation 17:12, basileín (Greek characters βασιλεíαν), means “royal administrations” (Ibid, pp. 168-169) is not specifically referring to existing nations.

It also should be noted that the Greek terms normally translated as “nation” or “nations” (Strong’s word 1484) is not used in Revelation 17:12. Although the term for nations is in that chapter (verse 15), it is not part of what is happening in Revelation 17:12 or 17:13. If God wanted to specify ten existing nations, He could have inspired Revelation 17:12 to be worded differently.

Yet, some have oddly concluded that Revelation 17:12 specifies that ten currently existing nations, and only ten currently existing nations, will turn their power over to ten new leaders (who will then give it to the final Beast). But that limitations on ten existing nations is not consistent with what the Greek states. And while one does not need to be an expert in Greek to understand the Bible, one should not insist that the Greek states something it does not if one truly wants to understand the Bible.

Some COG groups, like PCG and LCG, have changed the historic COG understanding of this and have sometimes insisted that the ‘ten kings’ refers to 10 currently existing nations (LCG has published it is 10 or 11 nations, but sometimes says groups). PCG, however, has consistently insisted on the ‘ten nations’ position–which Gerald Flurry did again today–yet that is something that the Bible does not teach.

Herbert W. Armstrong clearly realized that the ten did NOT have to mean only ten nations and that groups were likely as that is consistent with the term kingdoms. Herbert W. Armstrong did not predict Europe would end up having to be ten nations. Notice some of his writings related to that:

“And in the days of these kings…” it is here speaking of the ten toes, part of iron and part of brittle clay. This, by connecting the prophecy with Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 and 17, is referring to the new UNITED STATES OF EUROPE which is now forming, out of the European Common Market, before your very eyes! Revelation 17:12 makes plain the detail that it shall be a union of TEN KINGS OR KINGDOMS which (Rev. 17:8) shall resurrect the old ROMAN EMPIRE.

So, mark carefully the time element! “In the days of these kings” — in the days of these ten nations or groups of nations that shall, IN OUR TIME, resurrect briefly the Roman Empire — notice what shall happen:

“… shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed… but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever”! (Armstrong HW. Just What Do You Mean… The KINGDOM OF GOD? Tomorrow’s World, June 1969)

“And in the days of these kings …” it is here speaking of the ten toes, part of iron and part of brittle clay. This, by connecting the prophecy with Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 17, is referring to the new UNITED STATES OF EUROPE which is now forming, out of the European Common Market, before your very eyes! Revelation 17:12 makes plain the detail that it shall be a union of TEN KINGS OR KINGDOMS which (Rev. 17:8) shall resurrect the medieval “holy” ROMAN EMPIRE.

So, mark carefully the time element! “In the days of these kings” — in the days of these ten nations or groups of nations that shall, IN OUR TIME, resurrect briefly the Roman Empire — notice what shall happen:

“… shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever”! (Armstrong HW. Incredible Human Potential, book, 1978)

“In the days of these kings”—in the days of these ten nations or groups of nations that shall, in our time, resurrect briefly the Roman Empire—notice what shall happen: “… shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed … but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever”! (Armstrong HW. 7 PROOFS OF GOD’S TRUE CHURCH: Part Four. Plain Truth, May 1979).

Prophecy says there will be TEN NATIONS (or groups of nations such as Benelux) but it does not say WHICH nations. The WHICH nations is speculation, but current rapid-fire news happenings do give us significant clues. (Armstrong HW. Brethren & Co-Worker Letter, February 18, 1980)

These prophecies depict detailed ADVANCE NEWS of one more, last revival of this empire, yet to occur, by a union of 10 nations, or groups of nations, in Europe. (Armstrong HW. What Is Now Prophesied! Plain Truth, June 1985)

Consider that although Gerald Flurry brought the name of the late Herbert W. Armstrong with his teaching, that Gerald Flurry is pushing a position that is contrary to what late Herbert W. Armstrong’s actually held. But more importantly, Gerald Flurry is insisting on something that is not consistent with the scriptures, which is one of the reasons why I believe that he is a false prophet.

