2009 was truly a year when we saw the pace of the fulfillment of Bible prophecy really begin to pick up speed and accelerate.  The creation of a Palestinian state almost seems like a foregone conclusion now, and yet the next major war in the Middle East seems closer than ever.  Iran has continued to relentlessly pursue the development of a nuclear program even as Israel and the United States continue to insist that they will never allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.  Preparations for the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple have intensified and the developing world government continued to emerge this past year.  Not only that, but the decline of Biblical Christianity in both Europe and the United States  rolls on with no apparent end in sight.  So what does all of this mean for 2010?  It means that we had all better buckle up, because things are going to get very interesting very quickly.

But for today we thought that we would take a look back at some of the most important news stories from this past year.  The following are the 18 most significant stories posted on The Last Days during 2009….

#1) The Sacrificial Altar Is Being Rebuilt For The Future Temple In Jerusalem

#2) The Radical Population Control And Eugenics Agenda Of The Global Elite

#3) Why Israel Simply Cannot Allow Iran To Have A Nuclear Weapon

#4) The Temple Institute In Jerusalem Has Spent Approximately 27 Million Dollars On Preparations For The Rebuilding Of The Jewish Temple

#5) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Says That The United States Is Attempting To Block The Arrival Of The Mahdi

#6) Europe Rides The Beast: Official EU Symbols Tell Us Exactly What The Global Elite Plan To Do To Humanity

#7) Iran Has Successfully Tested A Long Range Missile And Is Closer To Producing Nuclear Weapons Than Ever

#8) The Equality Bill: Will A New Law Essentially Outlaw Evangelical Christianity And Roman Catholicism In The U.K.?

#9) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Endorses An Independent Palestinian State

#10) Hezbollah Has Stockpiled 40,000 Rockets Near Israel’s Border And They Have Now Acquired Chemical Warheads

#11) A Plan For Jews And Muslims To Share The Temple Mount?

#12) The Bezichin: The Temple Institute Unveils Two Golden Censors For The Coming Rebuilt Jewish Temple

#13) Pope Benedict: We Need A World Government

#14) A Play Depicting Jesus As A Gay Man Performed At A Packed Church In California

#15) The Mark Of The Beast

#16) The First President Of Europe, Herman Van Rompuy, Is Calling For A European Tax And Has Declared 2009 To Be The First Year Of Global Governance

#17) The Decline Of Christianity In America

#18) Will The Messianic Expectations Of All Major World Religions Pave The Way For Antichrist?

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Iran is reportedly close to reaching a deal to clandestinely import 1,350 tons of purified uranium ore from Kazakhstan.  This deal would be in direct defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions.  Reports also indicate that Iran is willing to pay approximately 450 million dollars for the shipment.  The price for the shipment was apparently so high because of the need to keep the deal secret and because of the risk that the world community would find out about it.  But now the world community has found out about it.  

So why is Iran willing to defy United Nations sanctions to get their hands on more uranium?

Well, the truth is that Iran is probably running out of it and needs more uranium in order to continue their nuclear program at the same pace.

This comes at a time when Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has dismissed a year end deadline set by the Obama administration and the West for Iran to accept a UN-drafted deal to swap enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.

The United States and the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have threatened Iran with new sanctions if it did not accept a compromise deal by the end of this year.

According to the plan brokered in October by the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran is supposed to export low-enriched uranium to Russia and France which would conduct further enrichment for them.

But Iran has publicly announced that they intend to do the additional enrichment themselves.

Meanwhile, a maverick Iraqi politician is warning that Iran could “go nuclear” within weeks.

In an interview earlier this month, Iraqi parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi made the following statements….

“We are receiving information which says Iran is so close to producing an atom bomb.”

“All the international community, they don’t realize how close [the Iranians] are to the goal… The Iranians will surprise us one day [soon] and say, ‘We have it.'”

Those are sobering statements.

Especially when you consider the implications.

The truth is that Israel simply cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.

The Israeli government is keeping a close eye on the situation in Iran and realizes that they cannot allow Iran to proceed with their nuclear ambitions forever.

In fact, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon said recently that the year 2010 will be a decisive year for Iran and its nuclear plan.

A decisive year?

Could that mean war in 2010 or 2011?

What would happen if Israel did strike Iran’s nuclear program?

