Sanctions and government policies hurting Europe–some say European empire was doomed by its flag and other choices, but …

EU Flag

Europe is being harmed by its sanctions policies against Russia. Notice the following:

Europe’s Russia Sanctions Are a Shot to the Foot

December 15, 2022

At the center of the EU’s plan to punish Russia is an effort to eliminate its dependence on the cheap Russian energy that long powered its growth, including by increasing its reliance on liquefied natural gas imported from the United States and elsewhere. But LNG has long been an overpriced (and carbon-intensive) alternative to piped gas: before Russia invaded Ukraine, it was 4-5 times more expensive than natural gas. Now, it is even more exorbitantly priced: since the war began, the cost of LNG has more than doubled.

But with the Kremlin slashing gas flows to Europe, in order to ensure that it – not the EU – dictates the timetable for phasing out Russian supplies, European countries have had little choice but to rely increasingly on LNG imports. This is creating serious challenges for Europe’s manufacturing base, to the point that some European firms are now considering shifting production to the US, which offers not only cheaper fuel, but also massive subsidies and tax credits under its new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

Already, Europe’s decision to turn its back on Russian gas has increased the likelihood of a deep recession. Skyrocketing gas prices – which are a staggering 14 times higher than two years ago – have fueled inflation and destabilized eurozone financial markets. So, just when Europe’s economies are on the brink of contraction, the cost of living is spiking – and the threat of rolling power outages looms. European policymakers’ adoption of desperate measures like price caps and regulated tariffs could well exacerbate the situation. …

If the EU is enduring so much pain, while Russia’s aggression proceeds apace, sanctions become tantamount to self-flagellation. …

It will take years for Europe to recover from the unprecedented energy crisis that it has helped to create. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/europe-self-destructive-shift-away-from-russian-energy-by-brahma-chellaney-2022-12

Is Europe doomed?

Notice the following:

The End of Europe: The Conclusion of a Long Historical Cycle.

The failure of the European Union may have started with the choice of the flag. Not that state flags are supposed to be works of art, but at least they can be inspiring. But this flag is completely flat, unoriginal, and depressing. It looks mostly like a blue cheese pizza gone bad. And that’s just one of the many things gone bad with the European Union. (attempts to make it more appealing failed utterly). It is the conclusion of a thousand-year cycle that’s coming to an end. …

The latest (and perhaps the last) attempt to unify Europe was the European Union. The creators of the Union understood that it was impossible to unify Europe by military means, so they tried to do it in the form of an economic free zone and an elected parliament. It was a bold attempt, but it didn’t work. It could not have worked. The Union faced enormous hostile forces, both internal and external. Britain and France were supposed to be balancing the German power, but when Britain left, in 2020, the Union suffered an economic defeat equivalent to the military one suffered by Germany in the Battle of Britain, in 1940. In both cases, they had tried to absorb Britain into continental Europe, and they had failed.

The defection of Britain left the European Union with Germany dominating it. Just like during WW2, the German government never understood that throwing its weight around was not the way to endear itself with the neighboring states. The result was the growth of anti-European forces all over the continent — the movement called “sovereignty” that aimed to restore the power of nation-states and get rid of the EU bureaucrats. … Just like Germany had destroyed itself with a military attack on Russia in 1941, the European Union is destroying itself with its economic sanctions against Russia. Effectively, Europe is committing a slow and painful suicide. But that’s how full spectrum dominance works: it destroys enemies from the inside.

And now? It was unavoidable that Europe would cease to be an Empire. The human and material resources that had made European dominance possible are not there any longer. …

Europe has rebounded more than once from terrible disasters. It may happen again. Not soon, though. 12/12/22 https://www.senecaeffect.com/2022/12/the-end-of-europe.html

Europe is having problems.

The way it is now structured will change (cf. Revelation 17:12-13).

But is Europe doomed to not be able to rise up for decades?

No.

The authors of those articles posted here are not looking at biblical prophecies when they assess Europe.

They also miss something else.

