On June 23, 2016, the citizens of the United Kingdom vote on a referendum to remain or leave the European Union. Those in favor of leaving claim the EU weakens national sovereignty over trade and immigration while adding another layer of bureaucracy. Those in favor of staying claim the EU increases UK influence in trade, national security and world affairs but leaving would impact the nation's economy. If the United Kingdom does leave, they can stay with NATO and the European Free Trade Association. Bible prophecy describes the relationship between the EU and UK in the End Times.

As the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And you saw iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever (Daniel 2:42-43, 44).

In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has a dream. He sees a stature with a gold head, silver chest and arms, bronze stomach and thighs, iron legs and iron and clay feet. Daniel prays and God reveals to Daniel the dream. Then Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar the dream and the interpretation. There are five major gentile powers that will rule Israel. History confirms they are Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome. The fifth is the European Union which transforms into the Tribulation Beast (world government) but the ten-horns give power to the Antichrist (Revelation 17:12-13). Then God destroys the feet and statue so human government ends and establishes the eternal reign of Jesus Christ.

Four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. And another beast, a second, like a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth between the teeth: and they said unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it (Daniel 7:3-4, 5-6).

In Daniel 7, the majority protestant view is that Daniel 2 repeats Daniel 7. However, Daniel 7 describes the final empire that rules during the Tribulation: the feet of iron and clay. The lion is the United Kingdom and the eagle's wings are the United States, born on the Golden Calf. July 4, 1776 is the 17th of Tammuz. Russia is the red bear (Revelation 17:3) and Germany is the leopard. Four heads are the Holy Roman, German, Nazi and current Federal Republic. In 1973, the United Kingdom joined with Germany in the European Economic Community (EEC) that later transformed into the EU. In 1997, The EU and Russia developed a growing political, economic and cultural partnership.

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns (Daniel 7:7).

The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast (Revelation 13:2-3).

Daniel 7 describes a dreadful and terrible fourth beast but Revelation 13 fills in the details. The lion, bear and leopard merge together. The mouth of the lion is English and the feet of the bear is communism. In 1945, German was divided but the deadly wound was healed in 1990. The Antichrist rules the Beast (world government), the false prophet rules the second Beast (Woman, world religion) and they control people through an economic system (world economy). See Unholy Trinity. Since we are close to the end of the End Times, we can see the progress of the EU. During the Tribulation, the United States falls and the Antichrist leads the Beast. See Fall of America.

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled (Revelation 17:12-13, 17).

Referendum Results: British Vote to Exit the European Union

The United Kingdom referendum on the European Union describes the fragile iron and clay alliance. In 1975, sixty-seven percent voted to remain in the European Economic Community. In 2016, fifty-two percent voted to leave the EU. On January 31, 2020, they officially exited. By the Tribulation, the British lion will merge with the Russian bear and German leopard long enough to give authority to the Antichrist. See Daniel's Dream.

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars & End Wars Chapter 20 - Players in the Game, Chapter 25 - Iraq War III, Brexit, Fall of America, Jewish Calendar, Bible Chronology, Revelation Outline, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, 21st Century View, Daniel, America, Timeline of the Tribulation