🔥 When Nations Tremble: The Prophetic Significance of the Unrest in the U.S., France, and Italy
A Messianic‑Hebraic Analysis of Global Birth Pangs in the 8th Biblical Month
By Rod Thomas — The Messianic Torah Observer Yom Sheni — 7th Day of the 8th Biblical Month
Shalom and midweek blessings to you, beloved of the Most High Ahlohim.
As we step into this new work week — the 7th day of the 8th Biblical Month — the world is being abruptly shaken. And if we are paying attention and are discerning these seeming turbulent, perilous times we are living in through the lens of Torah and the teachings of our Master Yahoshua haMashiyach, we can see established prophetic contours forming right before our eyes.
This week, two regions of the world demand our attention: the United States and Europe — specifically France and Italy.
Both are experiencing significant shaking. Both reveal cracks in the foundations of greater Western society. And both are aligning with the prophetic patterns laid out in Scripture.
Let’s walk through this together.
THE UNITED STATES — A NATION UNDER INTERNAL STRAIN
The United States continues to experience pressure from multiple directions:
- Cyber intrusions targeting critical infrastructure.
- Economic uncertainty.
- Deepening social polarization.
Now, these are not isolated issues. Rather, these are symptoms of a nation undergoing internal fragmentation.
Sha’ul’s (aka the Apostle Paul’s) words in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 speak of a “restrainer” — a force that holds back the full manifestation of lawlessness until the appointed time:
“For the mystery of lawlessness (aka “anomia,” meaning the violation of Torah or transgression of Torah) is at work already (2 Thessalonians being written about 51-52 AD); only the one who now restrains (who specifically that restrainer would have been is not revealed nor known for certain; a lot of speculation as to the restrainer’s identity has stumped so-called Biblical scholars for centuries will do so until he is out of the) will do so until he is out of the way/out of the midst, and then the lawless one will be revealed…” (LEB).
It is utterly doubtful that the Apostle envisioned the United States as this “restrainer” of anomia. But if we are open to applying a little biblical typology to current world events, it would be safe to say that for decades America has functioned as a global stabilizer, even a restraining force if you will, in world affairs. But today, we watch that influence weaken.
The U.S. is shifting from global stabilizer to reactive participant. This is not merely political, but more so prophetic.
A weakening restrainer accelerates the conditions necessary for the rise of global governance structures described in Revelation 13 — systems of centralized authority that emerge in times of instability.
America’s internal shaking is part of a larger, prevailing global pattern that we see emerging in these seeming perilous times. And let us not forget that one is hard pressed to identify the United States as an End Times actor in the prophetic texts of scripture.
EUROPE — FRANCE & ITALY ERUPT IN VIOLENT UPHEAVAL
Europe is trembling this week in ways that should cause every believer to pause and take notice.
France saw over 550,000 protesters flood the streets this past weekend. Fires. Looting. Ransacked shops. Torched public buildings. Even a 140‑year‑old town hall in Limoges was set ablaze by scions of the Kingdom of Darkness.
Italy’s Piazza del Duomo — normally a place of beauty, culture, and history — became a battleground marked by fires and violent clashes with police.
Belgium and Portugal are experiencing similar unrest.
This is not ordinary civil protest. This is lawlessness — anomia — the very thing Yeshua warned us about in Matthew 24:7–12:
7 For nation will rise up against nation and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations because of my name. 10 And then many will be led into sin and will betray one another and will hate one another, 11 and many false prophets will appear and will deceive many, 12 and because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. [1]
Lawlessness — anomia — is the rejection and transgression of Yah’s Torah. It’s an outright rebellion. And when a society rejects Torah, and it rebels against the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov, it does not drift into chaos, but it plunges into certain and violent chaos.
The globalists (my opinion) are spinning a yarn that all of this violent chaos is because of global economic unrest and insecurity. They say that Europe’s economic pressure is producing the terrible social breakdown we’re seeing on the various YouTube Channels on our computer screens and televisions. And they contend that this resulting social breakdown is producing political instability. Political instability is preparing the soil for authoritarian governance.
