By COGwriter
Will we have peace in the Middle East?
Certainly.
How will it be brought about?
Many have ideas. And many ideas have been tried.
What does the Bible teach? What do records of history teach?
US President Richard Nixon hoped to bring in a generation of peace:
PEACE -- "a generation of peace" -- as President Nixon's theme on his election-year barnstorming tour of the United States in the fall of 1970.
"We have not had a generation of peace in this century," said Mr. Nixon, "but we shall have a generation of peace."
How long is a generation? Webster's -- dictionary says "usually 33 years"-- three to a century. What are our actual chances for thirty-three years of world peace? (Dorothy C. Will we Ever have "Our Generation of Peace"? Plain Truth, February 1971)
This still has not happened.
After US President Carter encouraged talks between Egypt and Israel, some agreement happened. The resulting 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.
A few years ago, 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.
The Islamic State believes that it knows the way of peace--its way is to kill all it can who will not agree to support it. But the crooked ways of the Islamic State will not bring real peace (Isaiah 59:8).
So, was the solution then more bombing of forces part of the Islamic State? While some in the USA thought that would solve the problem, many others, it did not. Bombing the Islamic State did affect it, but did not bring peace.
While he was US President, Barack Obama stated that the USA cannot bring peace to Iraq. While that is true, it is also true that the USA intervened in Iraq under its President George W. Bush.
Is the solution bombing terrorist groups like the Islamic State out of existence? No, though that is one option that the current US President Trump has seemingly considered.
The USA bombed Iraq, captured and then killed Saddam Hussein, and yet this did not bring peace to Iraq.
Destroying the Islamic State leadership will not result in real peace as well.
Is the solution flying surveillance over Syria? No.
Is the solution the newest humanly proposed Iraqi government? No.
There are also problems in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East that violence will not resolve.
In August 2020, there was an interesting development regarding the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
The United Arab Emirates has agreed essentially to recognize Israel if it does not proceed now with the annexations of Samaria, etc. it had planned:
Israel, UAE reach historic peace deal: ‘We can make a wonderful future’
Third-ever peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state includes embassies, direct flights; agreement “suspends” annexation, but Netanyahu says: “I will never give up on our right to our land.”
August 14, 2020
Israel and the UAE agreed to full normalization of relations in a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country in 25 years.
Israel agreed to suspend its planned extension of sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria to facilitate relations with the UAE and potentially other Arab and Muslim countries.
The agreement will include establishing embassies and exchanging ambassadors, investments into the Israeli economy, trade, direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, an investment in Israeli efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine – as first reported in The Jerusalem Post last month – and cooperation in matters of energy and water. An important element of the deal for the UAE is the expectation that its citizens would be able to visit the Al-Aksa mosque in Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the deal “full, formal peace” with “one of the strongest countries in the world.” https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israel-and-uae-reach-historic-peace-deal-638524
Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to establish full diplomatic ties as part of a U.S.-brokered deal, President Donald Trump announced Thursday.
Trump is calling the agreement the “Abraham Accord” after the father of three monotheistic religions founded in the Middle East — Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It is only the third peace deal Israel has made with an Arab nation since Israel became an independent state in 1948.
Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed Al Nahyan said they hope the “historic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East.”
“Now that the ice has been broken, I expect more Arab and Muslim countries will follow the United Arab Emirates’ lead,” Trump said, during an Oval Office announcement where he was surrounded by members of his administration who helped broker the deal.
Emirati Muslims can now pray in the historic Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third holiest site in Islam, Trump added.
Netanyahu had warm words for his newest diplomatic partner.
“And to the people of Abu Dhabi and its leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, I say, ‘Salam Alaikum, Shalom Aleichem. Peace onto thee. Peace onto all of us,'” he said.
Officials in the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, were more circumspect.
“Is it perfect? Nothing is perfect in a very difficult region,” said senior UAE official Anwar Gargash. “But I think we used our political chips right.”
Annexation plans
The agreement at least suspends Israeli plans to annex large parts of the West Bank, which Palestinians want as part of a future state.
