General Articles

…Israel’s Recent Peace Agreements? :: By Britt Gillette

Published on: by RR7

What Does the Bible Say About Israel’s Recent Peace Agreements?

In recent decades, no area of the world has been home to more conflict and ongoing animosity than the Middle East. A cauldron of ethnic, political, and religious clashes, many believe the spark that ignites World War III will come from the Middle East. Central to the region’s ongoing conflict is Muslim hostility toward Israel and disputes over control of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. These are the exact events the Bible says will happen in the last days. The Bible says Jerusalem will be “like an intoxicating drink that makes the nearby nations stagger” (Zechariah 12:2-3). That’s precisely what we’ve seen.

The re-establishment of Israel in 1948 led the neighboring Arab nations to declare war. In the years that followed, Israel fought no less than four conventional wars with its neighbors and has spent every moment preparing for all-out war. For all of its 72-year history, the Arab nations of the Middle East have viewed Israel as a mortal enemy. The lone exceptions have been peace treaties with Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994). Yet despite those treaties, many of the citizens of those two countries remain hostile toward the Jewish state. Is that changing? Some say it is, and they point out recent events that promise to transform the Middle East.

One of those events took place last month. That’s when Israel entered into its first peace agreement with an Arab neighbor since the 1994 treaty with Jordan. On August 13, President Trump announced the Abraham Accord – a peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. The Abraham Accord is notable because the UAE is the first Persian Gulf state (and only the third Arab state) to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. Ultimately, the agreement promises to build deeper cultural, economic, and military ties between the two nations. Diplomats claim the agreement is a template for establishing a new era of peace and prosperity in the Middle East.

Less than a month after breaking news of the Abraham Accord, President Trump announced a similar peace agreement between Israel and Bahrain. Like the UAE, Bahrain will establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. As if that weren’t enough, in between the UAE and Bahrain deals, Trump brokered another deal that led Serbia and Kosovo to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

What do these agreements mean? Do they really herald a new era of peace in the Middle East? Some think so. But it’s more likely they herald a growing recognition on the part of many Arab Muslim nations of their common need to counter Iran’s growing influence in the region. All these nations have a shared interest in thwarting Iran’s regional ambitions, even if it means partnering with Israel to do so. For that reason alone, many people believe we’ll soon see similar peace agreements between Israel and other Arab nations, such as Oman and Saudi Arabia.

So is any of this in the Bible? And if so, what does it mean?

The Seven-Year Treaty

Students of bible prophecy immediately take notice of any peace deal involving Israel. Why? Because the Bible says an Israeli peace treaty plays a central and pivotal role in the end times. Over 2,500 years ago, Daniel said a mighty ruler will enter into a covenant or a treaty with Israel for a period of seven years (Daniel 9:27). This treaty kicks off the seven-year Tribulation and makes the ruler behind it a major player on the world stage. Who is this ruler? None other than “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) himself – the Antichrist.

Do any of the recent peace agreements qualify as the Daniel 9:27 treaty? Some say yes. They point out that the Daniel 9:27 treaty is a covenant made “with many,” and in this case, we see agreements between Israel and many nations – the UAE, Bahrain, Kosovo, and Serbia – with the prospect of more nations joining in the near future. But that’s where the similarities begin and end.

The treaty outlined in Daniel 9:27 is set for a specific period of time – seven years. None of the recent peace deals with Israel mention a period of seven years. Also, the man behind the treaty of Daniel 9:27 is a specific individual – the Antichrist. This is important to note.

Because when it comes to the recent peace agreements with Israel, the driving diplomatic force has been the Trump administration, and Donald Trump is not the Antichrist. Despite what many of his political opponents may think or say, he simply doesn’t fit the profile. The Bible describes the life and times of the Antichrist. It provides details in regard to his ethnic background and political career. Like Barack Obama before him, Donald Trump doesn’t fit the description.

While people have accused every U.S. president of the past several decades of being the beast of Revelation, the Bible says the Antichrist will be the leader of a revived Roman Empire (Daniel 7). He will come from among the people of the Italian peninsula (Daniel 9:26), and He will be called the Assyrian (Isaiah 10:12; Daniel 8:9). Furthermore, the Bible says the Antichrist will emerge from a group of ten kings (Daniel 7:7-8), and not all of these ten kings will willingly cede their power. Three will oppose him (Daniel 7:8).

None of these verses describe Donald Trump.

