Middle East Peace?
The Islamic State claimed another beheading of an American:
September 2, 2014
An Internet video uploaded Tuesday by Islamic State purports to show the beheading of U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff.
A masked figure in the video also issued a threat against a British hostage, a man the group named as David Haines, and warned governments to back off “this evil alliance of America against the Islamic State,” the SITE monitoring service reported. http://www.voanews.com/content/internet-video-purports-to-show-sotloff-beheading/2436145.html
The USA is warning Israel about one of its decision:
September 2, 2014
The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that Israel’s decision to appropriate 4,000 dunams of West Bank land was “deeply concerning” and urged it to “reverse the decision.” http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.613684
Apparently, the USA believes that Israel’s decision will increase the risk of war with the Palestinians.
Will we ever have peace in the Middle East?
Certainly.
How will it be brought about?
Many have ideas. And many ideas have been tried.
There were the Camp David Accords were signed by Egyptian President Anwar El Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978. They both got the Nobel Peace prize for that, but that did not bring peace to the Middle East, only a reduction of hostilities between Egypt and Israel. And one that seems to have been maintained by the USA sending billions of dollars to Egypt to keep its part of the accord, as well as billions sent to Israel by the USA.
Late last Summer, when the USA indicated it would bomb Syria because of its alleged use of chemical weapons (see US Senate committee approves military action against Syria), Pope Francis held a vigil to fast and pray to Mary for peace (see Pope Francis’ ‘solution’ to Syrian crisis will not work and Francis prays and fasts to ‘Mary’). The USA ended up not bombing Syria.
So, did that bring peace?
No. Instead, because the USA had indicated to its anti-Assad regime allies it would intervene, and then failed to do so, many of the Sunni rebels became disillusioned with the USA. This helped set the seeds for the dramatic rise of the group now calling itself the Islamic State. That group has killed and terrorized many in Iraq and Syria. It has greatly concerned the West, including the UK and USA. I received an email today that indicated that Pope Francis wants to try to do the same thing this coming weekend.
So, is the solution more bombing of forces part of the Islamic State. While some in the USA think that will solve the problem, many others, including its President Obama, do not believe it will solve the problem. Bombing the Islamic State will affect it, but will not bring peace.
US President Obama has stated that the USA cannot bring peace to Iraq. While that is true, it is also true that the USA intervened under its President George Bush.
The USA bombed Iraq, captured then killed Saddam Hussein, and there is no peace in Iraq. Destroying the Islamic State leadership will not result in real peace as well.
Late yesterday, the USA bombed terrorist targets in Somalia (see US bombs Somalia). Last week, some Arab nations bombed Libya.
Will we have any peace in the Middle East before Jesus returns?
Yes, but it may take a lot more war and conflict first. The Bible shows that a temporary deal will bring a type of peace to the Middle East per Daniel 9:27:
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)
Notice that this deal will, however, be broken 3 1/2 years after the prince, who becomes the King of the North by Daniel 11:31, breaks it. Because of passages in Daniel 8:25 and 11:22-23, it is believed that this is a type of peace deal. The Bible prophecies about various false proclamations of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3; Ezekiel 13:9-16).
Is the solution to conflict in the Middle East some type of cease-fire agreement that those of Israel and Hamas have sometimes agreed to? No. While not fighting is a good first step, the reality is that those two sides have differing objectives for the territory that both sides believe will cause future conflict. A cease-fire is mainly a rest between warring campaigns–not real peace.
However, since many of the ‘cease-fires’ have had times associated with them, they could set a precedent that may lead to the temporary deal in Daniel 9:27 (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).
Many within Islamic believe a type of confederation or caliphate will solve the problems. They believe that this is consistent with Islamic writings and prophecies, as well as history.