Well, according to one new report, Iran would launch a counterattack on Israel and on all U.S. bases in the Gulf region if Israel does strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.

If Iran did that, it could spark a massive war that could engulf the entire Middle East.  The consequences of such a war would be mind boggling.

But before resorting to a military strike, it is likely that the governments of the West will continue to try to promote an internal revolution in Iran.  Changing the regime in that manner would be a lot “easier” for Western nations than a full scale war.  However, the prospects for a successful internal revolution in Iran at this point seem dim at best.

What does seem clear at this point is that Bible prophecy will continue to be fulfilled in 2010.  We are truly living in the last days, and there are times when it will be absolutely terrifying, but who wouldn’t want to live during one of the most exciting times in all of human history?

Did that headline get your attention?  It should.  A new law is dangerously close to becoming law in the U.K. that would essentially outlaw evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism.  Not that “The Equality Bill” specifically designates those faiths as illegal in the legislation itself.  Rather, the bill outlaws specific beliefs and practices that are fundamental to both evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism.  In fact, experts are saying that “The Equality Bill” would create a volcanic eruption of litigation in U.K. courts and would ultimately force those who wish to continue to practice anything that even looks like traditional Christianity to go underground.

So just what is the Equality Bill? 

The Equality Bill allegedly aims to consolidate all existing anti-discrimination laws into a single legal framework.  However, it actually goes much farther than any “anti-discrimination” laws in the U.K. have ever gone before.

On the surface, this legislation seems like a good idea.  After all, who wants to discriminate against old people or people of other races?  You can read a summary of this legislation put out by backers of the bill right here.  It actually contains a few good proposals. 

But it is also a vicious attack on traditional Christianity.

The Telegraph quotes a top level official from the “Ministry for Equality” as saying the following when he was asked whether the Equality Bill would lead to legal action between churches and atheists….

“Both need to be lining up [their lawyers],” he said. “The secularists should have the right to challenge the church.”

Secularists should have the right to challenge the beliefs and practices of the church?

What in the world?

So exactly what would the Equality Bill mean for churches in the U.K.?

Evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics would be wide open not only to lawsuits but also to unlimited government fines and even criminal prosecution if….

*They are found to discriminate against homosexuals or transsexuals in any area of employment – including the hiring of pastors and priests.

*They are found to discriminate against homosexuals or transsexuals in any preaching or teaching. 

*They are found to discriminate against hiring married men or women as priests as the Roman Catholics have done for centuries.

*They are found to insist that pastors or priests remain celibate (as in the case of Catholics) or only have sex within marriage (as in the case of evangelicals).

*They are found trying to prevent any of their clergy from entering into same-sex civil partnerships.

*They are found to be trying to prevent their pastors or priests from having sex change operations, living openly promiscuous lifestyles or engaging in any other form of sexual expression.

So essentially, if the Equality Bill is fully implemented, no religious organization is the U.K. will be able to preach or teach against sexual immorality, will be able to discriminate against the sexually immoral when hiring clergy or will be able to take a formal moral stand against sexually immorality in any way whatsoever.

Some analysts are even claiming that if the Equality Bill is adopted, all hiring for church positions that do not spend at least 51 percent of their time leading worship and preaching would be subject to regulations that would ban discrimination against those from other religions.  So, for example, a Baptist church would be forced to consider an Islamic candidate for a position that ministers to the youth but that also performs other non-teaching functions much of the time as well.

Basically the Equality Bill would be a total nightmare for both evangelical Christians and Roman Catholics in the U.K.  The fact that the law is written in such vague terms would open up the floodgates for all kinds of endless litigation.  If the Equality Bill becomes law, free speech and free expression in churches in the U.K. would be deeply chilled as church leaders struggle with the never ending threat of lawsuits, fines and criminal prosecution.

The days when churches in the U.K. could openly preach against sexual sin would be over.

The days when churches in the U.K. could openly have any say over the sexual behavior of their clergy would be over.

The days when churches in the U.K. could openly discuss what the Bible says about “right” and “wrong” would be over.

Thus this would essentially mean that end of legal evangelical Christianity and legal Roman Catholicism in the U.K.

That sounds quite dramatic, but that is the truth of the matter.

In fact, Baroness O’Cathain, a Tory lawmaker and an evangelical Christian, said last week that the Equality Bill is the “single most damaging Bill to come before the House in my 18 years as a Member”.