When Europe was still recovering from being devastated in World War II, after attending a conference related to the start of the UN, in the December 1948 issue of The Plain Truth Herbert W. Armstrong predicted a coming “United States of Europe” when he wrote:

It was the SERMON that shot forth that spark, impregnating the minds of world leaders in attendance. This amazing sermon was delivered by a foremost radio speaker of the Catholic Church, Bishop Duane G. Hunt of Salt Lake City … Without the guidance, supervision, authority of the Catholic Church, he told these men, they were laboring in vain …

This was the Roman Catholic bid to resurrect the so-called “HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” ! And PROPHECY says they will succeed! … At the psychological time, the pope will step in … Thru this political movement, he will UNIFY … nations in Europe. It will be a “The UNITED STATES OF EUROPE,” but that probably will never become its official name. (Armstrong HW. Now It Can Be Told…The Plain Truth, December 1948, pp. 2,5).

Notice the that Roman Catholic church expected to be involved and that Herbert W. Armstrong agreed with that.

Brings me to something in the article that mentioned that the choice of its flag was potentially the first European failure.

Actually, it is a symbol of Roman Catholic Maryology influence that will help bring Europe closer together after going through several crises.

A while back, a reader sent me a link to an article in Italian, that I machine-translated into English. Here is some of what it said:

WHY NOW FOR THE ALLOY THE BLUE WILL REPLACE THE GREEN IN PONTIDA?

AND WHERE IS THE AZURE SYMBOL OF ITALY AND THAT (WITH THE TWELVE STARS) OF THE EUROPEAN FLAG?
Antonio Socci

A complaint arose yesterday from the front page of the “Giornale” : “Salvini even smashes blue at Forza Italia” . That “even” implied: in addition to the votes and the leadership of the center. …It all began on 21 June 1366 when Amedeo VI of Savoy set sail from Venice to the Holy Land, for the crusade wanted by Pope Urban V. On his flagship he waved the Savoy banner along with a blue banner with a crown of stars around it to the image of the Madonna. Which brings an invocation: “Mary Most Holy, help of Christians” .This is why the historian Luigi Cibrario – to whom we owe all this reconstruction – states: “ That color of heaven consecrated to Mary is, so far as I believe, the origin of our national color”. In fact, that Marian banner, after its first appearance on the ship of Amadeus VI, was taken over by some Savoy knights who began to gird themselves with blue scarves in honor of Our Lady.

It became the tradition of the officers and January 10, 1572 , by the will of Emanuele Filiberto , the blue scarf became solemnly part of the uniform of the Savoy and later the ‘ heraldry of the Kingdom of Italy .

The blue then marked the United Italy in military uniforms , then also in sports competitions from January 6, 1911 when it was worn by our national team in the game with Hungary in Milan.

So, if you consider the origin of that blue from the banner of the Madonna, you could also grasp a significant reference to Matteo Salvini who ended the last election campaign in Milan, in Piazza del Duomo, under “La Madunina”, showing from stage the crown of the Rosary and the Gospel .

THE EUROPEAN FLAG

Curiously, the iconography of the Marian banner of Amadeus VI of Savoy, which saw the Virgin surrounded by twelve stars, is exactly the same that in 1955 inspired the painter Arsène Heitz in creating the European flag: twelve golden stars in the blue field .

Arsène, a Catholic, wore around his neck the famous “Miraculous Medal” of Saint Catherine Labouré where there is precisely that image of the Madonna referring to the 12th chapter of the Apocalypse : “Then a great sign appeared in the sky: a woman dressed in sun with the moon under his feet and on his head a crown of twelve stars “ .

Later, after the adoption of his flag by the Council of Europe (among more than a hundred proposals), the painter revealed what his design and the Marian reference meant.<

But that symbolism should not really be unknown to the leadership of Europe at that time, which was not that secular and technocratic today , but it was the deeply Christian Europe of De Gasperi, Adenauer and Schumann (not by chance the Treaties of Rome, birth of a united Europe, were signed in Rome on March 25, 1957, the feast of the Annunciation and the Incarnation ).

To understand the spiritual horizon of men who made Europe, it must be said that Paul Michel Gabriel Lévy, born on November 27th, the day of the feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal , was an important Jewish intellectual who was deported by the Nazis to the concentration camp Braendonk, from where he fled in 1942. When he arrived in England he played a fundamental role in the liberation of prisoners from the Nazi death camps.

Lévy – second father Caillon – who became Catholic also presided over the commission for the “stained glass” of Europe, in the cathedral of Strasbourg .

