Paul Luckraft reviews 'Babylon in Europe' by David Hathaway (2006, 74 pages, New Wine Ministries)
David Hathaway is well known as an evangelist who has ministered worldwide for over 60 years. He is also the founder and president of Eurovision Mission to Europe and the Editorial Director of Prophetic Vision magazine. This small book remains one of his most important contributions to a wider readership and one that would repay serious consideration as we approach the EU Referendum.
David makes no claim to be a prophet but he does insist that God has "given me a revelation which I believe to be not only scriptural but vitally important for today" (p7). If that was the case ten years ago, then how much more so today?
He starts by looking into what was behind the formation of a single European State and why pressure came in the 21st Century to create a 'European Union' which had never previously existed.
He accepts that there are political, social and economic reasons but also asserts that there is a biblical background to this in terms of prophetic fulfilment. He gives a brief historical summary of the road to the European Union but his major purpose in the book is to make three significant links between the EU and Bible prophecy.
Hathaway starts by asking why pressure came in the first place to create a 'European Union' which never previously existed.
The EU in Prophecy: Hathaway's Interpretation
The first is that the European Parliament building in Strasbourg bears strong resemblance to the shape of the Tower of Babel (as depicted in the oil paintings of Bruegel the Elder, and cleverly merged with the parliament building on the book's cover) which was a symbol of rebellion against God. The EU "want to restore and finish what God destroyed" (p16).
The author also points us towards the vision of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2 which showed five world empires, the last being interpreted as the restored Roman Empire which, according to David, "is the EU, exactly as we have it today" (p16).
His third link is that 'Europe' took its name from Europa, who in Greek myth was raped by Jupiter who took the form of a bull. She became the 'Queen of Heaven' and the EU constantly uses the image from Revelation 17 of this woman on the beast.
Banning God
Whether or not you agree with David that "the EU is part of the preparation for the rise of the False Prophet and the Antichrist" (p19), what is clear is that the EU deliberately set out to remove God from any of its foundational principles. The author shows how the decision to ban God from the Constitution was taken "behind closed doors, by an unelected group" (p47). All reference to God was removed leaving only the values of godless humanism and exalted human reason to undergird the whole Constitution of Europe. As such it is the spirit of Babylon that operates at the centre of Europe.
The EU was set up with God deliberately excluded from its foundational principles.
Being an evangelist at heart, David inevitably concludes that there is still a chance for change, and he offers his vision of a Europe won for Christ by those with a zeal to pray and preach the gospel. But these spiritual weapons can only be used effectively if it is clearly understood where the main challenge lies and what kind of battle we are in. To this end, David's book remains an important contribution today.
'Babylon in Europe' is available for £5 from David Hathaway's website, Prophetic Vision, or for £4.99 from RoperPenberthy.
Its accompanying documentary film, The Rape of Europe, is available on Youtube and has been reviewed recently over at Heart Newspaper.
***Event notice***
David Hathaway will be speaking at this year's Christian Resources Exhibition, at 2pm on Friday 20 May. For further information click here.
