Europe and the Middle East

Many who watch world events know that the heart of the Arab-Israeli debacle is Jerusalem! For decades, the United States has taken the lead in promoting peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinian people. Yet, President Trump’s new peace plan seemed to fall out of favor even before it was released, in part because Palestinian leaders no longer trust the U.S. and especially President Trump. Now, the Europeans want a chance to bring peace to the Middle East.

Last week, the foreign policy chief of the European Union met with the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority and signaled that “the EU was ready to work with Israelis and Palestinians and other regional actors to revive the peace process ‘in line with international law, which ensures equal rights and which is acceptable to both parties’” (Jerusalem Post, February 23, 2020). EU leaders continue to push for a “two-state solution” and a meeting with the Middle East Quartet (the United Nations, the U.S., the EU, and Russia)—where the U.S. could be outvoted and the EU could easily take the lead.

Historically, the Vatican has been politically involved with Jerusalem, and the Pope recently expressed disapproval of the Trump peace plan (Reuters, February 23, 2020). In addition, he stated that the Vatican cannot “overlook” the Israeli-Palestinian issue any longer, implying future involvement by his office in actively seeking a solution.

Bible prophecy records that, prior to Christ’s return, a European “beast” power or “king of the north” will take military control of Jerusalem (Daniel 11:40–43; Luke 21:20). In fact, a group of nations that includes Europe and the Arab world could combine their efforts and bring a temporary peace to the Holy Land before Europe’s military push into Jerusalem. Events are developing in the Middle East that could set the stage for the powerful fulfillment of end-time prophecies. To learn more about the future of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, be sure to read or listen to The Middle East in Prophecy.