The Revived Roman Empire

By Mark Swarbrick

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The Roman Empire was a world power that collapsed more than fifteen hundred years ago. Yet the Bible predicts that in the last days this empire will rise again in the form of a revived Roman Empire. Prophecy declares that the same spirit of conquest, corruption, and hunger for global domination that once drove Rome will reappear in a final empire, setting the stage for the Antichrist and the return of Christ. Where does the Bible make this prediction, and do we see evidence of the revived Roman Empire beginning to coalesce today?

To answer that, we must first recall what the original empire was like. The Roman Empire was the fiercest power the world had known, stretching its reach from Britain to Judea with a single aim: dominion. Daniel foresaw such a kingdom — “as iron breaks into pieces and shatters everything, so, like iron that crushes, it will break in pieces and crush all these things” (Daniel 2:40)—and again as a beast with “large iron teeth; it devoured and crushed, and trampled the remainder with its feet” (Daniel 7:7). Beneath Rome’s roads and law ran a darker current: corruption, cruelty, oppressive taxation, slavery, and the demand that men worship men. Prophecy warns that this iron will reappear in the last days—a revived Roman Empire with the same hard will, dressed in modern clothes.

The Distinctive Features of Rome

The Roman Empire had some specific and striking features. One, it was a confederation of nations under strict central control, binding diverse peoples into one political system. Two, it wielded great military power, not just to defend its borders but to project its will abroad and to crush resistance. Three, it was an economic giant, controlling trade and wealth in order to tighten its grip on the nations under its rule. Four, it was steeped in idolatry and false religion, exalting men as gods and filling its temples with idols.

Yet for all its power, Rome was never truly united. The empire constantly wrestled with cohesion as it ruled over Gauls, Greeks, Egyptians, Jews, Germans, Britons, and many more. Each group had its own languages, customs, and loyalties. Rome held them together with roads, legions, law, and fear — but beneath the surface the empire was always fractured. Rebellions flared, provinces broke away, and in the end the empire cracked under the weight of its own diversity.

This weakness of Rome was no accident, for God Himself has ordained the distinctiveness of nations. At the Tower of Babel, the Lord divided mankind by language and scattered them across the earth, setting boundaries for every people (Acts 17:26). National identity and sovereign borders are part of His plan for this age. Rome’s drive to crush those distinctions and weld the world into one empire was not inspired by God but by Satan, who has always sought to thwart the divine order. That is why the empire, for all its power, could never truly hold together: iron does not mix with clay. And if we look closely, we can see Satan’s same attempt to erase the distinctiveness of nations playing out in current events today.

What the Bible Says about The Revived Roman Empire

The clearest proof of a revived Roman Empire comes from Daniel 2, where the prophet interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a colossal statue. The head of gold represented Babylon, the chest and arms of silver symbolized Medo-Persia, the belly and thighs of bronze stood for Greece, and the legs of iron portrayed the old Roman Empire. The final part of the statue—the feet and toes of iron mixed with clay—points to a later form of Rome. In the vision, a stone cut without hands strikes the image on its feet, shattering the entire statue. That stone is Christ Himself, returning to establish His millennial kingdom on earth. Since the Second Coming has not yet occurred, the feet and toes must represent a Roman Empire that is reborn at the end of the age. In other words, the fall of Rome was not the end of its story. Its power lies dormant for a time, but prophecy declares it will rise again in a final form at the very moment Christ returns.

Daniel 2 shows us that the Roman Empire will not remain a relic of history. The legs of iron represented the old empire, but the feet and toes of iron mixed with clay point to a later form that will exist at the time of Christ’s return. When the stone cut without hands strikes the image, the entire statue collapses into dust, proving that Rome must be reborn in the last days for prophecy to be fulfilled.

