“Twenty years after the Maastricht Treaty, which was designed not just to integrate Europe but to contain the might of a united Germany, Berlin—and Mrs. Merkel—had effectively united Europe under its control, with Britain all but shut out.”

That electrifying quote appeared in the New York Times three weeks ago. It’s a remarkable statement, as many of our readers know, because of what Herbert W. Armstrong prophesied as far back as 1956. He said, “Germany will lead and dominate the coming United States of Europe. But Britain will be no part of it!”

And now—here we are—exactly where Mr. Armstrong said we would be more than 50 years ago. Germany is the unrivaled power that dominates Europe. And Britain is on the fast track out of the European Union.

So what is prophesied to happen next? First, the Bible tells us the European combine will soon be cut down to a more efficient and powerful union of ten kings. There will be 10 dictators that rise out of Europe. All of them will give their power to Germany.

This reshaping of Europe is already being considered. Reuters reported on November 27 that Germany and France have discussed the possibility of a “core” Europe consisting of 8 to 10 nations.

It’s coming. Watch for it. And when it happens, remember where you heard it first. God’s prophecies are certain to happen!

The other prophetic hot spot to watch in the months ahead is Rome. As we head into 2012, expect the Vatican to more comfortably settle in atop the European superstate, straddling the beast, as it’s described in Revelation 17.

Most commentators, of course, scoff at the thought of this. In their minds, a powerful church-state combine could never form in Europe. They simply cannot imagine a secular Europe, the way they see it, ever coming under the seductive influence and overriding power of the Roman church.

But Bible prophecy assures us that a great false church will steer the 10-nation beast now rising in Europe.

And for those who have eyes to see, this astounding union of church and state is already well under way in Europe!

Last week, in his address before the Roman Catholic clergy, Pope Benedict xvi said Europe’s economic crisis ultimately stems from a continent-wide ethical breakdown. “Even if such values as solidarity, commitment to one’s neighbor and responsibility towards the poor and suffering are largely uncontroversial,” the pope said, “still the motivation is often lacking for individuals and large sectors of society to practice renunciation and make sacrifices” (emphasis added throughout).

Later, he asked, “Where is the force that draws the will upwards?” Where is the spiritual, motivational and political force, in other words, needed to correct this crisis in ethics?

It’s in the Catholic Church of course!

This isn’t the first time the pope has pointed to Rome as the answer to Europe’s economic woes. Since 2009, Benedict has repeatedly called for a new global financial order. He believes there should be a universal political authority in which religion plays a key role.

That political authority is now situated in Berlin, which greatly pleases the Germanic pope. The Vatican, in fact, has always been the strongest proponent behind Germany’s historical quest for world rule. We know this because of secular history—and Bible prophecy!

Added to Germany’s position as the preeminent political force in Europe, it should come as no surprise that the head of the European Central Bank, as of November 1, is now the Vatican’s own Jesuit son, Mario Draghi—recently dubbed “Pope Mario” by the Economist.

Considering Draghi’s allegiance to the Vatican, “one could even theorize that the woman of Revelation 17 is already mounting the beast,” wroteTrumpet columnist Ron Fraser on December 12.

The Daily Telegraph recently compared Draghi to Kim Jong Il—saying Draghi was even more dangerous than the late dictator! “Mr. Draghi is accountable to essentially no one,” the Telegraph wrote, “but, like the late Kim Jong Il, he has an enormous amount of power to make our lives difficult.”

Despite these earthshaking developments, most people are still blinded to the prophetic reality of what is now happening in Europe. In fact, the Bible says that when this world finally wakes up to what’s happening—when it sees this astounding union between the Roman church and a German-dominated Europe—the Earth “shall wonder” (Revelation 17:8). The inhabitants of the Earth will stand aghast when they finally realize what has suddenly come upon them.

But you need not stand aghast as these prophesied events unfold! You can know what happens next if, as Jesus said, you are watching world events and praying always (Luke 21:36).

That’s one reason why we are here—to help you watch world events. That is why the Trumpet, and the Plain Truth before us, have been, since the 1940s, boldly proclaiming that Europe would unite under 10 kings, that Britain would be no part of it, that Germany would be the dominant political force—and that the Vatican would be the overarching spiritual guide straddling the union.

In 1979, for example, Herbert W. Armstrong wrote about the nations of Europe striving, against all odds, to unite as one European superstate. He said Europe wanted a common currency. It wanted a combined military force. It wanted a single, centralized government. “Yet, on a purely political basis, they have been totally unable to unite” (Plain Truth, January 1979). Why? Because they lacked the motivating force needed to bring it all together.

The following year, in June 1980, Mr. Armstrong wrote that “world conditions may force European nations … to unite, bringing to pass the revived ‘Holy Roman Empire’ …. [European nations] have wanted to unite politically, with a common currency and common military force, for some time—but have been unable. It can be accomplished only through the Vatican.”

As we head into 2012, look for the Vatican to settle into its prophesied role as the woman riding atop the scarlet-colored beast (Revelation 17:3).