As Muslim gunmen open fire in European cities, and homegrown terrorists constitute a real and present danger, analysts frequently refer to the Middle East as Europe’s greatest threat. One such analyst is former MI6 chief Sir John Sawers.

In his first interview since retiring from the British Secret Intelligence Service in November, Sir Sawers told the Financial Times that the Middle East constitutes as great a threat to Europe as the Cold War Soviet Union did until its dissolution in 1991.

“The rigidity we had on Europe’s doorstep for two or three decades posed a set of problems,” said Sir Sawers, “and now the turbulence we have got on Europe’s doorstep is posing another set of problems—in a sense, more acute ones because the disorder in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Yemen creates a whole series of challenges for us.”

To place some perspective on Sir Sawers’s statement, by the early ’60s, the Soviets had enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world. Those weapons poised for launch on Europe’s doorstep for years. By 1986, an estimated 40,000 nuclear warheads were scattered amidst the major world powers.

That is the scenario Sir Sawers believes equals the Middle East’s threat on Europe.

The threat, as Sir Sawers put it, involves “the entirety of the region.” But it can be boiled down further. After all, Europe isn’t threatened by Israel—a key player in the region. It is not Jews or other non-Muslims that are attacking Europe. It is Muslim extremists. We see this in the backlash now occurring in German cities. Anti-Islam rallies across the nation draw thousands of chanting, slogan wielding protesters.

So what of the threat posed by Islam? Without delving into the details, here are a few examples of why Islam is a threat.

Homegrown Terrorism Is a Threat

The threat now facing Europe often comes in the form of terrorist attacks by radicals—many of whom are well trained—born and raised within the country. Many travel to nations like Yemen or Syria where they are indoctrinated and trained how to carry out attacks once they return home. Although falsely labeled “lone-wolf” attacks, all come from the same pack: Muslim.

We saw it in the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the massacre at the kosher market in Paris a few days later. The attackers were fluent French-speaking Muslims.

In London, two British Muslims hacked off the head of Drummer Lee Rigby. He became a target because he was wearing military attire.

Another attack was recently thwarted in Belgium. The ringleader—a Belgian-Moroccan Islamic State fighter named Adelhamid Abaaoud—is still at large. While the attack was stopped before the terrorists could carry it out, this terrorist cell was well established and prepared within the heart of Belgium.

The potential for more threats is also high. An estimated 5,000 European nationals are fighting in Syria. The director of Europe’s police organization, Europol, Rob Wainwright, said that this constituted the “most serious terrorist threat Europe has faced since 9/11.” Those fighters are being trained in terrorist tactics and glutted on radicalized ideals. When they return to their home countries in Europe, the result is barbarism and massacres—the likes of which we recently saw displayed on the streets of Paris.

Terrorist Nations Are a Threat

Sir Sawers’s statement can also be applied to Middle Eastern nations—primarily Iran.

This one nation constitutes a direct threat to Europe because of its nuclear program. Iran is moments away from being nuclear armed. It has an advanced ballistic missile program. It already has missiles in its arsenal that can reach Europe. Since the start of 2015, reports have come to light showing Iran has weapons plants in Syria, bringing its intercontinental ballistic missiles even closer to Europe.

Then there is the threat posed to European trade routes. The potential for Iran to gain control of the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz is a dire threat. The Trumpet has written extensively on what might happen should Iran choose to close those crucial waterways. Europe is looking to unshackle itself from its dependence on Russia for natural gas. The Middle East is a logical alternative, but Iran-driven instability could deprive Europe of its energy needs.

Iran’s maritime control reaches beyond the waters close to its borders. It funds the rebel Houthi extremists in Yemen, which in turn endangers the Gulf of Aden—the southern gateway to the Red Sea. Closing this waterway would make the Suez Canal useless, dramatically lengthening the travel of seaborne trade—driving prices higher.

Add to all this the fact that Iran has a long-term plan for regional dominance in the Middle East. Tehran’s aggressive policies threaten the livelihood of the more “moderate” Arabic nations such as Saudi Arabia—with whom Europe no doubt would hope to secure a closer trade relationship.

Outside of Iran, Syria’s chemical weapons remain a threat despite international efforts to remove them completely. And the Islamic State continues to capture and execute internationals—including Europeans—despite the world rallying to try to crush the group.

The Middle East Threat in Prophecy

In the face of all these threats emanating from the Middle East, it would appear that Sir Sawers is right: Europe’s greatest threat today is radical Islam.

But, in the same interview with the Financial Times, Sir Sawers said, “The world is much harder to predict. It’s much harder to navigate your way through the fragmentation of power and politics and ideas.” That is why it is so important to look at world events through the light of Bible prophecy. This source explains in detail where Europe’s main threats lie.

To understand Europe’s role in Bible prophecy, we first need to know its biblical identity. Our free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire explains German-led Europe’s role as the king of the north.

As prophesied in Daniel 11:40, the king of the north will come up against the king of the south. This is none other than radical Islam led by Iran. You can read more about this in our article “Three Reasons Why Iran Is the ‘King of the South’ of Bible Prophecy.”

In Germany and the Holy Roman Empire, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry writes:

Germany, which has virtually no oil, is waiting for an opportunity to take control of the Middle East. It has planned this for years. [This] could be the main reason for the clash between the king of the north and the king of the south.Control of Jerusalem could also lead to war. Both the Catholics and Muslims desperately want Jerusalem.

As Daniel 11:40 proves, war will come, and Europe will deal with the Middle East threat. The German-led assault will be swift—Daniel calls it a “whirlwind” attack.

Europe’s Greatest Threat

Is that it? Is Europe’s greatest threat dealt with by putting down radical Islam? Your Bible says no. Europe’s greatest threat since the Cold War will actually be that self-same adversary: Russia.

In verse 44 of Daniel 11, we see that “tidings out of the east” will trouble Europe. A third figure comes into play. This threat comes from the eastern nations.

The rise of the kings of the east has also been long forecast by the Trumpet. (Read our reprint article “The Kings of the East” for a greater appreciation of this immense Asian power-bloc that is forming on the scene today.) The primary nations in this combine are Russia and China—both of which are growing in power and belligerence today.

Russia has always been the primary threat to the European continent. The geographical constants, like the North European Plain—the natural highway into Europe—and Russia’s claim on the territory of much of Eastern Europe, help establish Russia as the dominant threat.

Europe will soon see a dramatic swing back to the Cold-War threat of Russia—just as soon as the short-term threat posed by radical Islam is dealt with.

Consider Russian President Vladimir Putin’s growing power. Russia controls Europe’s gas supplies. It is taking on increasingly aggressive foreign policies as it works to regain former glory. The Russian bear is waking, and it is waking on Europe’s doorstep.

These three biblical figures, the king of the north, the king of the south and the kings of the east, are crucial players in some terrible prophecies that are about to be fulfilled. To make sense of the real threats in the world, we must understand these figures. When we do, we can better understand the earthshaking times.

But there is spectacular news beyond the threats that lie immediately ahead for Europe and the world. That good news involves the soon-coming Kingdom of God. The Trumpet warns of these crises, but also gives the hope that lies beyond. That hope is a coming age where people will live happy, abundant lives, free of the threats that ensnare the world today.