EUROPE, WHAT’S IN THE NAME?

by HELENE BOS

February 2004

Summary

How did our continent receive her name? According to Greek mythology, the chief Greek god Zeus fell in love with the human daughter of the Phoenician king, named Europa; in the shape of a white bull, he abducted her and had three sons through her. In order to “make up” for his behavior, she was honored by naming a continent after her: Europa.

This “love” affair, though illegal, is “covenantal behavior.” And giving names to territories is also “covenantal behavior”.

Zeus can be identified as Satan (Rev. 2:13.). Has he tried, by establishing a false covenantal relationship with this continent, to have a “legal” claim on this continent? The story of Genesis 6, where the (fallen) sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them, connects this myth to European history. Did Zeus/Satan in this “legal” way try to prevent the gospel taking root, where it was one of the first continents to be evangelized and discipled?

From this angle we explore the questions: 

- is that the reason why paganism in (at least in western-) Europe had never been given up? 

- is that the reason why this continent through the centuries became so hostile to the gospel? 

- is that the reason why over the years we saw in our own and other western nations the interest in the occult increase? 

- is that the reason why even now a revival of paganism is taking place?

Through the centuries we can see that Zeus/Satan has devised spiritual strategies to reinforce his claim on this continent. In our time we see this in the political arena by the EU promoting the old myth, and purposefully trying to leave the name of the Lord God out of the preamble of the EU Constitution. 

If this is so, will there ever be a new covenant, with the Lord, with a new name, given by Him, for this continent?

Intercessors have prayed over this, and the Lord did give another name. A name so contrary to the old one that we can be full of hope for the future of this continent. All the above poses a responsibility for the intercessors and for the Church of Europe. This report explains these findings and these concepts and presents a strategy for prayer and application.

I will show my love to the one I called “Not my loved one.” And they will say, ”You are my God.” (Hosea 2:23)

Two timely reasons to write this article

- The European Union is extending. A number of the leaders of and in the nations believe that this new Europe needs a constitution, so the former president of France, Giscard d’Estaing, set himself to draft one. A constitution in which he however does not want to mention the name of God, but in which he does

want to honor humanism. This continent was one of the first to be evangelized. How can we not recognize that?

- In August 2004 the Olympics will be held in Athens, Greece, the nation where long ago the tradition

of athletic religious festivals started, of which the festival dedicated to Zeus, the Olympics, was the most

significant one. The first Olympics were held in 776 B.C. and they have always been a religious festival. The upcoming Olympics will be held in that old tradition. One of the officials of the Olympic Games 2004 stated publicly that these Olympics will be characterized by pagan revivalism, and priestesses will preside over the entire games.

Both thoroughly researched and documented publications, written by trusted “compatriots in battle,” are not accidental, and not coincidental. They also relate to issues that over the years have drawn my attention.

In this article, I focus on the meaning and background of the NAME OF EUROPE. I link the original

Olympic games and the upcoming ones, and the political and spiritual developments of our continent in between, with that old name. I raise the suggestion that this continent may receive a new name, once.

Names have meaning

This article deals with the name of the continent where I live.

Over the years I was challenged to think about that name, Europe. I knew about the mythological origin of it, and found myself often wondering: Why was that name was given to this continent and who gave that name? In the spiritual world do names have meaning, the Bible teaches us. When then that name is transferred to a continent, we may wonder: why? What did that continent inherit through the connection to that name? Can that have spiritual implications for this continent? The European Union is explicitly contributing meaning again to the myth that is in the background of the name. Why?

Overview of the contents:

Chapter 1 

Through the years I noticed developments that led me to pay closer attention to the name of our continent, as a kind of personal quest.

Chapter 2 

That process raised the question if there might be a reason why Europe never quit with paganism.

Chapter 3 

At the time of an EPL consultation (European Prayer Link) the Lord gave another name for this continent!

Conclusion 

The Church of Europe then has a responsibility with regard to the past and the future of Europe.

Chapter 1

THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF EUROPE

Spiritual and societal developments in our continent drew my attention gradually to the name of this continent. That is why the following is in a way a personal account. The question may be asked whether this understanding is consistent with the spiritual reality as the Bible teaches us. Maybe others have come to reflect on that name because of a very different reason.

