A call to come out of Europe forms a significant thrust to a prophecy of a financial earthquake set to strike Britain.

The prophecy was expounded in a book first published in 1997, and was partially fulfilled by the serious recession of 2008.

But it is believed the 'big one' is yet to come and that it will shake the foundations of the City of London – the world's foremost financial centre – and probably be accompanied by a physical 'quake as judgment on a nation that has forsaken the God of the Bible.

Earthquake in the City?

The book, Earthquake in the City, published by Jesus Is Alive Ministries and co-authored by Clifford Denton and Paul Slennett, takes an in-depth look at the nature of the prophecy, along with its implications and the need for repentance.

Though given to Southend-based Christian bookseller Paul Slennett way back in 1989, it is as relevant today as ever, particularly with next week's EU referendum in mind.

The prophecy speaks of "alarm bells sounding all over Europe" and of an earthquake that will "swallow up the whole City. Whole companies and city institutions will collapse...some never to rise again."

It calls for Church-led repentance which, if taken up, will lead to revival. Then it adds: "In regard to Europe, come out of her...for she will align herself with the Beast and the False Prophet who will arise and appear for just a short while."

This echoes a biblical passage from the Book of Revelation (chapter 18) on the ultimate destruction of a great, but evil, world power – compared to ancient Babylon – that will arise in the last days before Jesus returns.

The prophecy, received in 1989, calls for Church-led repentance which, if taken up, will lead to revival.

Britain Built on Revival

Earthquake in the City reminds us of our Christian heritage, and especially of the Coronation Oath of 1688 through which we have vowed allegiance to the Protestant faith. We are reminded that it was the 18^th Century evangelical revivals that paved the way for 19^th Century social reform including the building of hospitals, the abolition of slavery and child labour, and the introduction of schools for all.

But now we are in the process of throwing away our freedoms, for which we have fought at great cost. Key among these is the undermining of our sovereignty by Europe on an ever-increasing scale. Laws based on the Ten Commandments have now been supplanted by others reflecting secular values and moral relativism.

In addition, Britain – and the Church, which ought to be influencing the nation – should repent of passing godless laws allowing abortion, easy divorce, homosexuality and general promiscuity. And the City will be in the eye of the storm of a coming crash because we have made an idol of the economy. Much of the debate on next week's Referendum has centred on this factor, whereas few have raised the issue of the undemocratic values represented by the EU, or of its disturbing resemblance to the evil world system described in the last book of the Bible (Revelation).

The book warns us of throwing away our hard-won freedoms, including via the EU.

Revival to Come – If There is Repentance

Earthquake in the City also calls on Britain to repent over its betrayal of the Jews, for whom she was given the inestimable privilege of guiding them to statehood. It didn't prevent Israel's re-birth, but we could have done so much more to help them at a time when they were threatened with extinction.

We have allowed godlessness to come in like a flood, and we haven't raised a standard. But, as already mentioned, the prophecy adds a promise of revival if the nation repents.

This week: Paul's Slennett's prophecy about an earthquake in Britain.

The words of this prophecy came to Paul Slennett at an Intercessors for Britain meeting in 1989. He was woken abruptly in the night and found himself writing the words as if they were being dictated. I helped Paul to test the prophecy and we then wrote a book together entitled Earthquake in the City.

Despite being closely involved in the publication of the prophecy I, nevertheless, am endeavouring to take a neutral position in writing this article, including it in this series for the purpose of communal testing. If it is from God, then it carries a serious warning which must prompt a response. Even if at this late stage it is shown to be an invalid prophecy, then it must be rejected.

The Big Picture

Over the last few weeks an overall picture of what God is saying to our nation may have been building up as we have taken seriously the task of testing prophecies about Britain given over many years. Aspects of these prophecies may be especially relevant in light of the coming Referendum on 23 June, relating to our membership of the EU.

If we have our Bibles open while testing these prophecies, and if the prophecies themselves are valid, we should find that they fit well into the overall framework of prophetic fulfilment in which we live. For any age there are particular details within the general picture and to fill in these details is one reason why God may speak.

Another reason why God has spoken through prophecy through the ages is that at such times his own people have become rather negligent in discerning the times. Unfortunately, it is at such a time that the prophetic voice is often rejected. "Why should God speak through that man or woman and not to me?", might be the response, or, "We are doing fine, so why am I being confronted with these rantings?" or, plain and simple, "I don't want to listen". The prophetic task is never easy, and testing prophecy is just as hard as delivering it.

Sometimes God speaks through prophecy when his own people have become negligent in discerning the times.