There is the Virgin who takes her hands away to separate the European peoples who have waged war. At the top of the window is the twelve stars of the miraculous medal and the Apocalypse .

On December 13, 1955 , the Irish minister who presided over the Council of Europe, pronounced these solemn words to inaugurate the banner of Europe: “gentlemen, I have the honor to present this flag … waving for a long time, freely and in peace with the blessing of God “ .

In short, the blue of the Lega di Salvini, which incorporates Italian blue, has the same origin as the blue of the European flag, but of a Europe with solid Christian roots, not of Europe of Maastricht that has refused the reference to ” Christian roots “ . …

Blue is the color of Mary. I wonder if Calamandrei, who was a patriot, knew that Italian blue was coming from there. 30/06/18

Antonio Socci has long written on religious matters, and I even read a book he wrote on the ‘Lady of Fatima’ years ago.

As far as the EU flag goes, notice something that was in Vatican News back in 2012:

Symbolism of EU flag is Marian

22 October 2012

The symbol of Europe was conceived by a Catholic and tomorrow, for the first time, the statue of Our Lady of Fatima will be carried past the EU Parliament building…

Lorenzo Fontana and Mario Borghesio said the arrival of the statue of Our Lady of Fatima in Strasbourg is “a unique event.” “Few people know that the symbol of unified Europe has exquisitely Marian origins, as the European Union’s official flag proves with its twelve stars and the Virgin Mary’s blue and white colours.”…

A competition was held in order to choose the flag and French Catholic designer Arsène Heitz won. The meaning of the flag’s symbolism can be found in an image of Marian devotion…

Heitz was inspired by the “Miraculous Medal” he wore around his neck: a medal named after apparition of the Virgin Mary to St Catherine Laboure in 1830. It was the Virgin Mary who told the nun to have twelve stars struck on the medal, in representation of the the stars on the crown worn by the woman in the Book of Revelation. Saint Bernadette Soubirous also had a necklace made of tin and string around her neck when the Virgin Mary appeared to her on 11 February 1858, dressed in white and blue.

Arsène Heitz did not reveal the symbol’s biblical origin (he only did so later on), but claimed the number twelve was meant to symbolise ancient wisdom, a “symbol of completeness”. This interpretation stuck and the number was confirmed in the constitutional treaty. So the European flag has a powerful Christian and Marian significance. Tomorrow Mary will “take back” the EU. http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/inquiries-and-interviews/detail/articolo/europa-europe-19118/

(It may be of interest to note that the statue claimed to be the Lady of Fatima going to the EU does not look anything like how the three children who saw the apparition described it. For details, including pictures of the Fatima statue and what was really seen, please check out the book Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Roman Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.)

As far as the Vatican’s version of Mary goes, Pope Francis has announced two Marian holidays during his pontificate.

Pushing his version of ‘Mary’ is something Pope Francis has been doing for years. It is part of his ecumenical, interfaith, and European agendas.

European agenda?

Yes.

In addition to Pope Francis getting the Charlemagne Prize for his promoting of European unity (see Pope Francis given ‘Charlemagne Prize;’ EU leaders worried about EU’s future), the Church of Rome has other ties from ‘Mary’ to Europe.

Bible prophecy show that there will be something resembling a United States of Europe, with a dictatorial head (cf. Revelation 17:12-13). Biblical as well as Greco-Roman Catholic prophecy suggest that signs and enchantments from one called a “virgin” and “Lady” will happen at the time of the end (cf. Isaiah 47).

As far as the comment in the Vatican News that Mary will “take back” the EU, notice the following:

R. Gerald Culleton (20th century): During the reign of the Great Monarch and the Angelic Pastor the Catholic Church will spread throughout the world, conversions will be innumerable…The Blessed Virgin will be the chief one in gaining victory over all heresy…

Blessed Hieronymus Agathaghelos (1279): The Angel, Mary and John, along with the great and first among martyrs…will intercede.

Anna-Katrina Emmerick (July 12, 1820): When the Mass had ended, Mary came up to Henry (the Emperor), and she extended her right hand towards him, saying that it was in recognition of his purity. Then, she urged him not to falter…

Catholic writer Yves Dupont (20th century): Henry is the Great Monarch…The Blessed Virgin urges him not to falter.

