| Bible Prophecy : The Hopeless Cry for a False Peace | | Posted by david on 2008/1/24 8:26:38 (870 reads) |
The Hopeless Cry for a False Peace
By Mike Wingfield
Once again the nations of the world are attempting to force the Israeli leadership to accept the fatal terms of a false peace in order to appease the Arab/Muslim hatred of the only Jewish nation in the world, Israel. This past November many Arab leaders gathered in Annapolis, Md., with President George Bush and Israeli and Palestinian leadership in an attempt to guide the two sides into a peace agreement. In recent days President Bush has visited Israel and Palestinian territories to convince both parties to enter into serious negations for a lasting peace, with two nations living beside each other - Israel and Palestine.
Even if a person did not know the prophetic Scriptures, they should be able to see that there is no real hope for a lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Arabs' deep hatred for the Jews, with a few exceptions, is rooted in their cultural and religious heritage. When one examines their education, religion, politics, media, and entertainment, it is evident that the hatred for Israel and her people runs deep and cannot be erased by a few meaningless words or deceptive promises on a piece of paper. Their parents, teachers, preachers, and politicians, from the cradle to the grave, continually and passionately call for the destruction of Israel and the reclaiming of all of the land of Palestine. As the Israelis have repeatedly pointed out, there can be no real hope for any true peace until we have a generation of Palestinians that have not been feed a constant diet of incitement to hate Israel and her people. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he." This means that the hopes, dreams, goals, and ambitions of people are formulated by what they constantly think about. What we think about is directly connected to whom and to what we listen to. Proverbs 4:23 commands us to guard our minds "with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life." Therefore, the transformation of people's thinking must take place before there can be real change in the way they look at things. This does not take place overnight!
In reality, the hope of eradicating the incitement that is aimed at the destruction of Israel will not take place because Islam claims the hearts and minds of most the Palestinians and Arabs living in the Middle East. A study of Islam, the Koran, the life of Mohammed, and the other writings and practices of the religion, clearly illustrate that Islam cannot and will not tolerate a true and lasting peace treaty with the Jews, or any other "infidel." For example, before the gathering in Maryland, several sources reported that some Muslim groups were demanding the Israelis publicly apologize for the existence of Israel. The rebirth of the nation in 1948, on what was formerly Muslim-controlled land, is called "al Nakba" ("the catastrophe") in the Arab world.
As we all know, this meeting in Annapolis was only one more failed attempt in the "peace process" or "road-map to peace" in the Middle East. A study of the past meetings and agreements that have been implemented demonstrate that Israel has been forced by the U.S. and other nations to make all of the concessions, while the Palestinians have refused to bend in their demands to Israel. As Chuck Missler writes, "The most difficult part of the peace process is not the establishment of a Palestinian state, but the terms on which it is established. Palestinians have demanded the complete withdrawal of Israel from all the occupied areas back to the 1967 border, the dismantling of all Israeli settlements in the West Bank [Biblical Judea and Samaria- the heartland of what God promised Israel], and Gaza that are home to more than 250,000 Jews, a Palestinian capitol in east Jerusalem, the right of return for all Palestinian refugees [over 4 million] to Israel, the removal of Israeli roadblocks, the release of some 8,000 Palestinians being detained in Israeli jails and military prisons, and the dismantling of the controversial barrier wall." (eNews from Chuck Missler, November 27, 2007) Both Arabs and Israelis know that if Israel surrendered to all of these demands it would be the end of the Jewish state of Israel! They are asking Israel to commit political suicide. Israel, as the only genuine democracy in the Middle East, would be dominated and controlled by an Arab/Muslim majority in Israel. And, even if Israel were to give the Palestinians everything they are asking for, it would not bring real peace. A recent poll of Palestinians indicates that 60 percent of them believe that they should continue their war with Israel, even if Israel were to give them everything they are asking for. The Israelis and the rest of the world must come to grips with the reality that there is no real two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living in peace beside each other. For the U.S. and Israel, this may seem like a possibility. However, from the Palestinian perspective, it is impossible. Their religion will not allow it! They view the peace process only as a means whereby they can weaken Israel so that the Jews will be killed or conquered in order that the Palestinian state will be from the sea to the Jordan River, completely eradicating the Jewish state of Israel.