At the beginning of the nineties, I heard that the late Swedish intercessor and prophetic prayer leader Kjell Sjǿberg had asked the Lord for a new name for this continent. Though I do not know if the Lord revealed one to him, I received this as confirmation.

Over the years I was struck by the fact that the once “Christianized” continent was so easily flooded with the occult, and that the pagan roots of the continent were still so much alive.

The increase of the occult

A - Increase of “counterfeit” spiritual phenomena in the seventies

At the beginning of the seventies, I heard more and more of people, not in Africa but in rationalistic Europe, who went into trance, of fortune-tellers, of people with extra-sensory perception, of mediums. Coming from a traditional church background but being hungry for the work of the Holy Spirit, I wondered whether these things were not indicating that there are “true” spiritual phenomena also.

In the seventies, we lived as a family for almost two years in Singapore, in the midst of a strong charismatic revival. We saw miracles by and manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We also saw that the demonic world is not “true,” but yet very real. I concluded that the increase of the counterfeit spirituality might well indicate that the plan of the Lord was to give the real gifts and manifestations to the Body of Christ, also to the church in Europe.

B - Increase of the interest in and influence of the occult in the eighties

- An ever-swelling number of people are using alternative medicines and therapies, and/or are interested in and involved in the occult, reading horoscopes and tarot cards. More and more games revolve around demonic beings, and cuddly toys are more and more demonic in expression.

- Much “literature,” for adults as well as for children, has occult topics or weaving the occult into the story. We see a strong increase of the occult in TV programs and movies; there is an increase of exhibitions on foreign religions, with expressive posters with demonic masks all over the city.

- Practitioners of the occult appear before the floodlights. Gurus, witches, and satanists give interviews or

seek publicity in other ways. People open up to Tibetan Buddhism, for courses and therapies that are new-age inspired. These things are offered for individuals privately, but also in businesses and for officials in government departments. Police officials are using clairvoyants in order to solve crimes. Schools have to teach all sorts of religions, with not seldom lessons in which is “practiced” what was taught. Many cults have sprung up over the last years, with their priests and priestesses. Many of them seek publicity and try to recruit new members/followers through their websites.

The list is growing.

C - A recapture of the continent by the “queen of heaven” in the nineties

Under the influence of the queen of heaven, we see an increase of deception, violence, confusion, chaos, manipulation and intimidation, enrichment for some, impoverishment for many, breakdowns in relationships, seduction, immorality, together with (new age, and eastern) religion (to call just some effects).

In our time we see this principality increase her influence through treaties that are coming out of the United Nations. The foundation for that concept is a pantheistic veneration for the Earth, or “Gaia,” or “Mother Earth,” the 21st-century adaptation of that same old principality, a pagan goddess, the queen of heaven. When UN treaties are ratified by a nation, the treaty becomes international law, to which national law is subject. In this way, almost all areas of our lives become “covered” by the rule of the queen of heaven.

Paganism is still “everywhere”

On the occasion of the complete solar eclipse in Europe in august 1999, I did research concerning the places in our own nation and in Europe where this principality, the queen of heaven, was venerated, and where sacrifices had been and in certain instances still are being made to her.

I found that sacrifices had been made to many “goddesses” and “gods,” as a common practice, in many places, all over the continent. Certainly, not all of them can be reduced to fantasies. People did see appearances and noticed manifestations and/or “miracles.” The remnants of pagan worship are obvious all over Europe. Particularly noticeable are:

- There must have been many roman temples, as more and more are being excavated. Greek and Roman gods were worshiped in these temples. This idolatry was obviously widespread in the European nations. Through this the enemy must have received a clear entry to this continent and names of cities, mountains, months, and weekdays confirm this. Also Scandinavian and German “gods” were worshiped on a large scale. Three of the weekdays honor them. We still/again can find the marks in many places and on buildings. There are runic symbols on houses, and statues of mermaids, and of Neptune on marketplaces and boulevards, of the Green Man, the male counterpart of Gaia, “the goddess,” Mother Earth, on many older, “official” houses like the Dutch parliament, and in cathedrals.

- Many “traditions” of occult origin have become normal in daily life, as they were “Christianized”.

