French President Nicholas Sarkozy arrived in Israel yesterday to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the state's founding. He was warmly welcomed by Israeli President Shimon Peres, who described the visit as heralding a new era in relations between Israel and France. Sarkozy recently remarked that the establishment of Israel was the greatest thing to have occurred during the 20th century, and stated that France "will always be by Israel's side when its existence and security are at stake". His visit to Israel is extremely significant, coming just days before France assumes the presidency of the European Union, and just a few weeks before Sarkozy's proposed Mediterranean Union is to come into being. Sarkozy has in the past stated that the Middle East conflict must not be allowed to hinder the establishment of this union, and even suggested that the project may help to resolve it. And because of this he is also under pressure from Arab states to be seen to be even-handed in his approach to the Middle East conflict. While calling for an immediate end to Palestinian terrorism, he also said there would be no peace until Israel ends settlement building in east Jerusalem. In a speech to the Israeli Knesset today, Sarkozy offered assistance in brokering a future peace agreement and French troops to police it.

Quote: "In a part of his speech prepared for delivery, Sarkozy said he was prepared to host various peace talks. Although he did not pronounce it, a senior French official said he stood by it. "(France) is ready to organize on its soil all the talks that could lead to (peace), whether in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, the Syrian-Israeli dialogue, or the talks that will have to resume, one day soon I hope, between Israel and Lebanon," the text said.

It's not just Sarkozy's offer to broker and police an Israeli-Palestinian agreement that is intriguing. The President's own family background also seems to fit in well with Bible Prophecy. As my friends Jim and Margaret point out, Sarkozy is the son of Jewish immigrants.

Quote: "Sarkozy’s mother is from the Mallah family, which originally came from Spain like all Jews of Salonika, northern Greece, and left with the expulsion of the Jews by King Ferdinand. They settled initially in France. About 100 years later the family immigrated to Salonika. Sarkozy’s great grandfather, who died in 1913, was a well known jeweler in Salonika. His business was destroyed when a fire in 1917 destroyed almost the entire city of Salonika. The grave of Mordohai Mallah exists till today at Stavroupoli where it was transferred from the old cemetery just before the Germans walked in the cited a during WWII and destroyed the Jewish cemetery. Nicolas’s grand father, Benedict, was the first child of seven children. His real name was Aaron but the family called him Benico. At the age of 14 Benico and his mother left for France where he studied medicine and served in the French army as a doctor during WWI, where he met his future wife Adel Bouvieux a pretty nurse. In order to marry her he was baptized Catholic and took the name Benedict. The couple had two daughters Suzanne and Andrée, the mother of Nicolas, who married in the 50’s an Hungarian immigrant Paul Sarkozy, the father of Nicolas.

The Bible says of the Antichrist in Daniel 11:37, that he shall not "regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all". I believe this verse indicates that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent. Not all will agree with me on this. But I believe that the "fathers" in this verse refers to the fathers of the nation of Israel, and the "desire" of every Jewish woman being to give birth to the Messiah. Other verses also indicate that he will arise from a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 9:26). The Bible also indicates that the Antichrist will strengthen a covenant of peace between Israel and her enemies (Daniel 9:27). Now I am not saying Sarkozy is the Antichrist, I do not believe it is possible to know that prior to the snatching away of the Church (2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8). But I believe that anyone who makes the kind of offers Sarkozy has deserves our utmost attention. The time of fulfilment for these prophecies is drawing near. The fact that we are witnessing such things shows us how close we are to the return of Christ. The question is, are you ready to meet Him? The Bible declares that all of us are born in sin and are automatically at a distance from God (Psalm 51:5). We cannot approach God because of our sins (Isaiah 59:2), because God is Holy and Just and will not acquit the wicked (Nahum 1:3). Our sins demand that we must die (Ezekiel 18:4), both physically (Genesis 3:19) and spiritually (Revelation 20:4). But God is Love (1st John 4:16). He sent His only begotten Son into the world to take the punishment our sins deserved (John 3:16). And because Jesus Christ has borne our punishment, we can go free. God has declared that all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation can have their sins forgiven and can have everlasting life in heaven (1st John 5:11). Repent of your sins. Believe the good news. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation today (Acts 16:31).

Source Reuters, EJ Press