Are you starting to get the idea?

We are living in the last days, and the truth is that Christian persecution is exploding all over the world.  Christians in western nations have always thought that it was something that happened “over there”, but now Christian persecution is moving forward with blinding speed in places such as the U.K.

Ultimately, there will be no escaping persecution.  If you plan to be a Christian in the last days you will face persecution as long as you are on this earth.

You better get ready for it.

If you are a Christian and you are not already being persecuted, you will be soon.

United Nations General Secretary is publicly admitting that the worldwide climate change treaty will be enforced by global government. Up until now, many have dismissed reports that the treaty being discussed in Copenhagen would represent a giant step towards world government. However, when the head of the United Nations tells an interviewer for the Los Angeles Times that “we will establish a global governance structure to monitor and manage the implementation of this”, what are we all supposed to think?  In fact, a former official in the Thatcher administration, Lord Christopher Monckton, has seen a draft of the treaty being discussed and he says that it creates 700 new bureaucracies which will implement and enforce the provisions of the climate change treaty.  These bureaucracies will have power to enforce the new world environmental laws that supersedes the authority of national governments around the world.

Fortunately, it appears that a formal treaty will not be signed in Copenhagen.  However, Ban Ki-Moon is hopeful that a “binding political deal” will be signed.

So what is the difference between a “treaty” and a “binding political deal”?

That is a good question.

Ban Ki-Moon put it this way during his interview with the Los Angeles Times in response to a question of whether or not a political deal in Copenhagen is still possible….

We need to have a very strong, robust, binding political deal that will have an immediate operational effect. This is not going to be a political declaration, just for the sake of declaration. It is going to be a binding political deal, which will lead to a legally binding treaty next year.

However, Ban Ki-Moon does expect a final climate change treaty to be signed by mid-2010.

What most people do not realize is that the treaty being discussed in Copenhagen will institute new world taxes which would transfer wealth from “rich nations” as payment for the “carbon debt” that we have accumulated.

Ban Ki-Moon also commented on this during his interview with the L.A. Times….

Developed countries have political and moral responsibilities, therefore they have to do more, first of all by coming out with ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and they should be prepared to provide financial support.

We have pretty good agreement on short-term, fast-track financial support in the order of $10 billion for the coming three years. When we agree on a politically binding agreement, this will have immediate operational effect, including financial support from next year.

This financial support will reportedly be ongoing for the life of the treaty.

So when will the treaty end?

Can the United States ever get out of it?

Well, reports from those who have seen the draft treaty indicate that the only way a nation can leave the treaty is if every single other nation agrees.

Now, if “developing nations” are receiving large payments from the United States every single year, how likely do you think it is for every single one of them to vote to allow the U.S. to leave the treaty?

The truth is that the treaty is structured so that the United States would be committed to it forever.  According to the draft treaty being considered, no future president or Congress would be able to do anything to get the United States out of the treaty.  The only way to get out of it would be a unanimous vote from every single one of the other nations.

This is the kind of deal that Barack Obama wants to lock the United States into.

What a nightmare.

As Barack Obama and the United Nations twiddle their thumbs, Iran is aggressively moving towards the development of a strategic nuclear arsenal.  Not only has Iran successfully tested a long range missile that can hit targets well over a thousand miles away, but new intelligence documents show that Iran is actively working on some of the key components necessary for a nuclear bomb.  The truth is that Iran knows that once they have an arsenal of hundreds of nuclear warheads, nations such as the United States and Israel will be much, much more hesitant to attack them and they will be able to do pretty much whatever they please on the world scene.   

The fact that Iran greatly desires to become a strategic military power was underlined just the other day when Iran successfully test fired a long range missile that can reportedly hit targets 1,250 miles away.  This will now give Iran the capability to easily hit Israel, U.S. bases in the Gulf, and most of southeast Europe.

The Pentagon is so concerned about these developments in Iran that they will actually test its core missile defenses for the first time in January against a simulated long-range Iranian attack.

The reality is that it is now only a matter of time until Iran develops even longer range weapons that will be able to directly target the United States.

In “Surat al-Fil” (“The Elephant”), one of the Qur’an’s shortest chapters, Allah sends a flock of birds to destroy the followers of Sultan Abraha.  In the story these followers of Sultan Abraha were to be destroyed because they were plotting to destroy the Kaaba.  So, according to the story, Allah equips these birds with baked clay stones, which they end up hurling at the elephants of Sultan Abraha, supposedly stopping his advance toward the city.