Well-known is the search for Easter eggs, the Christmas tree, Father Christmas, and Santa Claus and his black servants. But by now the pagan roots have surfaced clearly and completely overtaken the added Christian elements in these traditions. The general pattern is that paganism crowds out the Christian element. Other “traditions” also became normal, superstitious habits like “touching wood” is an example. The baptism in the name of Neptune for all persons in the navy or marine, who pass the equator for the first time, has been an international century-old tradition, but “dressed up” in our days.

- We see a growth of “folklore” and “folkloristic” traditions. “Tourist attractions” are offered, for example under the motto:” Sacrificing to the gods, as our ancestors used to do”. Many of these attractions are in reality pagan customs and they supply the enemy with entry to people and to regions.

Was Europe ever a “Christianized” continent?

A. Europe was a pagan continent. That is not surprising. Paganism, including witchcraft, is everywhere where the message of the gospel has not yet been preached. There is no real alternative (maybe with an exception for true, Thora-centered, Judaism). We may assume that the people wandered into the world demonized after they were scattered out of Babylon, Genesis 11. With that spiritual burden, the people reached the area now called Europe.

B. The gospel reached Europe in a, comparatively, early stage. The representatives of the pagan religions resisted the progress of the gospel, and not seldom continued, after the “official’ Christianizing of an area, with their rituals, side by side with the new faith. Destroying a temple and rebuilding a church on the same foundations in that same place may have given the impression of Christianization, but if/when God’s people did not take authority over the demonic powers attached to that place, these powers still continued to exert their influence there. Old idols were “Christianized” by renaming them: Donar, a Scandinavian god, was renamed into “Peter,” and Wodan into “Michael’. Many old rituals continued, but now for a god with another name, called a saint.

It was very clear that Europe never really gave up paganism; in our time there is a revival in paganism all over Europe. The enemy cannot care less why people take part in it, if only it happens.

When we realized all the above, we wondered?

Chapter 2

IS THERE A DEEPER CAUSE WHY EUROPE NEVER GAVE UP PAGANISM?

And other questions also popped up: Why does only this continent have a name that stems from Greek mythology? And who gave that name?

The origin of the name “Europa”

The name is derived from the Greek) "Eurôpê,” and is related to a well-known Greek myth: Europa was the beautiful daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor. The Greek chief god Zeus fell in love with her. Zeus knew that his sister-wife, the goddess Hera, already jealous because of his many affairs with other women, would be angry because of a love affair with Europe. To escape Hera's eyes he changed himself into the shape of a handsome white bull, and in that shape, he approached Europe, when she was playing on the beach with her girlfriends. As he knelt down before her, she playfully took place at his back. At that moment he jumped into the sea and swam with her to the island of Crete. There he took on his own shape again. Europe bore him three sons, one of whom was Minos. Then Europe married Asterios, the king of Crete. When this king died, Minos reigned in Crete in accordance with laws given to him every nine years by his father Zeus. Minos was, according to Homer in the Odyssey and to Greek mythology, the king of Knossos. In prehistoric times Knossos was the most important town on Crete. According to archeologists, the first advanced (European) civilization was found there. From there “civilization” spread over the area that is now Greece. 

As mentioned, Europa was a Phoenician princess. In Syria, she was equated with Astarte, an adaptation of the demonic principality named in the bible as the queen of heaven. She is also known as Ishtar. One of Ishtar’s sacred symbols was the bull. At Knossos, the queen-priestess represented the “mother goddess,” the queen of heaven. Bulls were sacred; bull games had a very important place.

Some classicists interpret this story as an allegory of the contribution of Phoenicia to Europe. In mythology it is said that to comfort Europa for the abuse she suffered, a continent was given her name, the continent now called Europe. I could not find who gave that name, but the naming of this continent after she developed gradually. Initially, Eurôpê was a toponym for the area from the south of Greece up to halfway Greece. Then the whole Hellenic peninsula was named Europa, and from 500 B.C. the continent itself was called Europa.

Revival of Greek mythology and a new focus on “The woman on the bull” in Europe

The European Union uses this story for a logo on its stationery. The story was depicted on money in the UK and in Germany, and on postal stamps of several member-states. It was depicted on the Berlin Wall and can be seen in the Airport Lounge in Brussels. A sculpture of the woman on the bull is situated outside the European Council Building in Brussels. The image has been used in advertisements and in statues, all connected to the European Union and in some other places as well. Remarkable in this respect is also, that in many European cities, public buildings are being “decorated” with all sorts of statues of bulls.

