Today marks the 70-year anniversary of victory in Europe. On May 8, 1945, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill announced that the war in Europe was over and that, at long last, the struggle for freedom had ended in triumph. The conflict that had engulfed the world in war since 1939 was at last concluded. It was the greatest moment of jubilation and patriotism in 20th-century England. The streets of London were filled with thousands of proud Britons expressing their gratefulness to Churchill and the monarchy. We have not seen such days of joy and success since.

Britain celebrates Victory in Europe Day:

Winston Churchill’s address to London:

Churchill addressed the crowds surging around Whitehall with some of his most memorable words:

God bless you all. This is your victory! It is the victory of the cause of freedom in every land. In all our long history, we have never seen a greater day than this. Everyone, man or woman, has done their best. Everyone has tried. Neither the long years, nor the dangers, nor the fierce attacks of the enemy, have in any way weakened the unbending resolve of the British nation. God bless you all.

Although the war in the Pacific would take several more months to conclude, and many more sacrifices, this day marks a significant achievement for Western civilization. The Allies had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and the forces of good had triumphed in a world threatened by an evil tyrant. The Anglo-Saxons and Communist Russia were united for five years.

We have not seen such unity since.

Seventy years later, we face a much different world. Germany is not in ashes, but is now the powerhouse of Europe. Russia is on a new campaign of conquest in Eastern Europe. China is no longer a struggling nation, but an increasingly powerful rival to the Western world. Britain is no longer an empire, but a surviving relic. The United States is on retreat around the world, and is facing increasingly violent internal strife. Japan is beginning to flex its muscles in the Pacific once again. Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons and dominating the Middle East, propelling the world into a far more volatile age.

The forces of freedom and the victors of World War ii no longer guide the world through the ebb and flow of events.

Today is a day to remember joyous victory, the unity of our peoples, the sacrifice of so many brave individuals, the will to never surrender, and the miraculous deliverance of Western civilization. It is also, however, an opportunity to ponder on the vast changes in our world, our nations and our culture.

This is a moment to be proud of our heritage, but what about our future? To learn more about what is coming soon, order our book The United States and Britain in Prophecy.