We all heard of the unrest which broke out in the streets of Montreal almost two weeks ago and this news went global. Anti-Israel rioters smashed windows, clashed with police and set fire to cars and broke inside Concordia University chanting intifada and breaking down doors. They apparently took up all 12 floors of the main building and “Free Gaza” was spray-painted on lockers. They also burnt an effigy of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. This is not something new as even 40 years ago, Concordia was the scene of a few riots.
Sadly, close to 85,000 students across Quebec recently voted in favor of a two-day strike to demand their universities divest from companies with ties to Israel. This Montreal riot was not only directed against Jewish people but against our western values; it was also an anti-NATO riot as many of its leaders gathered in Montreal for their 70th annual session. NATO has a 32- country membership and is mandated to protect the western world. We see how, at this point, anti-Semitism touches the whole of western society.
The rioters were carrying Iranian flags, in addition to flags bearing the hammer and sickle which is a communist symbol. Many faces of the front-line rioters were covered up; they did not want to be recognized. Something remarkable came out of this event, though. During the protest, there was a certain woman in the forefront wearing a keffiyeh and giving a Nazi salute. Ironically, this woman was recognized as the one running the Second Cup Café at the Jewish General Hospital. Imagine the hypocrisy. On that same day, Second Cup, who said they have zero tolerance for hate speech, terminated her franchise agreement. Bravo for Second Cup and their allegiance to fight hate.
All these things are an example of a growing tendency which reminds us more and more of the pre-WW2 conditions where Jews were being accused of the world’s problems. Like Zechariah said and as Jesus repeated, the nations will gather around Jerusalem to destroy her. Religious Jews speak of the pangs of the Messiah, and they have hope that He comes soon.
One more piece of news which fuels the Messiah’s expectancy in Israel: The person chosen to be the new U.S. ambassador, Mike Huckabee happens to have been a Southern Baptist pastor who strongly supports Israel and believes that this land, including the West Bank was prophetically given to the Jewish people. In the past, he supported the Jerusalem Reclamation Project which works to reclaim the whole of Jerusalem including the Temple Mount area. In the past he voiced his support for a Third Temple in Jerusalem as the prophecies indicate. The timing could not be more perfect; a Third Temple is needed for end time prophecies to begin and usher in the antichrist who will eventually sit there and proclaim himself God, as Paul said. Who knows, maybe this man will play a role in accelerating its building. Some call him Mike Ha Maccabee, after Judas Ha Maccabee who restored the Second Temple.
We stand amazed, new event to new event, how the world is moving towards the fulfillment of Bible prophecies and as Yeshua said in His prophecies of the end, the birth pangs are being felt as time goes on.