Imagine having the continued existence of your family each day depend on an Ayatollah over in Iran deciding not to press a button.

And the truth is that Iran is much closer to being able to produce a nuclear bomb than ever before.

On Tuesday, Israeli Military Intelligence Chief Amos Yadlin said that Iran has now accumulated enough materials to create a nuclear bomb.

So will they?

Well, confidential intelligence documents obtained by one U.K. newspaper clearly show that Iran is working on testing a key final component for a nuclear bomb. 

In particular, the documents reveal plans by Iran to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion.

Uh oh.

Why haven’t we heard more about this on the news?

David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington is quoted in The Times as saying the following about this trigger….

“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application.”

The mention of UD3 in the documents is of particular concern to intelligence analysts.  UD3 is commonly used as a neutron source – the trigger to the chain reaction for a nuclear explosion.

But of course Iran continues to insist that they are developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes only.

If you believe that, we have a bridge to sell you.

While there are some politicians around the globe who seem to be buying into Iran’s nonsense, fortunately the government of Israel seems to be acutely aware of what is going on.

In fact, Israeli experts are now saying that “the point of no return” for Iran’s nuclear program may be only six months away.

Only six months away?

Could there be a war in 2010?

Let’s hope not.

Or let us hope that it is delayed as long as possible.

But the truth is that Israel cannot let Iran have nukes. 

If you do not understand this yet, please read this article: “Why Israel Simply Cannot Allow Iran To Have A Nuclear Weapon“.

So if Iran does not change course, they will be attacked.

But one key question is this….

If Israel attacks Iran, will Syria attack Israel?

If Syria does attack Israel that could spark a war that engulfs the entire Middle East. 

In fact, there are rumors that Iran and Hezbollah could be preparing for a pre-emptive war.

So what are Barack Obama and the U.S. government doing about all of this?

Not much.

In a move that was supposedly designed to deter Iran from pursuing its nuclear program, the U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation to impose sanctions on foreign companies that help supply gasoline to Iran.

Do you think that the Iranian leadership is shaking in their boots over that?

The truth is that this is one of the most bizarre games of “chicken” in the history of the Middle East.  Whoever shoots first is going to be at a great disadvantage in terms of world opinion, but the truth is that Israel simply cannot wait forever.

These developments represent just another indication that we are really living in the last days before the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In yet another sign of how mentally unstable he is, Al Arabiya television is reporting that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is claiming that the United States is attempting to block the return of the Mahdi. Shi’ite Muslims (and some Sunni Muslims) believe that the Mahdi will be revealed during a time of great crisis and will rid the world of error, tyranny and injustice alongside Jesus.  Ahmadinejad has spoken frequently of the Mahdi in the past.  He is apparently a true believer in this messianic figure.  Now Ahmadinejad has taken things to an entirely new level by claiming that the United States government is actively trying to block the arrival of the Mahdi. 

Fox News is reporting that Ahmadinejad made the following remarks about the United States during a speech on Monday….

“We have documented proof that they believe that a descendant of the prophet of Islam will raise in these parts and he will dry the roots of all injustice in the world”.

They are also reporting that Ahmadinejad stated that the United States is coming against Iran because “they know” that Iran is the nation that will prepare the way for the Mahdi’s coming….

“They have devised all these plans to prevent the coming of the Hidden Imam because they know that the Iranian nation is the one that will prepare the grounds for his coming and will be the supporters of his rule”.

So, according to Ahmadinejad’s way of thinking, what would be the logical thing to do about a Satanic nation that is actively trying to prevent the arrival of the savior of mankind?

Would it be logical to do everything possible to destroy them?

Of course.

This is yet another reason why Iran cannot be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons.

You see, Ahmadinejad is obsessed with the coming of the Mahdi and will do whatever he can to help bring it to pass.

According to Wikipedia, Shi’ite Muslims “believe that the Mahdi is the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, the Twelfth and last Imam, who was born in 868 AD and was hidden by God at the age of five.”

They believe that he is still alive somewhere on earth and will be revealed when the time is right.

Ahmadinejad is convinced that the time for the arrival of the Mahdi is near.