Daniel 9:26 confirms this truth. The prophecy declares that “the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.” History makes clear that it was the Romans who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in A.D. 70. Bible scholars agree that the “prince who is to come” is the Antichrist, and since his people were the Romans, his rise must be tied to their territory. This means that when the Antichrist appears, a Roman Empire must once again exist for him to rule.

Daniel 7 describes the final empire as a beast with ten horns (Daniel 7:24), which correlates with Revelation 17 identifying these ten horns as ten kings who give their power to the beast (Revelation 17:12–13). These horns match the ten toes of the statue in Daniel 2 (Daniel 2:41–42), portraying a revived Roman Empire made up of a confederacy of ten nations. Just as Daniel 9:26 links the coming Antichrist to “the people” who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70—the Romans—we can be certain that this empire will arise from the same territory once controlled by ancient Rome. That realm stretched across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, binding diverse peoples under a single authority. The prophetic picture is unmistakable: in the last days, a coalition of nations from the old Roman world will unite again, reviving the empire that once stood against God and His people.

Revelation tells us that the ten kings of the revived Roman Empire “give their power and authority to the beast” (Revelation 17:13)—that is, the Antichrist. With their allegiance secured, he will wield unprecedented power during the Tribulation, for “authority was given him over every tribe, people, language, and nation” (Revelation 13:7). This confederacy becomes the iron rule of the last days—a world power that dominates the earth until Christ returns to destroy it.

The European Union and the Revived Roman Empire

Nations do not transform overnight; great shifts in world power often unfold in stages. The same will be true of the revived Roman Empire. Prophecy shows us its final form, but the process of assembling such a confederacy begins long before. When we see the framework of that empire starting to coalesce before our eyes, we can be certain that the return of Christ is drawing near.

The formation of the European Union is the early beginnings of the coming Revived Roman Empire. The EU arose in the very heartland of the old Roman Empire. What began after World War II as a small economic partnership among six nations has expanded into a vast union spanning most of Europe. Like Rome of old, it seeks to bind diverse peoples together under a central authority, erasing borders with common laws, shared institutions, and a single market. Its reach is not limited to trade; it has ambitions for military strength, political unity, and cultural dominance. The parallels are striking: the same territory, the same drive for control, and the same struggle to weld together nations that remain divided at their core.

The rebirth of an empire long dead may sound fantastical, yet Scripture gives us a clear precedent. For nearly two thousand years Israel did not exist as a recognized nation-state, lacking possession of its land and recognition among the nations of the world. Yet before God it was never forgotten, and in exact fulfillment of prophecy the Jewish people were regathered to their homeland and restored as a state in 1948. In the same way, the Roman Empire, though fallen, will be reconstituted in the last days. Satan, ever the counterfeiter, seeks to mimic what God has done — just as God restored His chosen nation, so Satan schemes to resurrect his own empire. He has always desired world dominion and a one-world government, and the Bible — written by the God who knows the end from the beginning — records in advance how mankind, under Satan’s influence, will rebuild a revived Roman Empire as the stage for the Antichrist.

The WEU – A Ten Nation Confederacy

Rome’s military might was legendary: its legions conquered and held vast territories. The revived Roman Empire prophesied in Scripture will likewise wield formidable military power — and in our day, Europe is laying the groundwork. The EU is steadily integrating national defense under its Common Security and Defence Policy, pouring billions into joint weapons projects, and preparing rapid deployment forces that can be sent abroad under a single command. These are the first steps toward the kind of iron control that once defined Rome.

Even more striking is the precedent of the Western European Union (WEU), a defense pact that united exactly ten nations. Though it was dissolved in 2011 and absorbed into EU structures, that ten-member alliance stands out as a prophetic foreshadowing, perfectly mirroring the ten horns and ten toes of Daniel and Revelation (Daniel 7:24; Revelation 17:12–13; Daniel 2:41–42). The details of the EU may shift — nations may leave as the UK did, others may join or rejoin — but according to biblical prophecy, Europe will not remain a loose coalition forever. It will harden into the prophesied ten-nation confederacy of the revived Roman Empire.