So unless a dramatic change takes place, the recent Israeli peace agreements are not the treaty described in Daniel 9:27. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have prophetic significance. In all likelihood, they lay the groundwork for the treaty Israel will eventually sign with the Prince of Darkness.

A Time of Peace

While the Bible doesn’t cite any end-times peace agreements other than Daniel 9:27, it does mention a time of relative peace Israel enjoys in the last days. The prophet Ezekiel described this time of peace as a time when Israel will be an unprotected land of unwalled villages – a time when Israel will live in great confidence of its safety (Ezekiel 38:11). During this time, a massive coalition of armies will invade Israel from the north (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2), and Russia will lead them. Known as the Gog of Magog War, the invading nations are as follows:

Rosh = Russia

Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan

Persia = Iran

Cush = Sudan, Ethiopia

Put = Libya

Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-Togarmah = Turkey

While the recent peace deals with the UAE and Bahrain aren’t the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27, I believe they’re setting the stage for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. The battle lines of the Middle East are being drawn, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the official response to the recently announced deals.

Most predictable among them was Iran’s reaction. According to Al Jazeera, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United Arab Emirates of betraying the Islamic world and the Palestinians. He promised the Emiratis will be disgraced forever, and the stigma of their betrayal will always be remembered.

It’s clear Tehran stands against this alliance, but the most revealing reaction came from Turkey’s president – Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan threatened to suspend diplomatic ties with the UAE and withdraw its ambassador after the Gulf state and Israel agreed to normalize relations.

Until recently, this would have been a surprise. After all, Turkey is a longtime ally of Israel. However, since Erdogan rose to power in 2003, he’s slowly dismantled many of Turkey’s democratic institutions. He’s taken an antagonistic stance toward Israel and strengthened Turkey’s ties with Russia and Iran. All that’s left to permanently move Turkey into the Russian/Iranian sphere of influence is a clear break between Turkey and NATO.

While we wait for that moment, the military forces of the three most powerful members of the Gog of Magog alliance – Russia, Iran, and Turkey – are now cooperating in Syria. This puts their joint military forces right on Israel’s border. And not just any border – Israel’s northern border. This is where Ezekiel said the invasion force will come from – north of Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Ezekiel 39:2). Is this a mere coincidence? I don’t think so. Never in history have these three nations formed an alliance. Now, they’re stationed directly to Israel’s north.

God continues to set the stage for the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38-39 prophecies. Turkey has made a strategic choice to align itself with Russia and Iran. The UAE and Bahrain have made a strategic choice to align themselves with Israel. If Oman and Saudi Arabia follow suit as expected, it explains why these nations aren’t part of the Gog of Magog alliance. Eventually, Russia, Iran, Turkey, and their allies will launch an overwhelming invasion force against Israel (Ezekiel 38:8-9). When they do, God will destroy them and display His power and glory for all the world to see (Ezekiel 38:23).

The Bottom Line

We’ll have to wait and see what further developments take place before we can know for sure what the prophetic significance of these peace deals will be. None of these agreements are explicitly mentioned in the Bible, and none of them qualify as the covenant mentioned in Daniel 9:27. However, collectively they’re setting the stage for a prophetic event that will soon take place – the Gog of Magog invasion.

Never in world history have the invading nations of Ezekiel 38-39 banded together. Today, they have. Never before have Russia, Iran, and Turkey posted armies on Israel’s northern border. Today, they have. Israel enjoying peace with its neighbors and a false sense of security is the only missing ingredient. Once it’s in place, the stage will be set for the fulfillment of the events described in Ezekiel 38-39. It’s just the latest sign highlighting how close we are to the end of the age and the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

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Britt Gillette is author of the free ebook Coming to Jesus as well as the books Signs of the Second Coming, Racing Toward Armageddon, and The End Times. Receive his book 7 Signs of the End Times for free when you sign up for his monthly newsletter.

One Way Out :: By Holly Spate

Published on: by RR7

Friends, there’s only one way out.

This world is imploding. Sin, insanity and depravity are rampant in America and running wild across the world. So many are in rage mode and have been given over to a reprobate mind. There is chaos in the streets. All seems to have been turned upside down.

As many have stated, I don’t believe we’re in the tribulation, but the times we’re living in are sure setting the stage for what’s to come and are providing us a preview of that horrible time in the future shared in Revelation.

Another thorn that’s wreaked havoc on society and has negatively affected everyone in some way is Covid. It has taken lives, separated loved ones, stolen from livelihoods, disrupted the economy and shaken all that’s normal. The lockdowns and various measures have disconnected us from friends, family, events, special occasions, etc.

