American journalists love to report “bombshells”—about celebrities or “miracle cures” or political scandals. But then a real bombshell event occurs and they fail to even notice.

On January 22, one of these bombshells went off: the Aachen Treaty.

This treaty includes “shared defense, foreign and economic policies in an unprecedented ‘twinning’ pact regarded as a prototype for the future of the European Union,” the London Times reported (January 10).

In some of the most important aspects of national power, France is bolting itself to Germany. And some observers think other EU nations should do the same.

The Times wrote that the treaty enables Germany and France “to present a united diplomatic front and act jointly in peacekeeping missions. … Some officials regard these experiments as a petri dish for the integration of the EU” (ibid).

This is a real bombshell! Europe’s second-most powerful nation is giving its power over to its most powerful nation, and this might be just the beginning.

France Loves Germany

The Aachen Treaty openly advocates military cooperation. After signing the treaty, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said its provisions will build a “common military culture” between France and Germany and “contribute to the creation of a European army.” French President Emmanuel Macron said, “[A]uthoritarian powers are emerging everywhere. … Let’s build a real European army to protect ourselves and have a real foreign policy.”

The treaty also contains a mutual defense clause: If either France or Germany is attacked, the other will come to its defense. The nato alliance, which includes the United States, already provides these two nations with guaranteed defense in case of attack. So why an independent agreement? These countries are already looking past nato. If America pulls out or nato otherwise falls apart, Europe will have to protect itself.

My father’s February 2019 Trumpet cover article was “France Rejects America—and Empowers Germany!” In November and December 2018, he broadcast three Key of David programs on the subject, sparked by Macron’s comments in November, when he called for a real European army, praised a Nazi collaborator from World War ii, and publicly rebuked United States President Donald Trump as not being a true patriot. At the same time, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire called for a European “empire” and urged Germany to lead. Merkel joined the chorus and called for a “real, true European army.” Then Macron visited Berlin and told the German parliament, “France loves [Germany].”

France loves Germany! How true—and how historically unusual. “Never before in French history has there been a government so fixated on partnership with Germany,” Deutsche Welle wrote (January 22). France plans to lobby for Germany to receive a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which is where the UN’s real power lies. The five permanent Security Council members are the five victors of World War ii—the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Russia and China. Now France wants Germany, the instigator of World War ii (and World War i), on board. How soon we forget our history!

“France really does love Germany—you can see it in these important joint ventures!” my father wrote—before this treaty was even reported.

21st-Century Empire

Another key statement from the Times: “France and Germany also intend to speak with one voice in Brussels, drawing up common positions before pivotal European Union summits in an effort to make the bloc a more decisive power on the world stage” (op cit).

France and Germany are already the EU’s two strongest powers. If they hammer out their differences beforehand and join forces in every debate with other EU nations, they will dominate the rest of the bloc even more than they already do. Smaller, weaker EU states with dissenting opinions, especially those in debt to Germany, will face pressure to support projects like a “real, true European army” or face consequences, perhaps as extreme as getting kicked out of the bloc.

“The text bears the imprint of Mr. Macron’s desire to use Franco-German consensus to rally the EU into becoming more assertive as a global power” (ibid). In reality, there will be no “rallying”—the Franco-German consensus will impose its will on other members!

“There are concerns that the ever closer union between the bloc’s two most powerful economies could create a juggernaut capable of crushing dissent beneath its wheels,” the Times continued. “[The Aachen Treaty] lays the groundwork for a Franco-German defense and security council that would act as a ‘political steering group.’ … Berlin and Paris will also frequently exchange diplomats and civil servants. Ministers from one country will regularly sit in on the other’s cabinet meetings. On the military front, the treaty enshrines an ambition to form a ‘common culture and common deployments’ overseas.”

This is real integration! This is a 21st-century empire!

This news story should be alarming to students of history. In the early 1900s, people felt the world was too modern and sophisticated for something like World War i to ever happen. In the 1930s, people thought the world was too modern and too sophisticated for World War ii. Today, similar wishful thinking makes World War iii unimaginable.

This should be a real bombshell to students of Bible prophecy. It is part of the fulfillment of a modern resurrection of the Holy Roman Empire. Revelation 17:12 says this revived empire will consist of “ten kings,” meaning 10 nations or groups of nations. It will be unified under the direction of the Catholic Church, and Daniel 8 states it will be led by a strongman. Other prophecies make it reasonable to deduce that this leader will be German. France will be followed by other Catholic-influenced nations giving their power to Germany.

Connection to Charlemagne

This coming Catholic European empire will follow the tradition of Charlemagne. Charlemagne united Europe politically and religiously, but he did it through decades of breaking agreements, raids, deportations, hostage-taking, brutally imposing Catholicism, and slaughtering people en masse. The Times noted that this new Franco-German treaty honors the memory of Charlemagne, since the two nations chose to sign it in Aachen—Charlemagne’s capital, a location “heavy with symbolism.”

The treaty was signed in the coronation room of the historic Aachen town hall, originally part of Charlemagne’s palace complex. The room is filled with frescoes and images of the Holy Roman emperor, and holds copies of Charlemagne’s crown and other regalia from his coronation.

Germany and France are getting serious about European unification. They want political action, they want to be together on the UN Security Council, and they want a real European army. Can you begin to see how the EU alliance will be pared down to 10 nations? Eight other nations or groups of nations will also lend their power to Germany. Others will leave or be pushed out. Europe will have its core of nations that, like Charlemagne, are serious about political power, economic power, religious power and firepower.

Europe is uniting before our eyes!

Read my father’s February cover story (“France Rejects America—and Empowers Germany!”). It shows the prophetic significance of France turning away from Britain and America, and toward Germany, which has repeatedly invaded it. France’s attitude toward the U.S. and Britain today is often open rebuke. That article explains why this will soon turn into open betrayal.

“I think President Macron is just groveling before Germany and saying, ‘Well, we’ll be your servant. We’ll do whatever we have to do just to be a part of your great power,’” my father said in his Dec. 7, 2018, Key of David program. “They just don’t seem to have the will to fight like Winston Churchill did in World War ii.”

Macron might be willing to sign this treaty with Merkel now because he sees her as weak and hopes he can take advantage. But that is about to change! A strong German leader will soon take control, and Europe will unite under his leadership.

Dramatic events with huge consequences are occurring, and quickly! Herbert W. Armstrong prophesied this for years. In a 1980 World Tomorrow broadcast, he emphasized that this empire would appear suddenly: “Gradually, and now faster and faster, a new power is being developed from underneath the surface. A new world power which the public now least suspects, which the world does not yet see, doesn’t realize, doesn’t dream is coming, but it is developing just as prophesied in Europe. A resurrected Roman Empire …. A power so mighty that our Western peoples will stand aghast when it flashes suddenly into full being. Yes, your Bible says that the world will be startled.”

Watch this partnership between France and Germany. Prophecy is unfolding at an astonishing rate, and we must follow Christ’s admonition in Matthew 26:41 to watch and pray. The world will be startled when this empire suddenly appears—but you don’t have to be.