In 1999 the bi-annual international festival of sand sculptures (taking place in the very city where we live) had as a theme: “Become acquainted with the world of the Greek gods.” Depicted in the sand was the mount Olympus with its pantheon of gods, nude or partly nude.

There is obviously a revival of Greek mythology and a focus on “The woman on the bull” in Europe.

Also, the Olympic Games in August of 2004 served to revive paganism. (See par. 4)

The background of the story of Zeus and Europa

In 2000 the late Derek Prince, who was well-educated in Greek philosophy and a university teacher in classics taught about Genesis 6:4:

“Those who were born in this later period (after the flood) out of this unnatural union were called heroes. Greek mythology abounds with descriptions of such heroes. They were born when beings whom the Greeks called gods had intercourse with human women. These gods were supernaturally powerful beings who came down from a higher plane of existence. The Bible calls them Nephilim. They were, in fact, fallen angels.”

Prince said that we see these stories told in the mythology of the peoples. He especially mentioned Greek mythology. Derek Prince then gives some examples, one of which is the case of Zeus, the “father” of the gods, having intercourse with Europa. “These myths are like a cracked mirror, giving a distorted representation of events which are accurately summed up in Genesis 6:4”

The story of Zeus and Europe is an important story, about the “father of the gods,” and it has to do with a whole continent. The abduction of Europa was in antiquity a much-favored topic for decorations in many varieties, frescos, mosaics, friezes, and many paintings, but also in poems. That also shows that it is an important story, and we almost get the impression that Zeus desired very much that people would be aware of this story. I do believe that the Lord has given us key information in Genesis 6, so that we may understand what it is about.

Who was/is Zeus? Zeus was/is the chief god of the Greek gods. A commentary says: “Zeus is the mightiest of the Olympians, the king of Gods and men, whose law governs all that happens in the universe. His concerns are sovereignty, power, justice, oaths, and the social and familial order. But he is also concerned with the home and its larder. He guards guests, strangers, suppliants, and children. He is associated with storms, clouds, rain, forests, and caves. He is the father of most of the Gods and many heroes.” That commentary also says: “Zeus had numerous liaisons with both goddesses and mortals. He either raped them or used devious means to seduce the unsuspecting maidens”, like taking on the shape of a bull, a swan, or a snake, just to mention three of these means. From each of these unions, children were born.

The way, according to mythology, he dealt with these women, with “his” children, with any other personality, is so impulsively cruel, intriguing, brute, unjust, lustful, abusive, egoistic, unreliable, deceiving, unfaithful, and immoral that the above admiring description amazes me: none of the Greek gods were holy and just, certainly Zeus himself. In one word we can say: he was evil.

The cradle of Greek philosophy was not in Greece but in Asia Minor. This province was the cultural center of the world at the time of Jesus and was considered to be the most “civilized” part of the Roman empire. The city in that area that was most admired was Pergamum, now called Bergama, in Turkey. It was a cultural center with many temples, one of which was a huge temple for Zeus, with an altar on which many humans have been sacrificed. That temple has been rebuilt in Berlin and Moscow and then again in Berlin, and in each location occult power was ascribed to it. 

In the letter to Pergamum, we read: ”where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is….,” and “where Satan dwells” (Rev. 2:13). 

The fact that the glorified Lord Jesus himself indicates twice that Satan dwelled in Pergamum, means that we can believe that the name of Zeus is the disguising name for Satan. The behavior ascribed to Zeus fits in very well with our understanding of how Satan acts.

This Zeus then abducted and abused Europa, out of which relationship three sons were born! What type of relationship was that?

A wrong covenant

Covenants are God’s idea. The core of all covenants is: “I, the eternal Creator, bridge the gap with the creature, by establishing a covenant; I promise to prosper and protect the creature, on the sole condition of submission on his part, forever”. In short: “I am your God and you are my people”.

In the ancient near east, there were several types of covenant, of which we find examples in the Bible. One of the covenants was the Suzerain-vassal covenant, which regulates the relationship between a great king and one of his subject kings. The great king claimed the absolute right of sovereignty and demanded total loyalty and service. He also pledged protection on the subject’s realm and dynasty, conditional on the vassal’s faithfulness to him. The vassal pledged absolute loyalty to his suzerain and total reliance on the suzerain’s protection. The Lord established this type of covenant with Abraham as the patriarchal head of his household and with the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.