As if Covid wasn’t enough, many mayors and governors in various states have shown their true colors with their unrelenting, unchecked, unconstitutional demands on “We the People.” Instead of serving and helping their citizens, they are punishing, silencing and hurting good, innocent, law-abiding people while working to defund the police, release prisoners, and praise all chaos in the streets.

It is truly a great display of one’s love waxing cold and sin on steroids.

I realize for anyone paying even a small amount of attention, all of what’s been said here is not new news. Everyone is aware and has been impacted to various degrees regarding many of these things. It is hard to watch people destroy everything good while those who can help put an end to it are instead cheering it on and finding ways to erase the 2nd Amendment and defund the people’s point of protection: the police.

Every day while perusing the headlines, I often find myself asking, “How much longer, God?” “When will the rapture take place?” “When can we get out of this mess?”

If I’m not careful, I begin to get discouraged. If I let my guard down, I begin to feel fearful at all I see in the headlines… all that’s happening around us. I often think of the verse in the Bible which talks about Noah’s day and wonder how much worse could it have been in Noah’s day compared to now, especially given the fact that we have so many new technologies and knowledge has increased, etc.?

Matthew 24:36-41 states about Noah’s day:

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.”

Clearly, the signs Jesus spoke of concerning the time before His return are happening at record pace right before our eyes.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 states: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”

As I look around and see all the signs converging, I am reminded to look up and know with certainty that Jesus’ return is near and one day all who have placed their trust in Him will forever be with Him.

Friends, there’s only one way out. JESUS.

John 14:5-6 makes it clear: “Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

In such uncertain, perilous times, we can have a peace which passes all understanding… because of Jesus.

Our hearts can find joy and rest regardless of our circumstances… because of Jesus.

We can have confidence, security, and calm… because of Jesus.

We can experience hope, mercy, grace, and unconditional love… because of Jesus.

We can have assurance in knowing God will never leave us or forsake us… because of Jesus.

We can have an eternity free of pain, sorrow, evil and sin… because of Jesus.

We can have a bright, eternal future ahead… because of Jesus.

JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT!

No one else can save. No one else can claim to do what He alone did.

There are not many paths to heaven; there is only ONE way to heaven… Jesus.

Being a good person does not get one into heaven. Simply doing good works does not get one into heaven. Warming a church pew does not get one into heaven. Believing in Jesus and accepting Jesus Christ into one’s heart as their personal Lord and Savior is the only way to be saved and to spend eternity in heaven.

The Bible is clear that Jesus’ salvation is a free gift. It is not something we work to get; it’s given because of His mercy toward us. He willingly suffered and died, taking the sins of the world so that we could be forgiven of our sins and have a bridge back to God. He died to save us and cleanse us from our sins… something we could never do. If Jesus had not gone to the cross, we would have no hope, no future, no peace, no eternity with Him. But, because He did, we can be freed of sin, forgiven and have a future forever with our Heavenly Father. For those who have accepted His free gift of salvation, that’s something to rejoice about every. single. day!

The following verses should bring encouragement:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

“But what does it say? ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:8-9).

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:1-5).

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

We can never repay what Jesus did for us. His limitless love sent Him to the cross. And on the cross, He bore the weight of every sin in the world. The perfect sacrifice to take away the sins of the whole world. Three days later he rose from the grave! He did it because of love. He did it because of mercy. Because of His sacrifice, anyone who sincerely calls on the name of Jesus and believes in Him can be saved. His sacrifice covers all – past, present and future. He has paid our debt in full and has given access and a relationship to all who ask Him into their heart.

There is only ONE way out… it’s through accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. If you have never put your trust in Jesus, please do it today. No one is promised tomorrow, and God’s desire is that all of His creation come with a broken heart, repenting of sin and trusting in what His Son Jesus did on the cross.

Every day we’re one step closer to eternity. When we each take our last breath on this earth, we will never have the chance to make the choice again to ask Jesus into our heart. Our eternity will be set… forever. For those who do not place their trust in Jesus, they will forever be separated and will spend eternity in horrible torment and apart from God. For those who place their trust in Jesus, they will forever be with the Lord in heaven for all eternity… a place of peace, joy, and no more sorrow.

Jesus himself said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going” (John 14:1-4).

Ask Jesus into your heart today.

He is your only hope. He is the Only way.

spate.holly@gmail.com