Even some in the West seem to be leaning slightly that way. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has proposed regional cooperation as the solution:
Libya is in civil war, fundamentalist armies are building a self-declared caliphate across Syria and Iraq and Afghanistan’s young democracy is on the verge of paralysis…The concept of order that has underpinned the modern era is in crisis…
The contemporary quest for world order will require a coherent strategy to establish a concept of order within the various regions and to relate these regional orders to one another. http://online.wsj.com/articles/the-assembly-of-a-new-world-order-1409328075
While cooperation can be a good thing, the type of cooperation he is advocating will result in disaster (Daniel 11:40-43).
Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, seems to be endorsing the rise of an Arabic and Turkish confederation:
August 25, 2014
ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT – U.S. air strikes on Islamic militants in Iraq have blunted their momentum, but defeating them will require a broad regional approach that draws support from Iraq’s neighbors and includes political and diplomatic efforts, the top U.S. military officer said.
The long term strategy for defeating the militants includes having the United States and its allies reach out to Iraq’s neighbors, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Sunday.
“This is not just about us,” Dempsey said.
Such a coalition could “squeeze ISIS from multiple directions in order to initially disrupt it and eventually defeat it,” he said. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/08/25/iraq-needs-neighbors-to-help-defeat-isis-militants/14557355/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=usatoday-newstopstories
I have been warning for some time that because of ISIS, that the West would likely encourage the formation of the confederation that the Bible refers to as the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43). The King of the South is basically an Arabic and Turkish confederation. It seems that General Dempsey and Henry Kissinger are doing this. The Bible shows that this confederation will end in disaster (Daniel 11:40-44; Ezekiel 30:2-8). Notice a couple of verses that tell that:
7 “They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries,
And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste.
8 Then they will know that I am the Lord,
When I have set a fire in Egypt
And all her helpers are destroyed. (Ezekiel 30:7-8)
A confederation or caliphate will not bring peace.
Notice something that is to happen after Jesus returns:
3 Many people shall come and say,
“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
He will teach us His ways,
And we shall walk in His paths.”
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:3)
Keeping God’s laws properly does lead to peace.
The Bible teaches:
8 The way of peace they have not known,
And there is no justice in their ways;
They have made themselves crooked paths;
Whoever takes that way shall not know peace. (Isaiah 59:8)
Notice that unless people will change there ways, they will not know peace or the way of peace.
Interim steps by governments and leaders will have various affects, but they will not prevent the coming of the Great Tribulation and the destruction of nations such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand (see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).
John the Baptist was prophesied to be involved with peace:
79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:79)
John the Baptist taught that soldiers should do violence to no one (Luke 3:14, KJV) and people should turn to Jesus (John 1:29-34).
Most people do not really want to do both.
The Apostle Paul wrote:
15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways;
17 And the way of peace they have not known.”
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:15-18)
Short of worldwide repentance, the ONLY WAY to bring peace to the Middle East and the rest of the world is the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
The time of no more war will come:
4 He shall judge between the nations,
And rebuke many people;
They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)
But humans, apart from submitting entirely to God will not bring peace about, even though they will apparently bring about a temporary multi-year peace in the Middle East–that too will be broken (Daniel 9:27, 11:31).
Humans, apart from God, do not know the way of peace.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? Although people like Timothy LaHaye teach a third Jewish temple is required, who is ‘the temple of God” in the New Testament? Does the Bible require a rebuilt Jewish Temple? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Por qué no se requiere un templo judío en Jerusalén?
The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World The Temple Institute is watching a ‘red heifer.’ Why might this be important in the sequence of end time events? Here is a related link in the Spanish language Novilla roja descubierta en EE.UU. e Instituto del Templo está interesado en ella. Here is a related video in English The Red Heifer and the End of the World.
Location of the Prophesied Physical Temple Leroy Neff gives his rationalse for the location of the coming temple.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution?
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? Here is a link to a related video video: Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Libya, Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia in Prophecy What is ahead for North Africa? What does the Bible teach?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In Prophecy.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising. The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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