Another type of covenant we find in the Bible was the “Royal Grant.” This is the type of covenant that the Lord made with Noah, with Abraham (Gen. 15), with David and it is the type for the “new covenant” with His people (Jer 31, to whom born-again believers belong by faith), through the sacrifice of Jesus. In this covenant, the king (or a royal personality) grants a piece of land (or another benefit) to a loyal servant for faithful or exceptional service. The grant was meant to perpetuate, but the heirs only could benefit from it as they continued the loyalty and service that their father, the first beneficiary, had shown.

In biblical teaching, marriage is a symbol for the good covenant of the Suzerain-vassal-type: the Lord demands that the husband, as “suzerain,” takes care of his wife and love her; he has to lay down his life for her, as Christ did for the Church. The wife has to submit to her husband as to the Lord and accept that he is her head.

In this imagery rape is a form of anti-marriage, and a symbol of a false covenant

The relationship of Zeus with Europa had elements in it of the suzerain-vassal covenant, but then in a negative, perverted way. It was not a good, holy, relationship, in which the “suzerain” protected the woman, cared for her, and laid down his life for her. On the contrary, it started with abduction, and proceeded to rape, the opposite of protection and care. It was a wrong covenant, a covenant in the most perverted way. And according to the revelation about who Zeus is, it was a covenant with Satan himself.

And then, to make up for the abuse, her name is given to a continent, our continent. In other words: a piece of land was given for “service,” and as a solace for the abuse. That seems to be the application of the “Royal Grant” covenant.

This all supports the assumption that the myth of Zeus abducting the king's daughter is based on a real Event. Is it important to know that there was a “(wrong) covenantal relationship” between Zeus and Europe? 

In my opinion: yes, it is very important. For the following reason.

“What’s in a name”?

In the Bible “giving names” is an act of authority. Adam was authorized by the Lord to give names to the.animals, and as he called one, that “was its name”, Gen. 2:19 The Lord sometimes renamed peoplle.

Abram, Sarai, Jakob, Simon, and Saul were renamed Abraham, Sarah, Israel, Peter, and Paul. The meaning of these new names was different from the old ones. When the Lord changes the name of a person, area, or nation, then the status of that person, area, or nation in his/its relation to the Lord will be changed as well.

The Lord said in Hosea 2 that to the one He had called “Not my people”, Lo-Ammi, He would say “You are my people”. From the old times, it was understood that name-giving was an act of authority. Cain went and had a son, Enoch. Then he built a city and named it after his son, Enoch.

We also see that the one who offers a covenant also gives a new name. In our own times St. Petersburg

changed into Leningrad, and when the communist government fell it quickly was renamed again into St.

Petersburg. Names are important and carry a lot of meaning, they indicate or signify a message. Jesus is

indicated in the prophetic Scriptures with the name “son of David.” That carried a prophetic promise. 

Here we touch on spiritual principles that have to do with authority, ownership, and covenant relationships. Of course, the enemy was well aware of these principles.

We may ask: was by naming this continent after the woman Europa, not only the name transferred to this

continent but also everything that was related to this name? Could it be that by transferring the name also the (evil) claim that Satan had on the woman with that name was transferred to the continent? 

Personally, I believe that the transference of the name of Europa to a continent was a deliberate act of claiming that continent as his possession. That Satan claimed that continent, as “his royal grant,” for himself just by having that name laid over the continent. This is exactly the opposite of the salvation plan of Jesus : that nations, and continents, are destined to be discipled for the Kingdom of God. 

My husband Pieter develops this concept in depth: In the Bible nations (tribes, peoples, states, cities, continents) are addressed as “Virgin, Daughter,” meaning: Corporate Persons, ready for (marriage-) covenant. This concept is found also in ancient literature. The Bible presents “God’s covenant with all nations,” that was broken, and it informs us that God wants to make a new covenant with all nations. 

That was part of Jesus’ commission:

“Go, and disciple all nations, baptizing (=covenanting) them” to their heavenly Husband. Over the last years some nations have understood this and acted accordingly.

Paul crossed over to Macedonia, to our continent. Immediately he saw the first fruits (Lydia) and

supernatural opposition (the slave girl, the imprisonment), and a miraculous breakthrough (the earthquake and the deliverance)! The continent of Europe was destined to enter into a covenant relationship with Jesus, the King of the nations, and to become a disciple-nation.