Netanyahu says annexation plans are on “temporary hold” while Gargash said the agreement is a “death blow” to what he says was Israeli aggression. 08/13/20 https://www.voanews.com/usa/trump-announces-historic-breakthrough-between-israel-uae
Breaking Israel News (BIN) reported the following:
The Prophetic Implications of the Israel-UAE Agreement
August 14, 2020
Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that with the help of President Trump, an agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The deal was finalized via a phone call between Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. In a joint statement by the United States, Israel and UAE posted by Trump on Twitter, it said that this was a “historic diplomatic breakthrough” and will “advance peace in the Middle East.” …
Just a few hours after the agreement, Rabbi Tuly Josh Wander, a video reporter for Breaking Israel News, and Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz, a feature article writer for Breaking Israel News, had a video conference analyzing the implications of the Abraham Accords. …
“It’s huge,” Wander opined. “This agreement can open up future agreements with other Arab countries., which was actually mentioned.
Berkowitz framed the political development in Biblical terms as a meeting between Ishmael and Yaakov.
“The Bible is all about the coming together of brothers,” Berkowitz noted, citing the verse in Psalms.
How good and how pleasant it is that brothers dwell together. Psalms 133:1
“We are actually seeing here Ishmael and Yaakov, brothers, coming back together in the modern world,” Berkowitz explained. “We are seeing a fixing now of the rift that happened in the Bible.” …
Berkowitz noted that earlier this year, the UAE permitted Jews to perform circumcisions.
“This is actually a Biblical commandment that unifies Isaac and Ishmael even to this day,” Berkowitz noted. “Allowing that helped unify the two countries leading up to this agreement.”
Berkowitz noted the Biblical verse describing the future role of Ishmael.
He shall be a wild ass of a man; His hand against everyone, And everyone’s hand against him; He shall dwell alongside of all his kinsmen.” Genesis 16:12
“The Arabs claim they offer us peace but they cannot offer what they don’t have,” Berkowitz said, paraphrasing Dr. Mordechai Kedar. “This is what Israel really can offer to the Arab world. The Arab world is at war among themselves. If we can reach out to them, make peace one nation at a time, we can bring peace to Ishmael. We can bless them with peace and then Arabs can have peace with each other.”
Rabbi Weisz noted that just as in the post-Exodus days of Joshua ben Nun, the Jews have a Biblical mandate to conquer the land from the Nile to the Euphrates.
Berkowitz noted that King David purchased the Temple Mount but did not immediately begin building the Temple.
“The Temple was not built until Solomon because Solomon was peace,” Berkowitz said. “Israel has gone through its David warrior period. We’ve fought our wars. We’ve acquired the Temple Mount. If we want to move to the next stage of building the Temple it has to be a Solomon stage of peacemaking.” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/156748/the-prophetic-implications-of-the-israel-uae-agreement/
No, this acceptance by the UAE is not the fulfillment of a prophecy about brothers getting back together.
But, it may be a step towards the future fulfillment of biblical prophecies (though not the building of a massive third temple).
The Palestinians, Iranians, and Turks also are of the view that the UAE’s deal is not the peace deal they are interested in:
August 14, 2020
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates marks a watershed moment in its relations with Arab countries, but the Palestinians say it puts a just resolution of the Middle East conflict even farther out of reach.
The UAE presented its decision to upgrade longstanding ties to Israel as a way of encouraging peace efforts by taking Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the occupied West Bank off the table, something Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu swiftly rebuffed by insisting the pause was “temporary.”
From the Palestinian perspective, the UAE not only failed to stop annexation, which would dash any remaining hopes of establishing a viable, independent state. It also undermined an Arab consensus that recognition of Israel only come in return for concessions in peace talks — a rare source of leverage for the Palestinians.
“I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country,” Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and veteran negotiator said Friday. “You are rewarding aggression. … You have destroyed, with this move, any possibility of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.”
President Donald Trump has presented the U.S.-brokered agreement as a major diplomatic achievement and said he expects more Arab and Muslim countries to follow suit. Israel has quietly cultivated ties with the UAE and other Gulf countries for several years as they have confronted a shared enemy in Iran.
In Israel, the agreement has renewed long-standing hopes for normal relations with its Arab neighbors. https://apnews.com/c11ee9c2d7489040ebe255d593e7b574
14 August 2020
Iran has said the establishment of diplomatic ties between its arch-rival Israel and the United Arab Emirates is a “dagger in the back” of all Muslims, while Turkey said the UAE had “betrayed” the Palestinian cause. …
The agreement makes the UAE the first Gulf Arab state, and the third Arab country following Egypt and Jordan, to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel. https://www.dw.com/en/israel-uae-relations/a-54564050
August 14, 2020
“I never expected this poison dagger to come from an Arab country,” Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and veteran negotiator said Friday. “You are rewarding aggression. … You have destroyed, with this move, any possibility of peace between Palestinians and Israelis.” ...The Palestinian Authority issued a scathing statement in response to the move, calling it a “betrayal of Jerusalem, Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian cause,” language clearly aimed at inflaming Arab and Muslim sentiment worldwide.
