Austria is in trouble and so is most of Europe. Parties abhorred by the mainstream are gaining popularity. In Austria, this has led to months of failed coalition negotiations. Austria’s far-right Freedom Party (fpö) announced yesterday that its latest attempt to form a government had failed. Germany, which will hold elections in 10 days, faces a similar outcome.

As Europe deals with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, mass migration, the return of Donald Trump and more, it is also struggling to find any kind of leadership.

After the fpö won Austria’s national elections on Sept. 29, 2024, with 29 percent of the vote, mainstream parties sought to form the nation’s first three-party coalition to keep the far right out of power. But negotiations between Austria’s People’s Party (övp), the Social Democrats (spö) and the Neos failed.

Next the fpö led negotiations with the övp. But as fpö leader Herbert Kickl announced in a letter to the head of state yesterday, “To our regret, the negotiations were ultimately not crowned with success.”

The remaining options are new elections, an expert or transitional government, or another attempt for a multiparty coalition.

While the fpö has been in the government before, it was never the strongest party, so it never presented the chancellor. Its campaign opposed the current government’s destructive immigration, coronavirus, climate, anti-family and foreign policies. That’s why the mainstream parties oppose it. But the fpö isn’t a normal party either. During World War ii, Austria was a stronghold for SS officers, two of whom became the first two chairmen of the fpö when it was founded in 1956. The party has since been troubled by scandals.

This should be concerning history. But the fpö’s strength shows Austrians are not concerned.

Germany faces a similar situation. The Alternative für Deutschland party currently polls at 20 percent, despite or because various party members have called on Germany to leave its World War ii guilt behind.

One of the AfD’s top leaders, Björn Höcke, said in a 2017 speech: “German history is handled as rotten and made to look ridiculous.” He said German attempts to commemorate and apologize for World War ii are a “stupid coping policy” and called Germany’s Holocaust memorial “a monument of shame in the heart of its capital.” The same year, AfD leader Alexander Gauland said, “If the French are rightly proud of their emperor and the Britons of Nelson and Churchill, we have the right to be proud of the achievements of the German soldiers in two world wars.” Current AfD leader and chancellor candidate Alice Weidel accuses the nation of being obsessed with “a cult of guilt.”

Many Germans agree they should not be held responsible for the sins of their forefathers. They advocate that Germany should act in its own interests—like any other nation. In many ways, Germany has already overcome most post-World War ii restrictions, but it has tied itself closely to the United States; some see this relationship as oppressive.

The question is, Have Austria and Germany changed? Would the German-speaking people today, with unrestrained military power, act differently from their forefathers? In a crisis, would they again follow a compelling leader into another war and holocaust?

“If a real crisis develops, will the Germans call for a new führer?” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in our December 1991 issue. “Your Bible says that is going to happen! That crisis will probably be triggered by an economic collapse in the U.S.”

Daniel 12:1 warns of “a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time.” Jesus Christ warned of “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). What causes this crisis that will demand Christ’s supernatural intervention to save mankind from destruction?

Daniel 8:23-25 read: “And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.”

Mr. Flurry noted in January 2020: “First, notice that these verses state explicitly that these events occur in ‘the latter time.’ This will be a time ‘when the transgressors are come to the full.’ Godlessness is rife, modern technology is proliferating immoral filth with malignant efficiency, and people are wallowing in unspeakable evil.”

Our world is filled with abominable sins. The Bible specifically condemns the sins of the U.S. and Britain, the birthright nations of Israel (explained in detail in Herbert W. Armstrong’s book The United States and Britain in Prophecy). Because of these sins, God prophesied He would use a vile leader to punish His people. Another führer is about to rise.

These prophecies stand as a warning to our entire world—especially as world events hasten to their prophetic fulfillment. Read “After Trump’s Victory, Watch Germany” by Gerald Flurry.