But, as in a kidnapping, or abduction, by giving it the name Europe, this continent was placed not in a meant covenant relationship with Jesus, but in an anti-covenant, with Satan.

I understand the naming of this continent after the woman who “served” Zeus, to be an act of covenant reward, not in the visible, but in the spiritual world. And the question forced itself on me: Can this be the reason why this continent was never able to give up paganism completely? Is there a bondage to Satan, inherited with the name Europa?

An anti-covenant is a mockery of and a blockage to the true covenant

In a covenant, the stronger party protects the weaker party. The weaker party may appeal to that protection at all times. The possessions of the stronger party are being declared also to belong to the weaker party.

There is one condition: The weaker party has to be loyal to the stronger party.

In the anti-covenant, there is no protection, just abuse. There is no love, no care, just control. The weaker party has no freedom. It does not feel loved, and reacts aggressively. There is no heart commitment, no true loyalty. In an anti-covenant, there is no grace of one partner for the other one.

The anti-covenant brings forth bad fruit and bad fruits. These are not for the healing of the nations, they

destroy the peoples. Disobedience to the real Suzerain, and serving another suzerain, is idolatry! This

brings a curse over a nation, a people; the Bible makes that very clear (Deut. 12; 28).

And most importantly: a covenant with the wrong covenant partner prevents us from entering into thereal covenant. We cannot serve two masters.

Chapter 3

REVELATION ABOUT GOD’S DESTINY FOR THIS CONTINENT

What do we see in the history of our continent and, almost parallel to it, in the history of the Church of our

continent? The Lord sent apostles and evangelists to make the peoples who were living here His disciple people.

Many of them were worshiping Scandinavian, Celtic, and German gods. And the Roman Empire had, at the time when the evangelists came, already taken possession over many areas. Though there were Christian roman soldiers who shared the gospel, and the empire also introduced, in many places, the worship of the roman-Greek gods and goddesses. We did not only receive the name of a woman with whom Zeus (Satan) had a wrong covenant relationship, as “the father of the gods” but also overloaded this continent with the many gods and half gods from the Greek pantheon. The many statues of Roman/Greek gods and goddesses that gradually were placed all over Europe, in parks and on squares, on stately houses, and even in churches, have blanketed those nations with a spiritual defilement that works as a hindrance against the redemption of the gospel. During the time of the iconoclast, many images of Jesus were smashed, but images of the Greek gods and goddesses were then erected everywhere. This drowned the cultures of many nations with the fruits of Greek idolatry.

The Lord gave a Reformation with a return to the Scriptures in which He had revealed Himself. But Satan had already set in motion a renaissance of Greek culture with an emphasis on the Greek mind, with the teachings of Greek philosophers mixing with theology. This “Greek mind” became more and more dominant in the important centers of this continent, and also in the theology of the church. That also applies when the church let the Greek mind dominate her in rationalistic thinking. Was the renaissance meant by the enemy to drown the reformation?

So, we see the continent, overruled by Greek idolatry and thinking, and we see the church, meant to be the Bride of Christ, and to be in a covenant relationship with God, defiled by Greek thinking. Where she venerates pagan gods and goddesses, she has entered into a false covenant that prevents her from entering into the true covenant with the Lord himself.

After I started to consider the possibility that this continent is under a curse or in bondage because of a false covenant, I assumed that the name Europa for this continent had not been His first choice, and so I started to ask the Lord, if this was true, to reveal His name for this continent. For a number of years, my husband and I regularly prayed that prayer. As mentioned, the late Kjell Sjǿberg, had prayed it, and others may have done the same.

In the autumn of 2003, I felt God say: “I have betrothed you as a bride” and “the betrothed one”. 

We find that in Hosea 2:16-20:

“In that day,” declares the Lord, “you will call me my husband”;

You will no longer call me “my master.”…

I will remove the names of the Baals from her lips, no longer will their names be invoked….

I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and

compassion, I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.”

In November 2003 there was a consultation of the European Prayer Link, the EPL. During the orientation meeting of the EPL leadership team a day before the consultation started, during a time of worship, the Lord started to speak to one of that team, Pastor Ioan Peia, a member of the EPL leadership team and a recognized prayer leader in Romania. 