I will wholeheartedly agree that these violent uprisings or riots we’re seeing in Europe are indeed leading to a certain degree of political instability that is preparing the soil for authoritarianism. But I do not buy that economic unrest and uncertainty are the baseline impetus for the violent uprisings we’re seeing take place in these historic, beautiful Western cities in Europe. Negative economic issues are certainly present in these places, but the real culprit goes right back to the entity that the “restrainer” is meant to maintain a semblance of control over.
I contend that that which is no longer being restrained is spiritual in nature and it is likely from the dark-side of the unseen realm. Shaul/Paul described such a reality in his letter to the Messianic Assemblies in Ephesus:
“…Our struggle is not against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.[2]
These, beloved, are the real culprits behind all the violent chaos we’re seeing played out over the pond today. This is not to say, of course, that Abba Yah is not in control. Indeed, He is still on the throne. But we must know that He has a 4-D chess plan to restore paradise that was lost back in the Garden. But to get His chosen and elect ones there, the world must endure a goodly amount of shaking in the process. Sure, these spiritual thugs believe they are in control, but they only have as much control as their Creator has given them. They are foolishly playing with fire, and their end is certain. Unfortunately, the world is under the sway of the Enemy (1 John 5.19; 2 Corinthians 4.4; Ephesians 2.2). The globalists are the useful idiots of the Kingdom of Darkness, seeking to bring about a World Order that they can manipulate and be enriched by (e.g. power and material wealth). Yet their global kingdom is without integrity and durability.
The prophet foresaw this in Daniel 2:41–43, describing the fragility of the “iron and clay” kingdoms — strong in appearance, brittle underneath.
These riots are cracks in the foundation of Europe’s identity.
🔥 THE SPIRITUAL SPARK BEHIND THE VIOLENCE
What we see transpiring in France and Italy today is not just political frustration as the globalist-controlled media would have us believe. Rather, it is the manifestation of a “spirit of lawlessness/anomia.” This “spirit of anomia” is the same spirit that will empower the impending “Man of Lawlessness/Anomia” (2 Thessalonians 2:3):
“Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first, and the “man of lawlessness” is revealed, the “son of destruction/perdition” (LEB)
Now, I will say that a full study of the “spirit of anomia” and this “son of perdition” is beyond the scope of this write-up. But we can determine from Shaul’s writings that this spirit of anomia:
- stirs crowds
- inflames anger
- destroys order
- rejects authority
- and prepares societies for centralized control
Does any of this match what we’re seeing on the various media platforms reporting on the European chaos? Indeed. You see, beloved, chaos always welcomes the advent of a “savior” type, does it not? And Revelation 13 tells us exactly what kind of “savior” the world will eventually accept.
Europe’s unrest is not random. It is prophetic.
🌍 THE GLOBAL PROPHETIC SYNTHESIS — WHERE THIS IS ALL HEADING
Across the U.S. and Europe, we are witnessing the same three global trends:
- Globalist Instigation (unbridled immigration from Islamic and impoverished 3rd-world societies) → Social Breakdown
Such produces fear. Fear produces rage. Rage produces violence.
- Institutional Erosion → Power Vacuums
When institutions weaken, people look for strong‑man leadership. This is how authoritarian systems rise.
- Multipolar Conflict → Prophetic Alignment
The world is shifting from a unipolar system to a contested multipolar one — a necessary stage before the emergence of the final Beast system.
These events are synchronized movements toward the final configuration described in Daniel and Revelation.
📡 THE MESSIANIC RESPONSE — WHAT WE MUST DO NOW
In these days of shaking, our response must be grounded in Torah and guided by the Ruach.
- Anchor Ourselves in Yeshua-focused Torah Stability
Psalm 119:165
“Great peace have they who love Your Torah, and nothing shall cause them to stumble.”
Yeshua-focused Torah Living is the only stable foundation in an unstable world.
- Provide Prophetic Clarity Without Sensationalism
We are not called to fear nor to give in to fear‑mongering. We are called to holy discernment.
- See the Global Pattern, Not Just the Headlines
The shaking in the U.S. and Europe is connected. It is part of a global prophetic realignment.
