Pope Reaches Out to Jews

“Jewish immigration to Israel from western Europe has reached an all-time high due to a rise in anti-Semitic attacks” (Associated Press, January 14, 2016). However, Pope Francis recently visited Rome’s main synagogue in a show of support. “During a visit marked by tight security and historic continuity, Francis also rejected all forms of anti-Semitism and called for ‘maximum vigilance’ and early intervention to prevent another Holocaust. Francis repeated several times that Jews were the ‘elder brothers’ of Christians, repeating the words first uttered by John Paul during his historic visit to the synagogue” (Haaretz, January 17, 2016). In the meantime, “EU states are planning to threaten ‘action’ against Israeli settlements” and “The EU will continue to closely monitor developments… and will consider further action in order to protect the viability of the two-state solution, which is constantly eroded by new facts on the ground” (EU Observer, January 16, 2016).

Bible prophecy reveals that a great world church and a European “beast” power will be heavily involved in Jerusalem at the end of the age (Revelation 13). Ultimately, the armies of the “beast” will encircle Jerusalem (Luke 21:20-21; Isaiah 8:7-8) and enthrone a person who claims to be God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). Events in Europe, the Vatican and the Holy Land appear to be moving to fulfill these ancient prophecies. For more about what is coming for Jerusalem, read our article “The Future of Jerusalem.”