The Lion with Eagle’s Wings – The Scriptural Basis for an Independent Britain

In June 2016 the United Kingdom faces its biggest decision since declaring war on Nazi Germany. The EU Referendum will decide whether Britain reclaims her sovereignty, or whether she will be swallowed up into full political union in an EU superstate.

The purpose of this article is not to argue the case for or against the EU, but to explore Bible prophecy to discern God’s will for Britain. Simply, does the Bible have anything to say about Britain or its purposes in the last days? I believe the answer is yes, and for this we must turn to the prophecy of Daniel, given some 2600 years ago, whilst in exile in Babylon.

The focus of Daniel’s prophecies is, of course, Israel. The second and seventh chapters provide contrasting pictures, one of the beginning of gentile domination over Israel/Jerusalem, and the other of the end of gentile domination over Israel/Jerusalem.

The second chapter of Daniel provides the well-known interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, a series of successive kingdoms in the ancient near east. Most Bible commentators are in agreement that Babylon is the head of gold, Medo-Persia the arms of silver, Greece/Ptolmeic the belly/thighs of brass, and Rome (including Byzantine) the legs of iron. Some have interpreted the feet of iron/clay to be a divided post-Roman Europe and near east, although this is the subject of speculation. We should take particular note that the appearance of each nation is successive – i.e. it arises then replaces the previous – there is no ‘coexistence’.

I believe we must acknowledge that the dominant post-Roman power in the ancient near east was, and remains, Islam. From 637BC to the present, the sword of Islam has presided over the fertile crescent of the Middle east, with the exception, since 1948, of the State of Israel. On a personal level I would argue that the feet of clay and iron could just as well represent the rise of Islam and Ottoman empires.

So Daniel chapter 2 identifies the beginning of gentile domination over Israel/Jerusalem – so what of chapter 7? Here, Daniel sees four beasts coming up from the sea (typically associated with the gentile world of international politics). The identity of the 4th beast is certain – the Kingdom of Antichrist. This ‘kingdom’ is ‘different from all other kingdoms’ and ‘devoured, broke in pieces, the residue (i.e. the other three beasts) with its feet’. For this action to occur therefore, all three must co-exist in the end times.

The three beasts are fully discussed in End-Time Survivor, where the following basis for their identification is proposed:

THE LION WITH EAGLE’S WINGS – ‘The first like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. I kept looking until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man; a human mind also was given to it’’. The lion – the first beast to arise – has been the national symbol of England/Britain for the last thousand years. Britain came to power gradually, with the Battles of Blenheim, Trafalgar and Waterloo marking the major milestones. During the period 1815-1942 the sun never set on the British Empire. This period is also interesting as the time that Zionism began to stir, and whilst it is true that British political and Christian Zionists cultivated the birth of modern Israel, we must also remember that no nation had so much opportunity to bless Israel, yet has done as much to frustrate and oppose Israel too. The loss of Empire shows the efficacy of the curse of Genesis 12.3.

In 1942, as a result of three years of war, Britain was virtually bankrupt and exhausted. America, whose symbol is the eagle, came into the war, and almost overnight replaced Britain as the global superpower, manifested by having more troops in the field. America was born largely from British DNA: its language, culture, legal system (such as Magna Carta) and Judaeo-Christian culture all derived from the ‘mother country’. This one beast combined the two characteristics of lion and eagle, and whilst the ‘special relationship’ has been severely eroded under Barack Obama, we still retain strong, (although diminishing) ties.

THE BEAR – ‘a second, resembling a bear. And it was raised up on one side, and 3 ribs were in its mouth between its teeth; and thus they said to it, ‘Arise, devour much meat!’’. The Bear is the national symbol for Russia. The home of millions of Jews through the middle ages, it became the stage for bloody pogroms and persecution, in some way the catalyst for Zionism. Stalin was responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people, so the Daniel’s prophetic picture describes its nature perfectly. Becoming a global power at the turn of the 20th century, Russia, with its transformation into the USSR, and now Russia again under Putin, show a concurrent succession which exist at the same time as the ‘lion with eagle’s wings’. Whilst the USSR voted in 1947 for the creation of the Israel, its history with her has been largely antagonistic, although it must be said, positive, at the present time.

THE LEOPARD – ‘which had on its back 4 wings of a bird, the beast also had 4 heads, and dominion was given to it’ – is the next in our succession. Remember that each beast must co-exist at the same time as the others, but arise successively in the order described by Daniel. The Leopard is more problematical to identify, as it does not fit any national symbol. However, if we consider what power has arisen, as a global force, and follows on from Britain, America and Russia, there can be only one candidate – Islam. Some will say that Islam arose in 7th century, however, then it was in no way a global player. Since 9/11 though, Islam dominates the news feeds, imposes Shariah Law on western nations such as Britain, uses its petrodollars to spread its doctrines, and its most radical followers seek the eradication of Israel and the Jews. David Pawson prophesied that Britain will become an Islamic nation unless she repents.

These three beasts appeared successively but co-exist, played a part in the birth of Israel (for or against), continue to exert influence on Israel, and all remain to this day. According to Daniel, they will continue to do so until Antichrist, the 4th beast, shatters them. For this to happen each of the beasts must exist as a discrete entity at that time in the last days. Were Britain to vote to ‘remain’ in the EU on June 23rd, a process of full political integration will rapidly commence that will finally erase independent British culture, law, governance and borders within a very short period. In effect, Britain will cease to exist as a self-determining world power with its own foreign policy and armed forces.

The whole world lies in the evil one, but despite the opinion of media, the lies of politicians, the self-interest of big business, and manipulated polls, I believe Scripture infers that the UK will vote for exit, retaining its national identity for good or ill. This means that God has a part for our nation to play in these last days. As Christians, we have a serious responsibility to exercise the rod of prayer not just over the EU Referendum, but over what will follow from Britain’s exit – further battles must then be fought against political correctness, Islamisation, and error in the church. We must not be complacent, but should seek the direction of the Holy Spirit in praying in an organised, detailed, systematic and specific manner.

We must ‘pray first for those in authority that we may lie peaceable lives’, and pray that in God’s wrath towards our nation He would remember mercy. The prayer, lodged in my spirit by the Holy Spirit these last 25 years, is that ‘God would sever Britain from the European Union, that we might stand alone as a nation before Him in judgment’. I believe, on the basis of Daniel 7, the British Church has the authority and responsibility to pray for exit.

May God have mercy on us.