Ioan shared later his testimony, in order that the whole context of the revelation that the Lord gave may be well understood. In a lengthy prophecy, the Lord spoke on the lack of unity in the Body of Christ, which is like a cloud that blocks the understanding of "the truth about your part of the world for which you are praying. The unity is coming through repentance and cleansing. I want to build a model of real unity in this part of the world. The unity of the Church will show, will reveal, the weaknesses of human unity. I will show to this part of the world My Church in her unity and she will challenge the unity done by people. The work of the prayer movement will be to prepare the revelation of the Church in unity...My purpose for you (the prayer movement) is to unite those I'm calling to be My watchmen in this part of the World." In His entire message the Lord referred not to Europe but to "this part of the world". When Ioan asked: Why Lord, you don't use the name of our continent? was His answer very clear: "Because that name is not the name I have given to this part of the world". When he asked what then its name is, the Lord said that will give it to them.

He shared the message of the Lord with the whole team. The next day, waiting on the Lord to receive the new name, came, through some others in the consultation, more understanding about the significance of the name Europe.

During the first time of worship, Ioan waited and asked the Lord to reveal the name.“And straight in my mind came the word "Beulah". It was not a verse from Scripture, and I didn’t know where to find the name in the Bible". "I shared with Jane Halloway from the UK the name received from the Lord and I asked her where it was written in the Bible. She received straight away in her mind that it is mentioned in Isaiah 62, verse 4b "but you will be called…and your land Beulah." Upon reading Isaiah 62 we understood that the Lord wants to restore His Covenant with this part of the world.”

Ioan noticed something special when he left Kloten - Zurich, after the EPL meeting. Just a little bit to the north is a village, called Bülach. He remarked: It is not by chance that in the heart of our part of the world, there is such a place carrying the name given by God.

Beulah means: married. “I have betrothed you“ and “Married” are surprisingly close!

I believe that these two Scriptures hold a promise for this continent.

The woman Europa was NOT MARRIED, NOT BETROTHED in righteousness and justice, but ABDUCTED, carried off, and abused. She experienced the opposite of the promise in Hosea. This very same thing happened to this continent, but then on a corporate level. The continent was meant to be betrothed in faithfulness, righteousness, and justice, in love and compassion, to the Lord. But the enemy as it was abducted her, brought her under a false covenant and abused her. She had to serve a “master” and could not enter into a loving, faithful relationship with her heavenly Husband.

When will the time of the wedding be? Zecharia 9:14 prophesies the appearance of the Sovereign Lord as a warrior. We understand this as Jesus coming as the King who will reign from Zion. Just before that, the Lord will rouse the sons of Zion against the sons of Greece. Zech. 9:13. The “sons of Greece” may be understood as those demonic powers who, also, ruled over Europe, and through the European nations defiled many other parts of the world. In the time that Jesus returns there will be battles, spiritual battles especially, but the outcome is guaranteed.

A beautiful promise for a deceived continent

I do believe that in this way the two Scriptures, from Isaiah and Hosea, are key for understanding the history of this continent, and for understanding why this continent could not in depth embrace the message of the gospel. That is why I share this whole process plus the questions. Please, assay this understanding. The interpretation may seem new, and questioning the name of a continent may seem daring, but the important issue is that if we want to intercede for this continent, this may be a key point.

The two scriptures also contain a beautiful promise. There will be a time when Jesus will restore all things. Nations and cities will be brought into their destiny. And we may believe the same for this continent. Is that time not coming much closer? Not only will the Lord have a church of Europe that will be betrothed by Him, but that will also be (part of) the international Bride of Christ. Also it is God’s design that once this continent will be betrothed by the One who really loves her, Who does not abuse her, and is not unfaithful to her. He wants to marry her, and this continent then will acknowledge her loving Husband, the Lord.

Conclusion

Breaking old covenants and establishing a new covenant

Coming to the end I want to submit to spiritual leaders the following, daring as it may seem, and realizing

that this process will take time to carry out, with the Lord’s help.

I mentioned the two types of the covenant that are said to have been established, first between the woman Europa and Zeus, and later by transference of her name between him and this continent. In both types of the covenant, there were conditions to be met, in order to have it perpetuated, to receive the protection of the suzerain. In the case of the false Royal Grant covenant we, the Church, can speak out, at a certain moment when we have been prepared for it, not to be willing to meet that condition anymore. We do not want to serve the “great king” anymore, and hence reject his domination. We also do not covet that name anymore as a consolation for our “service” in abuse… and therefore stop using the name Europe.

