Trump Peace Proposal

Pres. Trump promised a peace proposal in early 2018. He gave some of the Arab leaders a preliminary proposal (more than 90 pages) in early Dec. 2017, but at the time of this writing (as far as I know) he hasn’t issued an official proposal.

Some of the terms in Pres. Trump’s preliminary proposal have leaked (no right of return; PA self-government in part of Israel, but no PA military; PA will get some land in the Sinai instead of land the PA wants in Israel, etc.). Others terms have been kept confidential.

It has been reported that what some leaders say in public is different from what they say in private. The situation is fluid and constantly changing. But this article contains my understanding of what I have read up to this time.

As a candidate for Pres. of the U.S., Mr. Trump promised to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Some said he would never do it. Some said he would start WW III, if he did, etc.

At some point, Pres. Trump realized that every effort to negotiate a peace treaty failed for three reasons: 1) Possession of Jerusalem; 2) PA refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish nation; and 3) The UN, U.S., EU, Arab nations and others were giving the PA hundreds of millions of dollars per year with no strings attached.

Concerning Jerusalem, on Dec. 6, 2017, Pres. Trump decided to keep his promise to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. He understood that this would cause turmoil, but he believed the turmoil would eventually subside and the door would open for peace negotiations.

Concerning PA recognition of Israel as a Jewish nation, Pres. Trump decided the PA would never recognize the existence of Israel as a Jewish nation; so he decided to seek the recognition of the Arab League instead. Recognition of Israel’s existence as a Jewish nation by the Arab League would make PA rejection meaningless.

Concerning the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being given to the PA with no strings attached, Pres. Trump decided that one reason the PA keeps refusing to sign a peace treaty is because the PA doesn’t want the influx of money to stop. Pres. Trump decided that it is foolish to keep giving the PA large sums of money without getting something in return. Why agree to a peace treaty, if the money is going to be reduced or stopped?

When Mahmoud Abbas learned what is in Pres. Trump’s preliminary proposal he went ballistic. He abandoned the peace process. He rejected Pres. Trump as a fair negotiator. He walked away from the negotiating table.

He spent part of his millions of U.S. dollars traveling around Europe searching for anti-Israel allies. Most told him he would get nowhere without the U.S. and Pres. Trump.

Pres. Trump said Mr. Abbas must return to the negotiating table and stop refusing to negotiate or he (Pres. Trump) will shut down the PA office in Washington, the U.S. will not have anything else to do with the PA, and the U.S. will give the PA no more U.S. money. Pres. Trump even threatened to try to cut off the PA’s income from other nations and entities.

Pres. Trump thinks it will take time, but the PA will eventually change their mind. If they don’t, Pres. Trump will continue the peace process without any input from the PA. It appears that he may already have the approval of the Arab League to do this.

Anyway, the PA has abandoned the peace process, but most of the remainder of the Arab League hasn’t. Most want to get past Pres. Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move on with the peace process in exchange for U.S. and Israeli help in dealing with Iran’s nuclear weapons program.

It has been reported that Egypt is actually downplaying Pres. Trump’s decision, and one government official has asked some of the media to convince the Egyptian people to accept it.

Jordan is struggling with Pres. Trump’s decision on Jerusalem, but many think Jordan will come around.

Pres. Trump said his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will cost Israel. The Arabs want to hear what this means.

This writer is not suggesting that Pres. Trump will betray Israel, but Pres. Trump needs to be very careful about this. The Bible clearly teaches that what nations do to Israel as the Tribulation Period nears will come back on them (Obad. 1:15).

Concerning Israel, Prime Min. Netanyahu knows that Israel will be called upon to make some painful concessions. He wants the government in Gaza replaced with a government that can control the terrorists and be a reliable peace partner.

He wants a phased agreement that will gradually change things over a period of time (not all at once; could it be 7 years?). He is refusing to give up Jerusalem and Israel’s right to defend itself.

God alone knows the future. But it looks like Pres. Trump will continue to develop his peace proposal; Mr. Abbas is probably on his way out; the 1967 borders are no longer a factor; the Arab League is ready to recognize the existence of Israel as a Jewish nation; the Arab League is ready to make peace; it is ready to establish a regional government in Gaza; it is ready to do what is best for the Palestinian people instead of the terrorists in Fatah, Hamas, etc.