- Call for Teshuvah and Watchfulness
Moments like this are invitations for people to return to Yah’s ways – to Teshuvah.
CONCLUSION — THE NATIONS ARE TREMBLING, BUT YAH’S WORD STANDS FIRM
Beloved, we are witnessing the early tremors of the prophetic realignment described in Daniel and Revelation. The nations are shaking. The foundations are cracking. The birth pangs are intensifying.
But Yah’s Word remains unshaken. His Torah remains our anchor. His promises remain our hope. Indeed, our Master declared:
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh,” (Luke 21.28; LEB).
So, let us stay grounded as we pray for the innocents and the unwitting useful idiots of the Kingdom of Darkness; uber discerning, and above all, remain ever so faithful even to the end. For he that endureth to the end shall be saved (Matthew 10.22).
Shalom in Messiah Yahoshua, Rod Thomas The Messianic Torah Observer
[1] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Mt 24:7-12.
[2] W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), Eph 6:12.
From Flood to Faith: The Enduring Promise of the Noahic Covenant — Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 7
The Noahic Covenant: Humanity's Path to Redemption Greetings, saints of the Most High. Welcome to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas, coming to you on a beautiful Shabbat in the DFW area. I hope this message finds you and your loved...
Why Aren’t We Keeping the Feast of Rosh Chodesh-Thoughts and Reflections on the Torah Reading for the 9th Rosh Chodesh
Greetings, Saints of the Most High! Welcome to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas, coming to you on a crisp fall afternoon in DFW. Thank you for taking the time to fellowship with me. I hope this post finds you and your loved ones well...
And God Remembered Noah — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 6 — Reboot
And God Remembered Noah This week's Torah reading, "And God Remembered Noah," is from Genesis 8:1-14, the 6th Parashah in our 3-Year Torah Reading Cycle. The Power of the Ruach In Genesis 8:1, Elohim remembered Noah and sent a wind (ruach) over...
Pleasing God-Yah in Perilous Times-Lessons From the Life of Noah-Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 5 (Reboot)
Torah Reading this week is found in Genesis 6:9-7:24. It is a very familiar passage of Torah that bears a good many themes, concepts and spiritual applications. But for us today, I want us to focus on just one central theme, if you will. And that theme has to do...
Marring the Image of the Creator Yehovah Through Rebelliousness-Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 4
Greeting and Introduction Greetings saints of the Most High and welcome back to another installment of the Messianic Torah Observer. I'm Rod Thomas coming to you on a beautiful fall Shabbat in the DFW. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to...
Was Eve the First Messianic and the Heart of True Worship — Thoughts & Reflections on Torah Reading 3
Greetings Saints of the Most High. I pray that you, your families, and fellowships are well and blessed. It was my intention to do, at the very least, an audio version of this teaching and discussion. However, since our return from our Kenyan missionary...
My Thoughts and Reflections on Whether Messianics/Netsarim Should Take Part in the Upcoming Electoral Process
Greetings Greetings saints of the Most High. I'm Rod Thomas coming to you from the DFW on a rather stormy first day of the week. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me and as always beloved, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that...
TMTO Update and Thoughts and Reflections on Kenya Missionary-Sukkot Trip
As I am posting these thoughts and reflections, it is the very last Sabbath of the 7th Biblical Month, November 2, 2024. And assuming our contacts in Israel are successful in sighting the renewed moon the evening of this post, we will enter the 8th Month of Yah's...
When Torah Becomes a Witness Against Us — My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 148
These are my thoughts and reflections on Torah Reading 148. I’ve been led to entitle this discussion: When Torah Becomes a Witness Against Us.” Our reading this week is found in Deuteronomy/Devarim 31.14-30. Key Themes and Concepts Found in our Parashah this...
Be Strong and Courageous — My Thoughts and Reflections on Torah Reading 147
Greetings saints of the Most High. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedules to fellowship with me here on this blessed day of rest in Yeshua Messiah. And as always, it is my hope, trust, and prayer that this installment of the Messianic Torah Observer...