In the case of the suzerain-vassal covenant we can speak out to quit our loyalty to this demonic “suzerain,” we do not desire his “protection” anymore. We confess to the Lord that we have been in this false covenant, that we have grieved Him, and that we covet the one, true covenant.

Here also small prayer groups can start, a church, a larger body, preparing for a significant representation to speak out these confessions, and to step out of the false covenants. We can not break the covenants one-sidedly, in our own authority. But we have the right to appeal to the highest authority, and in His name, we can do it. I hope that there will be a day that in unity many Christians from all, or most, of the European nations together will declare that we step out of that old false covenant and that we receive the new covenant, that is offered to us, and to any nation, through the sacrifice of Jesus, the coming King.

The one-sided termination of both false, and evil, covenants, from our side, will have severe consequences. Of course, Satan does not want to let go. But we do not need to fear when we have done it in the name of Jesus and under His Lordship. And when the Church serves and loves Him as her Bridegroom, she can mediate a new covenant between her nation and God as the Highest Suzerain. The Most High God and Sovereign Lord have invited all nations to enter into a covenant with Him. He is the One who will break old bondages and old covenants, and who has established a new covenant, in His blood. He will then protect the nation as His own, with absolute loyalty and faithfulness to His invitation and to His promise. He is betrothing our nation and our continent, and He will marry us.

~~~

August 4, 2006

Celebration in Búlach.

On the way to HochImst, we saw the signs to Búlach, close to Zúrich. Pieter and I decided to drive to this place, spontaneously. I felt that Búlach had to be an old city in order to see it as a confirmation to Beulah. We drove to the church tower that we had seen from a distance. The church was in dem Altstadt. When we got out of the car the clocks were ringing, and we wondered if it was for a Hochzeit (Wedding) or for a Be-erdigung (Funeral). The sound was joyful, we noticed. 

We had to climb the stairs in order to come to the entrance of the church. In front of the stairs was a stone statue: a shepherd with a lamb on his shoulders!

The clocks were ringing for a wedding!

We saw the couple and their guests. They had come out of the wedding hall, which was situated on the little road leading up to the church. The bride was dressed in an off-white dress, and was obviously pregnant! When we were standing there and looking down another couple with their guests went into the hall. This bride was dressed in blue, but very slim. The first couple was toasting champagne with their guests.

We entered the church, an evangelical-reformed church. Very peaceful and with a beautiful interior. 

The organ was being played, song after song. Of quite a number of songs, we knew the tunes, familiar songs from Joh. De Heer (a songwriter and translator of many hymns) or songs from the renewal of the last fifteen years. 

In the front of the church were five stained windows that gave a beautiful light. Pieter and I watched them and admired them. The themes of the windows: -creation,-the fall, -Bethlehem with the star,- the cross,-and the new Jerusalem coming down and renewing the earth! Beautiful!

Of the window representing the new Jerusalem Pieter immediately said: that picture I want to have on the cover of my next book! While he was making photographs I was enjoying the organ, and I read Isaiah 62, where the Lord gives the name Beulah, to Israel. He promises to marry His people. He will no more remember her shame.

Then I read Hosea 2, where the Lord speaks: I have betrothed you!

I cried and cried. This was so special!

-The church was founded very early in the 7th century!

That has to be a real significance: 

The good shepherd standing there in the Altstadt of this old city, carrying the lamb. He is and will always be looking for the lost sheep. What a promise for this continent that has walked away from Him!

The clocks are singing for the wedding. On every clock was a Scripture that is meaningful for a stage in the Christian life plus a reminder to take that truth to heart.

The organ is playing worship songs.

The windows represent the whole gospel, including the promise of the new earth!

When we relate these things to the name Beulah that was received for the continent of Europe, and the Scriptures of Isaiah 62: 4 and Hosea 2:19,20, I believe that they were prophetic signs to confirm that we may receive that name. In awe. 

Helene Bos

Serving the Nations

The Netherlands

To print the Beulah vs. Europe PDF file, use the following link:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:37725294-1090-4e43-8606-e2310fcf2eb0