Though the Western European Union was officially dissolved in 2011, its shadow has never fully disappeared. For decades it existed as a ten-nation military alliance within Europe—an eerie echo of Daniel’s prophecy of ten horns and ten toes (Daniel 2:41–42; 7:24; Revelation 17:12). While its formal institutions have been shut down, the blueprint remains, and in times of crisis Europe could easily reconstitute such a compact. In fact, today’s push for deeper EU defense integration—through battlegroups, rapid deployment forces, and massive funding projects—shows that the spirit of the WEU lives on. Prophecy tells us that the revived Roman Empire will ultimately emerge as a ten-nation confederacy, so we should not be surprised if Europe, under mounting pressures, resurrects or reshapes the very structure it once set aside. What looks like a dead alliance may in truth be a foreshadowing, waiting for the right moment to return in fulfillment of God’s Word.

The World is Prepping for the Antichrist

The Bible teaches that before the Antichrist is revealed, a “spirit of Antichrist” will already be at work in the world (1 John 4:3). We see that spirit today in the growing acceptance of totalitarianism, in governments that demand obedience over freedom, and in the cultural corruption that normalizes sexual immorality. Daniel foresaw that the final ruler would “intend to make alterations in times and in law” (Daniel 7:25), and our world is moving rapidly in that direction. Long-standing traditions are being erased, calendars rewritten, and even the phrase “in the year of our Lord” is being stripped away. These trends are not accidental—they are setting the stage for the man of lawlessness to take his throne.

One of the clearest signs of preparation for his rule is the drive toward globalization. Every crisis, whether economic, military, or environmental, is used as a pretext to call for “global solutions.” Leaders and institutions openly speak of the need for one-world systems in finance, health, government, and even religion. This is nothing less than the groundwork for the Antichrist, who will one day unite the ten-nation confederacy of the revived Roman Empire into a single empire that dominates the earth (Revelation 17:12–13). What mankind hails as progress, God’s Word identifies as rebellion.

Another hallmark of the Antichrist’s reign will be his hatred of God’s people. Revelation 13:7 declares that “it was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.” Daniel 7:25 says he will “wear down the saints of the Highest One.” Revelation 12 adds that the dragon—Satan—will pursue the woman, Israel, and make war with “the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 12:17).

These verses paint a clear picture: both Jews and Christians will face intense persecution under the revived Roman Empire. Already we see the foreshadowing. Antisemitism is spreading like wildfire, not only in the streets but also in high halls of power. Several European countries have moved to officially recognize a Palestinian state, a political act rooted in hostility toward Israel’s very existence. Even the United Nations repeatedly passes anti-Israel resolutions, exposing itself as aligned against God’s chosen people. John tells us the sobering truth: “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

Preaching of the Gospel is now being outlawed in many parts of the EU. True preaching of the Gospel demands a call to repentance and faith in Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30). That inevitably means confronting sexual immorality—calling homosexuality, transgender ideology, and other deviations from God’s design what they are: sin. The Gospel cannot be fully preached where sinful behavior is not allowed to be called sin, and in parts of the UK and Europe, this kind of preaching is being censored, prosecuted, or silenced.

In London, a street preacher was warned by police he could be arrested for “homophobic comments” while preaching. In 2021, a pastor in the UK was arrested under Public Order laws after making remarks about same-sex marriage in a sermon. In Sweden, pastor Åke Green was prosecuted under hate speech laws for speaking against homosexuality. Also in Sweden, a Christian website administrator was jailed for expressing biblical views on sexual morality.

These are not isolated legal controversies. They reflect a rising intolerance for gospel truth that offends modern norms. The Apostle John warned of the “spirit of Antichrist” already in the world (1 John 4:3) long before the man of lawlessness appears. That spirit hates the cross, hates repentance, and hates the faithful who call sin what it is. Restraining gospel proclamation is part of the larger war on truth that paves the way for the Antichrist and his global system to seize ultimate control.

