Volume 1 Issue
14 Volume 1 Issue
14Prelude To Peace?
Over the past several weeks the media
has had scores of their prophets predicting all out war in the
Middle East. Their predictions have been echoed by many Christians.
As I have called you to do in the past I will continue to say
even now, war in Israel is as common as bread, don't watch for
war - yet. The Bible clearly prophesies Israel's existence as
being one of sword, famine and plague. We believers need to watch
for what everyone else is hoping for, peace in the Middle East.
Yes, my friends, I long for the end of bloodshed, but as strange
as it may seem to our frail minds, peace in Israel without Jesus
will mean the presence of the antichrist and approximately 3 1/2
years to prepare for Satan's war against Israel and the church!
Then the dragon was enraged at
the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring
- those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony
of Jesus. Revelation 12:17.
Is peace possible in Israel? Can such a wonderful hope come out of such ugly turmoil? We must understand that Israel will achieve a very brief peace by compromise. Israel will forsake her covenant with God. Just as in the past, Israel will not renounce God, but will break the covenant with him in multiple ways. How? The most pronounced and immediate step and the most relevant to believers at this time is to trade some of her land for a peace treaty. Please be reminded that God has not given Israel permission to trade her land - for anything! The root of Israel's inheritance is the land that God gave Abraham and his descendants forever. "The whole land of Canaan . . . I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God." Genesis 17:8.
Reminiscent of a stray calf, Israel, although strong is becoming weary from the relentless pursuit of her enemies. Like wolves, they are ravenous and yet patient. They sense Israel's weakening of resolve and smell compromise in the air! The two groups that will be first in line for induction to the terror hall of fame, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have stated that they will cease hostilities against Israel for the sake of Palestinian solidarity. These terror arms of Yassar Arafat have suddenly fallen back from their vows to annihilate Israel. We must watch closely now as the conditions set down by Israel will be met in order for a Palestinian state to be carved out of Israel's inheritance. Israel set the first condition to entering peace talks as the observance of one week of no violence by Palestinians. Israel has reiterated this condition over and over. The Palestinians, when they comply, will have the upper hand in forcing Israel to keep her end of the agreements or Israel will risk world wide condemnation and all out war by Palestinian supporters.
Russia, the most powerful of Palestinian advocates has called for U.N. observers to be established in Israel. This idea has been the baby primarily of the Europeans and more specifically the Italian government. For this situation to become a Russian focal point is to increase the stakes for the United States. Russia is forcing her way into international politics with the finesse of Washington and the strength and shrewdness of the former Soviet Union. If Russia is increasingly seen as a world peace keeper she will gain significant clout with U.S. allies, further weakening the ability and resolve of United States to defend Israel or even to be a major force in world politics. Even if you have never watched politics before you will want to sit up and take notice of these events.