It would be a huge mistake to underestimate what Ahmadinedjad is willing to do in order to “prepare the way” for the Mahdi.

But Ahmadinejad is not the only world leader with expectations that a messianic figure will soon arrive. 

As we covered in our recent article entitled “Will The Messianic Expectations Of All Major World Religions Pave The Way For Antichrist?”, all of the major religions of the world are expecting “a messianic figure” to arrive soon.

Could the Antichrist one day exploit these expectations to establish his rule over the entire world?

We are truly living in the last days.  Praise God that we get to live during this time when Bible prophecy is literally coming to life right before our eyes.

The Lisbon Treaty, which came into full effect on December 1st, basically ended the national sovereignty for most European nations.  Most of the important decisions for the citizens of Europe will now be made by a small group of European elitists – many of them totally unelected.  But for the global elite, the consolidation of the EU is just one step towards a larger goal.  You see, the ultimate desire of these elitists is to merge regional alliances such as the EU into a world government.  In fact, in symbols used on official European coins, posters and artwork, the elite have sent us a message telling us exactly what they are planning to do to all of humanity – if anyone out there is willing to listen.

The picture at the top of this article is of a statue right outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.  It is a statue of the pagan goddess Europa riding a bull.  EU representatives openly acknowledge as much.  According to Greek tradition, Europa (from which Europe takes it’s name) was a beautiful Phoenecian woman of high ranking who draws the attention of Zeus – the great Greek sky god.  Zeus becomes so enamored with Europa that he transforms himself into the most beautiful white bull that anyone has ever seen. Europa spots this beautiful bull and climbs on top of it and suddenly the bull plunges into the sea and rapes her. Zeus then takes Europa away to Crete where he finally reveals his true identity.

The following is a version of the story of the goddess Europa from the San Diego State University website…..

One night Europa had a dream. In this dream two continents, which were in the forms of women were arguing over Europa. Asia maintained that since Europa had been born in Asia she belonged to it. The other continent, which was nameless, said that her birth was not important, that Zeus would give her to it. It was early morning, disturbed by the dream Europa did not go back to sleep. She summoned her companions, who were all daughters of nobility and of her age. It was a beautiful day and they went off gathering flowers by the sea. Zeus noticed this charming group, particularly Europa, who was the prettest [sic] of the maidens…Zeus appeared to the group as a white bull. A white bull more beautiful then any other…The bull laid down in front of Europa. She slid on to its back. Instantly, the bull charged off, plunging into the sea, and began to swim rapidly from the shore. Europa saw that a procession had joined them, Nereids riding dolphins, Triton blowing his horn, even Poseidon. From this she realized that the bull must be a god. She pleaded with him to pity her. Zeus spoke to her and explained his love. He took her to Create, where he had been raised. He promised that she would bear him many famous sons.

So what does all of this have to do with today?

Well, you see, Zeus (the bull) is associated in the Scriptures with the true master of these elitists.  In Revelation 2:12-13, we read the following….

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. I know where you live—where Satan has his throne.”

So what was so special about Pergamum?

That was where the Great Altar of Pergamum (or Pergamon) was.  Wikipedia tells us that following about this altar…..

The Great Altar of Pergamon, a massive stone podium about one hundred feet long and thirty-five feet high, was originally built in the 2nd century BC in the Ancient Greek city of Pergamon (modern day Bergama in Turkey) in north-western Anatolia, 25.74 kilometers (16 miles) from the Aegean Sea. The Great Altar of Pergamon has figured in lists of the Wonders of the World.

It has long been assumed that the magnificently-scaled and opulently decorated open-air altar (it is not a temple) was dedicated to Zeus.

You see, that is why in Revelation chapter 2 Jesus said that Satan’s throne was there.  It was this gigantic altar of Zeus that He likely was referring to.

So by using this ancient legend as a symbol for the EU, the elitists are telling us that the plan of their master (Zeus or Satan or Lucifer) is to seduce Europe (Europa) and ultimately to dominate it.

We see this same legend promoted on coins, on posters and in artwork all throughout the EU.  Some examples are posted below…..

A 2 Euro coin was released in Greece that depicts a woman riding a beast…..

In 1996, a 5 Euro Coin was released that depicted Europa riding the bull…..

To commemorate the second election of the European Parliament in 1984, a stamp was released with this same symbology…..

