By John Speyermann

HAMPTON, Ont., Canada--Readers of my book "Germany: A Lost Tribe of Ancient Israel" come to an unprecedented dilemma regarding the traditional understanding of the Roman-revival view of prophecy taught by the Churches of God.

That view embraces the idea that there would be 10 revivals of the Roman Empire, the last being the European Union, led by Germany.

Whether this view comes true should be a test for its originator, Herbert W. Armstrong, and whether he prophesied correctly.

Embracing that idea leads one to watch Germany. Church-magazine and Web-site space is reserved for the chancellor or the leader of Bavaria, for example: ever watching and waiting for Germany to do something militaristic.

The foreknowledge that Germany will lead the beast power is a gift bequeathed by the late apostle, Mr. Armstrong, some devotees suggest. Holding fast to the prophetical foundation he laid will keep your prophetical vision clear and 20-20, they propose. Just wait, and eventually the Assyrian origin of Germany will prove true.

Time for a reality check. What really is happening to Europe and the world? Are the European nations on the verge of attacking the Anglo-Saxon countries? No.

Is Germany increasing its army and building up its forces for world conquest? No. Examine some German news sites like http://dw-world.de/ english to confirm.

The German defense minister has reduced the countryÕs army and defense budget. Although the European populations may resent America for starting the war in Iraq, resentment is a long way from military aggression. A European war against the Anglo-Saxon countries exists only in the minds of people who cling to a wrong foundation for understanding prophecy.

Europe coming together

As chapter 4 of my book alludes, the phenomenon of the Continent coming together as a nominally united Europe should not be viewed as the beginning of the Euro-Beast with Germany at its core. As a tribe of ancient Israel, Germany cannot threaten the world anymore. The key to the house of David in my chapter 5 demonstrates that GermanyÕs military conquests during World Wars I and II will not repeat.

Rather, Europe coming together should be viewed as the beginning of a new phase in the affairs of the modern countries descended from the tribes of ancient Israel.

Rather than fighting each other, as occurred during the world wars, the tribes of Israel are fighting terrorists. Britain, America, Germany, Italy, Spain, etc., are acting collectively against those terrorists. To refer to a term that encompasses Israelite-descended European and Anglo-Saxon nations, one might say Jacob is fighting its Òtime of trouble.Ó

Allow me to cast doubt on the traditional Church of God interpretation of the 10 horns of Daniel 7:7 as 10 Roman Empire revivals.

Is a strong man a revival?

Usually it is presented in chart form showing the historical fulfillment for each. Visigoths, Ostrogoths, Justinian, Charlemagne, Otto the Great, Henry IV, Frederick II, Maximilian I, Charles V, Napoleon and Hitler have all been presented as revivals.

But a question arises: How do revival authors judge what to include as a revival?

Their choices seem to be based on selecting a strongman and calling him a revival.

But what about those strongmen they didnÕt choose? Charlemagne is cited, but Henry I, the Fowler, the head of the Saxon dynasty, is not. HenryÕs son Otto the Great is chosen, but OttoÕs descendants Henry IX, the Black, and Henry XII, the Lion, are not chosen. Tailoring their discussion to 10 rulers seems to necessitate eliminating alternative choices.

Their selection of Roman Empire revivals leaves Church of God readers dangling, with Hitler as the last revival. Their hatred for Hitler and for what Germany did during World War II goes a long way toward providing a reason for believing that Germany is Assyria and was populated by Assyrians.

But, dear reader, Mr. Armstrong was fundamentally wrong about the Assyrian origin of Germany. Rather than being a Roman revival, Germany, and its behavior during the great wars, demonstrates that it was populated by a tribe of ancient Israel.

Nor will it ever again threaten the world. The beast will not include Germany.

If the Visigoths and Ostrogoths were Roman revivals, then they were Israelite Roman revivals. My chapter 4 documents their Israelite origin.

If Charlemagne was a Roman revival, then he was a Davidic Roman revival. My chapter 5 documents his lineage to King David and to the son of Israel whose descendants populated Germany. Not only does it document that Charlemagne was a descendant of David, it also documents that several Holy Roman emperors were descendants as well (including the Hapsburgs).

Perhaps the most serious question arises from the current tense of the little horn in Daniel 7:8 that plucks up three other horns. How can the traditional view of the little horn (Justinian) and the three plucked-up horns (Visigoths, Ostrogoths and Lombards) be true when the present tense used demands that the little horn will be alive when the Ancient of Days comes in Daniel 7:9, 11? The traditional view must be wrong.

The faux pas of holding fast to the prophetical foundation laid by Herbert Armstrong regarding Germany leaves its adherents with prophetical vision less than 20-20. They will be looking for Germany and Europe to become the beast power, invade the Middle East and attack the Anglo-Saxon countries while in reality another power bloc is a better candidate for being the beast. Someone else has already invaded the Middle East, and the Anglo-Saxon countries are working collectively with the European countries in the War on Terror.

Knowing which countries are populated by the tribes of ancient Israel helps lay a correct foundation for understanding prophecy.

When we realize that that hypothesis needs to be reconsidered, the pressing question becomes: What is the correct interpretation of the 10 horns of Daniel 7:7?

The answer could be dangerous to those who publicly express it.

I wrote my book in a historic perspective and provide its readers with the history necessary to understand the future.

Although it does not make many predictions, it makes a few, drops several clues and gives the reader an alternate foundation for understanding prophecy including the 10 horns of Daniel 7:7.