Paul Slennett's Prophecy

The following is Paul Slennett's prophecy, in full:

My children, the alarm bells are sounding all over Europe, for judgment is being spoken out over the nations. Over your nation, Great Britain, a mighty earthquake is about to occur, an earthquake that will swallow up the whole City. Whole companies and city institutions will collapse in this earthquake, some never to rise again.

My judgment that has been withheld for so long must now be unleashed on your nation in order that my church repent and lead this nation in repentance, for I am a righteous and holy God, just in all my ways, a God who longs to show mercy, but one who will no longer tolerate the unrighteousness of my dear church. It is out of love that I visit this nation with judgment - you must know that this must always be the case. My children, repent now before it is too late, for already the day of my return draws near and you must not be found wanting, like the virgins who did not fill their lamps with oil; but awake, my children, and be my watchmen, and speak with a prophetic voice of the judgment that is about to come upon the nations.

If you repent and turn from your wicked ways, I will visit your nation, Great Britain, once again, not with judgment, but with revival power, and I will protect you from all the strategy of the enemy.

In regard to Europe, come out of her, my dear children, for she will align herself with the Beast and the False Prophet who will arise and appear for just a short while. My children, take heart, for I am with you always. Do not give up, but pray without ceasing and see the salvation of your God.

Weighing and Testing

Here are some points to consider:

• To whom is the prophecy addressed? 'My children' seems to imply that it is to the Church within the nation.
• What are the 'alarm bells'? When the prophecy was presented to the leaders of an Intercessors for Britain meeting, there were unusual weather patterns over Europe, but much more has happened since then. If valid, perhaps the prophecy was given much earlier than was thought at the time. Did God foresee, in 1989, the border and migrant problems in Europe and also the fragile economic conditions that are visible now? What else might these warning bells be?
• What would the nature of the earthquake be? This has caused much discussion, especially during the writing of the book. With physical earthquakes in many other countries, could this be a physical earthquake coming even to London, or is it a metaphor for a financial shaking? We have already experienced financial shaking and economists predict there is more to follow.
  • On the side of the physical earthquake, the very weekend when Kingsway were about to decide whether to publish the book, a national newspaper contained a warning from the British Geological Survey that Britain is overdue for a major earthquake, which we received at the time as a prophetic confirmation. Such earthquakes have occurred historically around once every 200 years. The mainstream media occasionally report with some sensationalism an impending, devastating quake,¹ although experts can never predict with accuracy when, where and with what magnitude such an event may occur. However, it remains that a significant earthquake occurring in Britain is a scientific possibility.
  • When we consider the way God gave advanced warning of the Hillsborough stadium disaster and our recent reflections on how we might have brought warning, we realise how important it is to test this part of the prophecy. Additionally, there have been some Christians who have had dreams or visions of buildings collapsing in London, but what is the Lord really saying? Perhaps if we prayerfully test this prophecy together then he will give further insight and take away our uncertainties.
• It was while this prophecy was being tested, during the writing of the book, that insight was given concerning the centrality of the Coronation Oath to our nation, against which we can assess the nation's falling away from God's ways, especially in the liberalisation of many of our laws.
• Notice that a condition is given in the third paragraph (which we look for in relation to Jeremiah 18:7-8).
• The reason why it is particularly important to test this prophecy at this time is that it includes a clear injunction to come out of Europe. During the writing of the book we reasoned that the only way out would be if a treaty could be re-negotiated, but at the time we foresaw no way, outside of an act of God, for such an opportunity to come about. Now, with such an opportunity, do we really see this as given by God?
• It may seem alarming to speak of the Beast and the False Prophet in regard to the EU, but is this similar to what Boris Johnson spoke about (in a more political way) last weekend, when he warned about the EU fulfilling, in a different way, what the Nazis had in mind?
• If the prophecy is valid then what is the timing? How does it fit with the overriding prophecy from Haggai concerning the shaking of the nations, which we believe is imminent (if not happening right now)? Could it be that we are being shown no less than the fall of cities in the anti-Christian world foretold in Revelation 18:19? Could this be the importance for Britain of taking a first step to repentance by coming out of the EU?

If this prophecy is correct it will fit into the general picture of other prophecies that we can see being fulfilled. Please join us in testing it very carefully, and do contribute to the discussion.

Next time: Some recent prophecies received by Prophecy Today UK.

References

1 E.g. see Connor, S. Expert predicts 5.5 magnitude earthquake could hit London at any time. The Independent, 16 September 2010.