In a statement that set off prophetic alarm bells for many Christians and Jews, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Pope Francis to join him in coming against Israel.
Erdogan fancies himself the leader of the Sunni Muslim world, and sees the Pope as the primary head of Christianity. In his eyes, they must come together to lead the rest of the world in confronting the Jewish menace.
“All of humanity should be united against Israel,” Erdogan told the Pope over the phone.
The Turkish leader’s phrasing immediately caused those familiar with the biblical prophets to turn to Zechariah 12:3, which reads:
“On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it.”
Other prophets also speak of a day in which the nations will unite in their opposition to and hatred for Israel. But there are also plenty of verses of encouragement that it is Israel that will emerge victorious. Consider Psalm 118:10-13:
All nations surrounded me;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
They surrounded me like bees;
they went out like a fire among thorns;
in the name of the Lord I cut them off!
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the Lord helped me.
Are we there yet? Perhaps not quite yet. But the significance of Erdogan’s words, who he spoke them to, and the accompanying disproportionate global outcry against Israel did not go unnoticed by those who are watching.
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