Saint Louis de Montfort (18th century): These great souls…shall be singularly devouted to our Blessed Lady, illuminated by her nourishment, led by her spirit, supported by her arm, and sheltered under her protection, so that they shall fight in one hand and build with the other. With the one hand they shall fight, overthrow and crush the heretics with their heresies, the schismatics with their schisms…

The Ecstatic of Tours: …the French people will… implore the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Immaculate…The French people will ask for the good King…this King…will ascend to the throne; he will free the church and reassert the Pope’s rights…

Sister Marie Lataste (died 1847): Peace shall return to the world because of Blessed Virgin Mary will breathe over the storms and quell them.

Pope Pius IX (died 1878): We expect that the Immaculate Virgin…will gain in influence from day to day among all nations and in all places, prosper and rule from ocean to ocean…to the ends of the earth…there will be one fold and one shepherd. (Thiel B. Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions, 2nd edition. 2012, pp. 204-205)

The “Great Monarch” according to Greco-Roman Catholic mystics will be the final emperor of Europe, and according to various mystics, “Mary” will assist him in his objectives–including helping get Europeans (and others) to accept a more ecumenical form of Greco-Roman Catholicism. The heretics that the Marian apparitions are prophesied to crush include, in my view, true Christians–none of whom will want to be involved in praising false apparitions.

And Pope Francis is trying to push more Marianism.

There will be much more involving what is and will be claimed to be “Mary” than most, especially in Europe, realize. Notice the following:

In an apparition in Pfaffenhofen, Germany (which is not one of the approved Marian apparitions by the Vatican683), one some have claimed was Mary made the following assertions, on June 25, 1946, according to two related accounts:

In secret I will work marvels…till the number of victims is filled…shorten the days of darkness…Then, I can manifest myself to the world…Pray and offer sacrifices through me…

The Father wants the world to recognize His handmaid…My sign is about to appear. God wills it…I cannot reveal my power to the world as yet… Then I will be able to reveal myself…Pray and sacrifice through me!…I will impose crosses on my children that will be as heavy and as deep as the sea.

Notice that this apparition is claiming that in a future time, she will become known to the world (and that she wants sacrifices through herself, apparently for her glory). (Thiel B. Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions, 2nd edition. 2012, pp. 208-209)

Presuming that apparitions claiming to be Mary will become publicly seen (as opposed to by a few individuals), this will likely deceive many (cf. 2 Thessalonians 2:8-12; Matthew 24:24), and may lead to stronger temporary unity in Europe.

Pope Francis and the Vatican continue to promote ‘Mary.’ The European Union is also doing it, though many do not realize that.

Remember that the Beast is to rise up and begin persecution (cf. Daniel 11:28-35) after the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1-8) begin their rides (cf. Revelation 6:9-11).

Despite complaints, problems, and disunity in Europe, Europe will fulfill its biblically-prophesied role (cf. Daniel 2:41-43) and with the involvement of a claimed “virgin” (Isaiah 47) that really is a harlot (Revelation 17 & 18) is expected. And that will not bode well for the UK, USA, or their Anglo-allies (Daniel 11:39), nor ultimately the Europeans.

Secular writers often miss what the Bible shows will happen.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation discusses the largest church since the second/third century, which in a real sense is the eighth church mentioned in the Book of Revelation (it also endorses “eighth day” worship). What church would support the Beast? Here is a link to a video titled: Europe and the ‘Holy Roman Empire’.
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
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 are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy. Here is a link to a sermon video: Why Learn About Fatima?
Fatima and the ‘Miracle’ of the Sun On October 13, 1917, tens of thousands of people witnessed what they considered to be a miracle in the sky in Fatima, Portugal. Was this a miracle from God? Can you be certain? A video of some related interest is Fatima and Pope Francis. Here is a link to the sermon: Fatima and the ‘Miracle of the Sun’.
The ‘Lady’ of Guadalupe: Any Future Ramifications? It is claimed that a female apparition appeared near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. How has it affected the world? What might it suggest about the future? A video of related interest is titled: The ‘Lady of Guadalupe’ and Prophecy.
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; and Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon.
Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions. Whether or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Roman Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.