Furthermore, since PCG was able to pay for the rights of the book The Mystery of the Ages, perhaps they may wish to reflect on what of the late Herbert W. Armstrong’s taught on this point in that book:

“And in the days of these kings…”–it is here speaking of the ten toes, part of iron and part of brittle clay. This, by connecting the prophecy with Daniel 7, and Revelation 13 and 17, is referring to the new UNITED STATES OF EUROPE that is now forming, out of the European Common Market, before your very eyes! Revelation 17:12 makes plain the detail that it shall be a union of TEN KINGS OR KINGDOMS that (Rev. 17:8) shall resurrect the old ROMAN EMPIRE. So, mark carefully the time element! “In the days of these kings”–in the days of these then nations or groups of nations that shall, IN OUR TIME, resurrect briefly the Roman Empire… (The members of the European Common Market are probably not the same ten that will resurrect the Holy Roman Empire.) (Armstrong HW. Mystery of the Ages. Dood, Mead & Company, New York, 1985, pp. 301,302-303)

Now getting back to Europe itself, are any of the leaders there looking at reorganizing?

Absolutely.

Recently, a consolidation/reorganization was proposed by New Europe which wants regions and not mainly nation states to make up Europe (see New Europe: Europe must reorganize into regions and not nation states). That is consistent with the historical COG position that the ten will include groups of nations (and even those will not need to necessarily keep with current national borders).

Notice also that the late Dr. Herman Hoeh, under Herbert Armstrong’s direction, taught that the little horn of Daniel 8 was the power that would become the final King of the North of Daniel 11:

Turn in your Bible to verse 9: “And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.” …

The King of the North

The little horn in Daniel 8 is none other than the LAST KING of one of the four divisions of Alexander’s Empire. He is, in fact, the final “King of the North” described in Daniel 11. (Hoeh H. The 2300 Days. Plain Truth, August 1965)

The European Union itself arose from the Benelux nations of Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Notice that Daniel 8, the Bible prophesied that a little horn would expand:

9 And out of one of them came a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Glorious Land. 10 And it grew up to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them. 11 He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down. 12 Because of transgression, an army was given over to the horn to oppose the daily sacrifices; and he cast truth down to the ground. He did all this and prospered. (Daniel 8:9-12).

And while the above has had a past fulfillment, this prophecy seems to be dual (compare with Daniel 11:27-39). The European Union has mainly expanded south and east of which is where it initially formed (Benelux). Now, approximately 500 million people are now under a new, single (though not completed united) government, called the European Union, headquartered in Brussels. Reorganizations will happen as the Bible prophesies.

The end result will be that the Beast power will arise, it will become a military power, and it will surprise many (Revelation 13:1-4). Sadly, that will include most of those that believe that they are in the true Church of God (see also Where is the True Christian Church Today?).

Those who insist that it must have ten currently existing nations when it does, will not properly recognize it when it forms. Those that follow false teaching that the final Beast power must have ten currently existing nations will not realize that the Great Tribulation will start until it is too late to flee (watch also the sermon titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation).

Gerald Flurry and others with the wrong view about Revelation 17:12-13 need to repent (cf. Revelation 3:14-18).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous. A related sermon is titled Ten Kings of Revelation and the Great Tribulation.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
WTO/TTIP and the Babylonian Beast Will international trade agreements like WTO/TTIP/CETA lead to the fulfillment of end time prophecies concerning the Babylonian Beast power that the Book of Revelation warns against? What does the Bible teach? A related video would be WTO Trade Deal and the Rise of the European Beast Power.
Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
What About the Living Church of God? Are there Doctrinal Differences with the Continuing Church of God? This article explains some information and doctrines of the Living Church of God as led by Roderick C. Meredith and some concerns about them. En el idioma español: ¿Qué hay acerca de la Iglesia de Dios Viviente? ¿Hay diferencias doctrinales con la Continuación de la Iglesia de Dios?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a related sermon titled Germany in Bible Prophecy. Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 188 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Hillary Clinton and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also discusses Republicans. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Hillary Clinton Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Hopi, and other America-Related Prophecies? $11.99.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version of the 188 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon Kindle edition.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.