The results of the Annapolis meeting accomplished nothing meaningful. In essence, Israeli Prime Minister Olmert and Palestinian Chairman Abbas agreed that they would reach a peace agreement before George Bush leaves office next January. All three of these leaders are politically in trouble at home. George Bush, as a lame-duck president, is deeply entrenched in the war on terror in Afghanistan and Iraq, which has made him very unpopular with the American people. Furthermore, he is moving the U.S. toward economic collapse in the attempt to sustain this war. Olmert has very little political support at home because of the corruption in his administration and the failed war with Hezbollah in Lebanon during the summer of 2006. Mahmoud Abbas's administration is very weak, filled with corruption. Many believe that should the Israelis remove their troops from the West Bank that the racial Islamic terrorist group that controls the Palestinians in Gaza, Hamas, would take over the region. Therefore, many Israelis believe that they do not have a legitimate Palestinian leadership with which to enter into negations.
As the Bible prophecy student looks at these developments, it is obvious that the world is marching toward the false peace covenant that the Antichrist will confirm with Israel, beginning the seven-year Tribulation Period. (Daniel 9:27) Over 2,700 years ago the Holy Spirit directed the prophet Isaiah to write about the very events that are taking place at this hour. Read Isaiah 28:14-22. In this text you will note that the Bible predicted that there would come a time when the Israeli leadership in Jerusalem would make a covenant with those who are filled with "lies" and "falsehood," to protect Israel from an overwhelming force ("overwhelming scourge") that is poised to destroy them. (verse 15) Notice that Isaiah predicted that this covenant would take place at a time when God would bring a judgment upon "the whole earth." (verse 22) Furthermore, he revealed that these plans devised by a scornful leadership in Jerusalem would fail, and bring war against Israel, bringing only more terror to Israelis. (verses 18-19)
It is also most alarming to note that Isaiah promised that while all of this was taking place, the God of Israel would supernaturally intervene with acts of divine judgment. (verse 17, 21-22) It was not a coincidence that while the leadership of the world was gathered in Maryland for the peace conference that four earthquakes centered in the areas of the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv (measuring 3.0 to 4.2 on the Richter scale) rocked Israel. God is sending the Israeli leadership and the rest of the world only a little taste of what is to come as they continue to defy His purposes in bringing the Jews back home to the land that He has given them forever! He is the One who is causing His people to return to His land, and those who oppose Him will suffer the curse of divine judgment as repeatedly promised in a multitude of Scriptures.
The present U.S. administration is at the center of this whirlwind of activity that is attempting to force Israel to surrender east Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount, and the West Bank to the Palestinians. The Bible has promised that those who oppose God by attempting to reverse His work of returning the Jews to their land and Jerusalem will be destroyed by Him! In Zechariah 12:9 God has warned, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." A study of the context of Jeremiah 30 reveals that the Bible has predicted that when the Jewish people return to their land in the last days there will be a time of terror and a hopeless longing for peace as the nations of the world oppose her. In this text the Lord has promised Israel that He would use these difficult times to bring her to her spiritual knees. However, for those who attempt to annihilate her, He has promised, "Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it will fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it." (Jeremiah 30:23-24)
In light of these warnings, it is no wonder that the U.S. is in a serious state of decline spiritually, morally, and economically. If we really believe the warnings given in the Word of God, the U.S. is in big trouble. This nation is about to experience the hand of divine judgment!
When the U.S., as the last superpower, collapses, it will create the global political vacuum that many have been waiting for, opening the way for the beginning of a one-world government. Furthermore, this will make Israel very vulnerable to those who want to eradicate the Jewish nation, namely Russia and the Muslims. This will be the hook in the jaw (Ezekiel 38:4) for Russia and the Islamic nations that will lure them into attacking Israel, leading to their demise. (Ezekiel 38-39)
My friends, we are on the verge of very dramatic events that are shaping our world for the Tribulation Period. Long ago the prophet Daniel wrote about the peace process of the Antichrist when he said, "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many." (Daniel 8:25) Daniel was filled with great sorrow when he received this revelation and testified, "And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it." (Daniel 8:27) If we believe these Scriptures and see their fulfillment as an approaching reality for Israel and the world, it should also be very disturbing for all of us. It is time for us to awake out of our spiritual slumber and set our house in order because we shall soon stand in the presence of a holy God who will judge every man's work by divine fire. (1 Corinthians 3:9-15) Should He not come in the next few years, please prepare for a very difficult and bumpy ride. America and the nations are about to come face to face with the devastating judgments of God if they continue to force Israel into an agreement to surrender the Promised Land and the Holy City of Jerusalem.
The Lord has promised that He will stand by His people in the midst of the troubles and tribulation of the last days. He has promised, "Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:10-11)
May our Lord give us great wisdom to live in these perilous times. If you are not saved, now is the time to call out unto the Lord Jesus. Repent of your sins and ask Him to save you today. If you have unfinished business with God, today is the day to set your house in order. Tomorrow could be too late!
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