By Bill Wilson

The week ending December 5th, 2009 was one of prophetic significance for America and the Middle East. Zechariah 12:3 says,

"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

Jerusalem has been the centerpiece of history and the timepiece of God's prophecy since the beginning of recorded history. The actions of the White House and the European Union during the week have set in stone destructive prophetic undertones that only repentance, prayer and action can reverse.

The man who occupies the Oval Office is stuck between a rock and a hard spot. Islam began launching a religiously-sanctioned holy war against the United States in the 1970's, ostensibly because of America's support for Israel. The jihad conveniently also fulfills the Koranic command to kill Christians and Jews if they don't convert to Islam. Decades later, the White House has tried to extend an olive branch of peace toward Islam, only to have it rejected with continued aggression in Afghanistan, a rebuilding of terrorist forces in Iraq, the destabilization of Pakistan, the use of Syria as a terrorist outpost, and Lebanon as a United Nations protected base for terrorist training and cross-border raids into Iraq.

The White House has shown Islam tremendous weakness by announcing a troop surge of 10,000 less soldiers than requested to fight the terrorists in Afghanistan and by telling the terrorists that the US would only be fighting them another 18 months. This action allows the terrorists to claim victory and it will likely extend the war of Islamic aggression for many years. This announcement will result in the deaths of many Americans because it hands victory to the enemy and lacks purpose. Additionally, the administration has placed tremendous pressure on Israel - America's only true ally in the Middle East - to stop building houses for its people to appease Palestinian terrorists who demand their own country next to Israel.

Meantime, the European Union is considering a document circulated by Sweden that calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. In addition, the document commits the EU to conduct bilateral state building with the Palestinian leadership. The continuous pressure by terrorists and the belief that a Palestinian state will bring peace is setting the stage for the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy. Both America and Europe moved the prophecy clock forward during the week by weak military moves against an aggressive Islam and applying more pressure on Israel to give up Jerusalem as a capital for a hostile enemy - both spiritually and physically. The stone of Jerusalem became more burdensome.