A cover of Der Spiegel featured a picture of a woman riding a beast carrying the EU flag with the headline: “Good Morning Europe”…..

Here is a German phonecard made by the EU…..

Time Magazine published some artwork of a “United Europe” that featured Europa riding the beast…..

The photo below is a Europa statue in front of the Winston Churchill Building…..

Not only that, but other EU symbols send messages that have a very deep meaning.  According to tradition, Nimrod was the one who began the building of the Tower of Babel.  He also built the very first empire after Noah’s flood and he tried to establish the very first world government.  With that in mind, check out the EU poster below.  This poster was the official poster promoting the EU Parliament before it was banned because of protests from numerous groups.  Note how clearly it connects the EU with the Tower of Babel…..

By using this symbology, the EU elitists were basically saying that they wanted to complete what Nimrod started – the building of a world government.

This ties in directly with the symbology of the woman riding a beast.

You see, not only does a woman riding a beast hearken back to the legend of Zeus and Europa, it also has a direct connection to the Bible.  In the book of Revelation we also read about a woman riding a beast.  In Revelation 17:3 it says this…..

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

That beast in the book of Revelation represents the world government led by the Antichrist.  By so prominently using the symbol of a woman riding the beast, the global elite are very clearly communicating that they are connected with this coming Beast system.  They know what the Bible says when they use symbols like this.  It seems like they are almost bragging about it.

You see, the elitists at the very top of the pyramid are hardcore Luciferians.  They also know that Antichrist is coming, and they plan to serve him.  They believe that they are actually going to win the end.  They have confidence in their “god” just as we have confidence in our God.

Satan has deceived himself into believing that he can win this thing in the end and he has deceived his followers into believing the same thing.  Such a thing seems inconceivable to Christians – but this is what hardcore Luciferians actually believe.

In fact, one thing that is common among the Luciferian global elite is a compulsion to tell us exactly what they are about to do.  In this case, they are very open about the fact that not only do they intend to deceive and subjugate Europe, but they intend to do the same to all of humanity.

In an absolutely stunning development, the European Union is considering adopting a resolution which would unilaterally recognize a Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.  Sweden, the current holder of the rotating European Union presidency, has created a draft resolution which they will reportedly propose at a monthly meeting of EU ministers next week in Brussels.  Apparently there is quite a bit of support among EU ministers for the draft document that is being circulated.

Fortunately, the Israeli daily Haaretz published a copy of the draft resolution on Tuesday, so now the entire world can see what EU ministers will be considering….

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1131988.html

The most important language in the document is contained in the first point of the draft document.  It calls for “a two-state solution with an independent, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, comprising the West Bank and Gaza and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

This meeting of EU ministers will be one of the very first acts of the EU under the Lisbon Treaty that took effect for the first time on Tuesday after its ratification by all 27 of the member states.

It is thought that this proposed resolution is an attempt to give the EU a greater role on the world stage.  In essence, this is a way for the “new EU” to flex its foreign policy muscles.

Needless to say, the government of Israel is less than thrilled about this draft resolution.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry released a statement on Tuesday in which it indicated that if the EU adopts such language, it will seriously hurt their chances of being involved in future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians….

“The process being led by Sweden harms the European Union’s ability to take part as a significant mediator in the political process between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Some Israeli lawmakers are using even stronger language.  Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin was quoted in the Jerusalem Post as saying the following in response to the proposed EU document…. 

“Dividing the capital would create a volcanic eruption that would not be easy to stop. Splitting sovereignty would bring about complete chaos.”

For the EU to even consider adopting a resolution that unilaterally declares that Israel must give the Palestinians everything that they could ever hope to negotiate for before negotiations even resume shows just how anti-Israel the EU has become.

In Zechariah 12:3, the Scriptures say this….

“In that day I will make Jerusalem a stumbling block for all people”

That is in fact what has happened.  Israel’s government has no intention of giving East Jerusalem to the Palestinians.  The Palestinians and most of the rest of the world are insisting that East Jerusalem be given to the Palestinians as their capital. 

Jerusalem has truly become a stumbling block in the last days.

The truth is that all of Jerusalem, along with all of the land of Israel, belongs to the people that God gave it to – and that is not the Palestinians.

Anyone who gives it away or anyone who tries to force Israel to give it away will only find themselves contending with God.