This same hatred is increasingly aimed at Christians everywhere. Churches across America are being vandalized, believers fired or censored for their faith, and sanctuaries even attacked with gunfire. In just the past two months, two churches in the United States have been the targets of deadly shootings, with many more tragedies in recent years. The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk stands as another stark reminder that the cost of following Christ is rising, and that faithful voices are being silenced by violence. The trend is unmistakable: the groundwork is being laid for the Antichrist to unleash a persecution unlike any the world has ever seen.

In every way, the present world system is moving toward the fulfillment of prophecy. Globalization, lawlessness, antisemitism, persecution of Christians, and the erasure of godly foundations all reveal that Satan is preparing mankind to accept his counterfeit messiah. The stage is being set for the Antichrist to step forward, take dominion of the world through the ten-nation revived Roman Empire, and establish the one-world government that Scripture warns will briefly dominate the earth before Christ returns in glory.

The Antichrist will present himself as a great world leader, admired and celebrated by the nations, likely rising to prominence in the aftermath of a global crisis. As we witnessed during the COVID pandemic, people are quick to surrender sovereignty and individual freedoms when promised safety and stability. In just such a moment, the Antichrist will seize control, offering false security while leading the world into its darkest hour.

The European Union Compared to the United States

Some people object that the European Union is only doing what the United States once did — uniting many peoples into one. But the comparison quickly falls apart. America did not begin as a patchwork of ancient kingdoms with different languages and centuries of rivalry. Instead, it was founded as one nation from the start, with a common language and a shared identity. Immigrants were welcomed, but they were expected to assimilate, learn the language, and become Americans. This was not a violation of God’s design for nations; it was the creation of a new nation with clear borders and a unifying vision.

Europe is fundamentally different. The EU is an attempt to weld together peoples who have long, distinctive histories, languages, and loyalties. From the Celts to the Germans, from the French to the Italians, these nations developed separately and often fought bitter wars with one another. Now, under the EU, they are bound together in an artificial structure that does not erase their differences. Borders are open, sovereignty is diluted, and assimilation is not required. The result is a fragile unity — the iron and clay mixture that Daniel described — strong on the outside but fractured within.

Unlike the United States, the EU is a forced union, created in defiance of the divine order that God set at Babel when He divided mankind into nations (Genesis 11:7–9; Acts 17:26). It is precisely this fragile, man-made amalgamation that prophecy says will reemerge as the revived Roman Empire, the final stage of Gentile world power before Christ returns.

Daniel foresaw the weakness of this arrangement, describing how the final empire would be a mixture of iron and clay. He wrote that “they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not combine with pottery” (Daniel 2:43). Europe’s open borders and forced multiculturalism are a modern attempt to forge unity out of deep diversity, yet prophecy declares such efforts cannot truly succeed. Just as Rome never held its peoples in lasting cohesion, so the revived Roman Empire will appear strong but remain brittle at its core.

The Rapture is Imminent

Even as we watch the world falling into chaos and the foundations of freedom crumbling, we must not lose sight of how the story ends. The revived Roman Empire, with all its bluster and power, will be no match for the King of kings. Daniel saw the stone cut without hands strike the feet of the statue, and the entire image crumbled to dust, blown away like chaff on the wind, leaving not a trace behind (Daniel 2:34–35). So it will be when Christ returns — this wicked alliance of nations will be shattered and scattered into oblivion, and the Lord will establish His millennial kingdom on earth.

But for believers, the hope is even nearer. The Bible promises that the Rapture will take place before the Tribulation begins, when Christ will call His church to Himself in the twinkling of an eye (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17; 1 Corinthians 15:51–52). That means His coming for us is not tied to any specific event. It can happen at any moment. All that we see today — the formation of the European Union, the surge of lawlessness, the rise of antisemitism, and the relentless push for globalization — are signs showing us that the Rapture could take place at any moment.

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