Following in the footsteps of Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Spain, the French lower house of Parliament voted (by more than a 2-to-1 margin) on Tuesday to recognize a “State of Palestine.”  Though the vote is non-binding and does not officially change France’s foreign policy, I see several reasons for concern:

• The Muslim and Jewish populations in France are among the largest in Europe.  Thus, a vote such as this turns France into a “proxy playground” where animosity between the two groups is likely to grow stronger.  There is already well-documented anti-Semitism in France (and other European countries), and this seems to add fuel to that fire.
• Unnecessary and meaningless votes such as these tend to radicalize people, and have the potential to incite further hatred and violence.  Violence is a jihadist way of life, therefore leaving Jews yet again on the receiving end of violence and hatred.
• I tend to think that, with rapidly rising populations of Muslims across Europe, these votes may be strategically held for the purpose of gaining Muslim votes at the polls when politicians run for election.  When the motive is political gain, conservative values seem to disappear from society.  We see this vividly in American politics.
• The greater the support on the world stage that the Palestinians garner, the less likely they are to appropriately negotiate a two-state solution.  The fact is that Israel has offered a two-state solution to the Palestinians on several occasions and they have consistently declined.  That’s because the Palestinians are not interested in statehood…they are interested in the non-existence of Israel.  Therefore, if given enough backing by world leadership, they are emboldened to push their way through the UN to achieve their mission, while giving up negotiations altogether.
• To date, the US has threatened to veto any UN decision to grant statehood to the Palestinians.  Only the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council have veto power.  But consider that list of five: China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and the US.  China and Russia have already pledged their strong support of a Palestinian state, and the UK and France have taken “unofficial” votes to support it.  That leaves the US as the only veto power not to support a Palestinian state.  Given America’s tendency toward caving to Arab/Muslim positions in Middle East foreign policy…and given the administration’s desperation to be a hero in Middle East diplomacy…I’m not counting on America sticking with the promise.  Particularly if the UN vote comes up while the current administration occupies the White House.

But friends, we should not be surprised!  The Bible clearly teaches that every nation on earth will turn their backs on Israel in the last days.  Joel 3 says that ALL nations will be brought down to the valley of Jehoshaphat where they will be judge by God on behalf of His people, Israel.  I believe we are beginning to see the dominoes fall.  The European Union will vote on Palestinian statehood on December 15, and other nations will follow the trend.  Short of God’s intervention, I believe we will see nations and leaders turning against Israel on massive scale very soon.

Many of you joined me last Friday to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Will you continue to pray?  Fellow believers, we are seeing events that very closely align with end times “birth pangs” that the Bible clearly describes.  It is our job to:

1. Be ready – Matthew 24:42-44, Mark 13:33-37, Luke 12:40, 1 Thessalonians 5;1-8
2. Sound the alarm – Joel 2:1, 15-16
3. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem – Psalm 122

We don’t know the day or the hour of His return, but we know the season is at hand!  Let’s be faithful!