So who is the new leader of Germany? Your guess is probably as good as anyone else’s at this point.

Challenger Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Party (cdu) beat out Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s Socialist Democratic Party (spd)—but by three seats. And that’s not counting all the votes. Another 219,000 voters in the eastern city of Dresden won’t go to the polls until October 2 (voting was delayed there due to the death of a parliamentarian). Some experts say the Dresden results could shift the seats in the Bundestag by as many as three seats—enough to tie Schröder’s and Merkel’s parties. The city is a cdu stronghold, but after what happened in nationwide German elections on September 18, no one is placing any bets.

The election has the cdu scrambling to form a coalition that could give it some sense of majority in parliament. One of those coalitions is, of all things, a “grand coalition” between the two major opposing parties—the cdu and the spd.

What a mess.

Germany—Europe’s most populous country, possessing the world’s third-largest national economy—has preserved its status as the sick man of Europe. The nation has been suffering historic economic turmoil, including record unemployment. This was its people’s biggest opportunity to install a government that could bring about real change. Instead, it voted for gridlock and division.

One thing appears certain: For Germany to get the leader it needs in order to cure its ills, the decision cannot be left up to the electorate. Someone may have to come in through other means. Whether he comes in this round, we cannot be certain.

But as the Trumpet’s editor in chief said shortly after Chancellor Schröder called for early elections last May: “Before this [election] crisis ends, a new Charlemagne will get control of the EU or Germany—or both. Bible prophecy makes that very clear. We believe this new leader will almost certainly come out of Germany. We also think the most likely candidate will be Edmund Stoiber. Even though Angela Merkel, leader of the victorious cdu, was chosen to challenge Chancellor Schröder this fall, there is also a lot of manipulating going on behind the scenes to form political coalitions.”

Yes, before this is all over, Bible prophecy says we will see a strongman take the lead of Germany—and Europe.

What is interesting, in light of recent events, is that we have said this man will likely not get into office through votes. In a November 2002 analysis, Gerald Flurry quoted Daniel 11:21 to support this point: “And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.”

This is a prophecy for now. It refers to the man destined to lead a united Europe in a resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire.

Notice, this man obtains the kingdom “by flatteries.” Mr. Flurry wrote, “This man doesn’t come to power the honorable way—by being voted into office. He takes it dishonorably! He will work behind the scenes and come to power by flatteries—not votes!” (ibid.).

The election crisis in Germany has left open the possibility of this exact thing to happen very soon.

Daniel 11:21—and a companion mention in Daniel 8:23 of a “king of fierce countenance”—describes a man who will shortly come to power in Europe. We strongly believe, for several reasons, that this man will be Edmund Stoiber.

It will be interesting to watch Stoiber as he rides out this quandary. He conveniently distanced himself from Merkel throughout the campaign (even making a few slams at the former East Germany, where Merkel is from). And as Merkel, the lame conservative, sits atop a party ready to compromise itself into a coalition with opponents, he may have some revolutionary suggestions for how politics in Germany can be remedied.

Will he soon gain power by his “flatteries”?

Whoever the man is, we know we are dangerously close to the time when Daniel’s prophecies will be fulfilled.

For more on where Germany is headed, please see our free booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.