Geert Wilders, Islam and Israel’s Redemption

Geert Wilders is a controversial Dutch politician. He works to stop what he calls the ‘Islamisation of the Netherlands’. He’s been called the ‘prophet who hates Mohammed’ (Winston Ross, “Geert Wilders: The ‘Prophet’ Who Hates Muhammad”, Newsweek, January 19, 2015).

He leads Holland’s anti-Islamic political party (ibid). It’s said he regularly uses his platform to denounce both violent jihadists and Islam (bid).

He says he doesn’t hate Muslims (Soeren Kern, “German Anti-Islamization Movement Seeks Comeback”, gatestone institute, April 15, 2015). He simply objects to “totalitarian Islam” (ibid). He says he fights Jihadi Islam in order to remain free (ibid).

Right now, he’s not free. He’s not in prison, he says, but he isn’t free: he wears a bulletproof vest and spends his life shuttling between safe-houses because of death threats, mostly from radical Muslims (Newsweek, ibid).

In a political environment where cultural relativism is supreme (claiming all religious beliefs are equal), his rhetoric is radical (ibid). But his appeal is strong enough to make him Holland’s most popular political party (ibid); and his message puts both Islam and Israel in the spotlight.

His message is simple: “The Islamification of our society is what’s causing [the attacks against non-Muslims in Europe]…And it’s all inspired by the Koran” (ibid). His concern is, European politicians “refuse to define the elephant in the room, which is Islam” (ibid).

As a result of such speech, he’s been called the modern Joseph Goebbels, who was Nazi Germany’s propaganda Minister. He’s been accused of hate-speech (ibid).

He claims that if nothing is done to stop the spread of Islam across the West, “our whole way of life will vanish and we’ll all live in Muslim-ridden slums, assaulted for our Christianity and love of free speech” (ibid).

He elaborated upon this thought in a recent speech:

“There is nothing wrong with preserving our own Judeo-Christian civilization. That is our duty. …[But} most politicians, media, churches and academics look away from the threat of Islamization. …(gatestoneinstitute, ibid).

"Look at all the countries where Islam is dominant. Look at Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan. Non-Muslims, Christians, Jews, women, gays and apostates are treated there as inferior. They are being humiliated, persecuted, and even murdered. That is exactly what we are fighting against….

"While most politicians sing the praise of Islam, we worry about the future of our country. We worry because we have read the Koran. In verse 9:29 it states that it is okay to fight Jews and Christians. In verse 4:89 it instructs Muslims to kill anyone who leaves Islam.

"We worry because recent academic research revealed that 45% of the Muslims in Germany believe Islamic religious rules are more important than secular German laws. We worry because 73% of the Muslims in my country say that Dutch Muslims who fight in Syria are heroes. 73%!

"We worry because in the past months, we have seen… home-grown youth leave our countries to join the Islamic State. We worry because we have seen how many of these jihadists have returned to Europe, and most of them have not been imprisoned. They currently roam our streets like ticking time bombs….

"Every day, we hear the same mantra that Islam is a religion of peace. After every atrocity committed in the name of Islam, Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel and my own Prime Minister [in the Netherlsnds]rush to the television cameras to declare that these acts have nothing to do with Islam. How stupid do they think we are?... (ibid).”

Wilders believes that Israel is the one Light among nations which stands firm against Jihad. He wants Europe to turn to Israel:

“Look at Israel, learn from Israel. Israel is an island in a sea of Islamic barbarism. Israel is a beacon of freedom and prosperity in a region of Islamic darkness. Israel refuses to be overrun by the jihadists. So should we" (ibid).

According to our Tanach, two things are part of Israel’s Destiny: first, nations will turn against it; and second, Israel will become the beacon of Light for all nations.

We’ve already seen the nations turn against Israel. Do we now, through a demonized and perhaps radical Geert Wilders, begin to see how Israel will become the beacon of Light for all?

Wilders could be correct. His views on Europe’s Islamification, Islam and Israel could become part of the Story of Israel’s Redemption. His enemies don’t agree. They say his views are part of the road to hell.

In the Story of the Jewish Final Redemption, both Wilders and his enemies are correct. The nations will suffer. Israel will rise, ascendant.

Stay tuned.
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