It must be understood that Pres. Trump’s peace proposal is not the treaty that will begin the Tribulation Period. But his proposal will have the potential to morph into a peace treaty that will gain global acceptance and be confirmed by the Antichrist. That would begin the Tribulation Period.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com

 

Bible Prophecy 2018

There are new developments in some areas of Bible prophecy that should get our attention.

First, everyone that studies Bible prophecy knows that we are living in perilous times (II Tim. 3:1).

This was quite evident on Jan. 13, 2018 when the Hawaiian government issued an emergency alert: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”

This was followed by 38 minutes of terror in Hawaii. People panicked, prayed, cried, screamed, called loved ones, etc.

Praise be to God, the emergency alert was a mistake, but what if it wasn’t a mistake?

In his Facebook post, Dr. Franklin Graham asked, “What would you do if you only had 20 minutes to live? Would you call on the name of God? Would you ask for forgiveness of your sins? Would you contact your loved ones?”

The purpose of this article is not to give the reader advice (confess sins, repent, accept Jesus, buy iodine tablets, store food and water, establish a family meeting place, witness to children, grandchildren, etc.).

These are important things to do, but the purpose of this article is to remind everyone that the time to think about what to do is now.

Obviously, spiritual preparation is more important than physical preparation. But waiting until one is in a state of panic with perhaps only 20 minutes to do so is not wise.

Second, everyone that studies Bible prophecy knows that the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt (Dan. 9:26; Matt. 24:15; II Thess. 2:4).

In 2001, Israel decided to build an underground high-speed railroad from its Ben Gurion International Airport to downtown Jerusalem.

In 2016, Israel decided that many travelers will want to visit the Temple Mount when the Temple is rebuilt. For that reason, Israel made plans to extend the railroad to the Temple Mount, build a station, build 27,000 new hotel rooms by 2026, and more.

At two people per room, 27,000 new hotel rooms will handle more than 50,000 people a day over and above those who are going there now.

In May 2017, Pres. Trump became the first sitting Pres. of the U.S. to visit the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

On Dec. 6, 2017, Pres. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

On Dec. 26, 2017, Israel’s Transportation Minister said the railroad will be called the King David Railroad because King David was the first to establish Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. It was also announced that the train station will be named the Donald J. Trump Station.

On Jan. 15, 2018, it was reported that Israel’s high-speed train and the Donald J. Trump Station are expected to be complete just in time for Passover (Mar. 30–Apr.7, 2018).

A spokesman for the United Temple Movement suggested that there is a need to add a second train with at least some cattle cars to transport animals for the animal sacrifices.

Only God knows when the Temple will be rebuilt, but it is exciting to read these things in the news.

Third, everyone that studies Bible prophecy knows that a war called the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place in the latter days and latter years (Ezek. 38–39).

Troops from Russia, Iran, Turkey and other nations will die on the Mountains of Israel in an attempt to wipe out the Jewish nation.

Despite warnings from Israel, Iran continues to ship powerful weapons to Syria and to build up her military forces there.

The situation has become so dangerous that Pres. Trump has reversed his position on removing U.S. troops from Syria after ISIS is finally defeated. Mr. Trump now intends to keep America’s bases and troops in Syria.

It also seems significant that Pres. Trump has now said that he has re-certified the Iranian nuclear deal for the last time. He has warned that it must be changed or he will let it expire when it comes up for renewal in May.

How the presence of American troops and bases in Syria and the expiration of the Iranian nuclear deal will impact the Battle of Gog and Magog remains to be seen.

Fourth, everyone that studies Bible prophecy knows that there will eventually be a peace agreement between Israel and the PA. But the PA is refusing to work with Pres. Trump.

In mid-Jan, Pres. Trump cut U.S. contributions to the UNRWA that were destined for the PA by $65 million. A few days later, he cut food aid contributions to the UNRWA by $40 million.

On Jan. 20-21, 2018, Pres. Trump asked the Egyptians and Jordanians to deliver a strong warning to the PA to start cooperating on the peace negotiations or he will really make things hard on them.

In conclusion, know that God puts leaders in office to do His will. The prophetic situation in the Middle East is changing and it will turn out exactly the way the Word of God says.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com