The Palestinians have called for an urgent meeting of the Arab League and the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation to condemn the move. https://www.timesofisrael.com/erekat-i-never-expected-this-poison-dagger-to-come-from-an-arab-country/
The Palestinian claim, however, is not biblical.
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:
26 And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 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, ... (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 prophesies about various false proclamations of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3; Ezekiel 13:9-16). Most Christians, sadly, will not recognize what is happening with the Daniel 9:27 deal until it is too late.
Various ones in the USA and Europe have made proposals throughout the years.
Is the final 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 Islam 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.
The former French President Hollande was one who was proposing something like that:
August 20, 2104
France said on Wednesday it wanted the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and regional countries, including Arab states and Iran, to coordinate action against the militant group Islamic State, the insurgents who control parts of Iraq and Syria.
“In our minds and we hope that it will be possible … we want not only all the regional countries, including Arab states and Iran, but the five members of the Security Council, also to join this action,” Foreign Minister Faurent Fabius told lawmakers.
Earlier Wednesday, French President Francois Hollande called for an international conference to discuss IS. http://www.voanews.com/content/france-seeks-global-meeting-on-islamic-state-group/2421926.html
Some type of cooperation between Europe (King of the North) and the Arabs (King of the South) will take place (cf. Daniel 9:27; Psalm 83:3-8) and President Hollande wanted some cooperation.
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).
One-time 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
On a 2017 trip to Saudi Arabia, Donald Trump signed what was hailed as the largest single US arms deal with Saudi Arabia (see Largest single arms deal in US history! Is Donald Trump arming part of the King of the South?).
Notice something else from that trip:
May 21, 2017
King Salman of Saudi Arabia says he is committed to stamping out the Islamic State group and other terrorist organizations.
Salman is speaking at a gathering of the leaders of more than 50 majority-Muslim countries attending the Arab-Islamic-American Summit in Riyadh.
He says that “we all, peoples and countries, reject in every language and in every form damaging the relations of Muslim countries with friendly countries and profiling countries based on a religious or sectarian basis.”
He’s also railing against Iran, calling the country “the spearhead of global terrorism.”
President Donald Trump says the U.S. seeks a “coalition of nations” in the Middle East with the aim of “stamping out extremism.” …
Trump is speaking in front of an audience of leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority nations.
He says the U.S. is prepared to stand with those leaders in the fight against extremists, but that those countries must take the lead. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/the-latest-trump-gets-royal-treatment-from-saudis/2017/05/20/ea5fd262-3dc8-11e7-a59b-26e0451a96fd_story.html?utm_term=.5035b9fa6a26
This sounds a lot like Donald Trump is encouraging the formation of the foundation of a confederation that one day will be led by one called the King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8).
Inadvertently, Donald Trump seems to be helping laying the foundation for the coming prophesied King of the South. But this will not bring peace.
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 consisting of predominantly Sunni-Muslim states.
It seems that many are promoting 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.
What about Catholicism?
Pope Francis has advocated turning to Mary for peace.
Pope Francis made an appeal for peace…
“The news coming from Iraq leaves us in disbelief and dismay:…,” he said. “All this greatly offends God and greatly offends humanity. You cannot bring hatred in the name of God. You cannot make war in the name of God!”…
Pope Francis concluded his appeal by inviting all present to pray for peace. “Let us pray to the God of peace, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary: Give peace, Lord, to our days and make us builders of justice and peace. Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us,” he said. (Esteves JA. Pope Francis: You Cannot Make War in the Name of God! Zenit, August 10, 2014. http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-you-cannot-make-war-in-the-name-of-god)
No verse in the Bible says to pray to, turn to, or call upon, the name of Mary, or have her cause world peace. No verse in the Bible calls Mary the Queen of Peace.
The Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB), a Roman Catholic Bible, in both the Old and New Testament teaches to turn to God:
13 And rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy, and ready to repent of the evil. (Joel 2:13, DRB)
20 I preach, that they should…turn to God (Acts 26:20, DRB)
It also connects Jesus and His message with peace:
6 For a CHILD IS BORN to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, God the Mighty, the Father of the world to come, the Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? Or how shall they believe him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear, without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they be sent, as it is written: How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, of them that bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15, DRB)
The Bible never says to turn to Mary for peace. Six times, the DRB (Challoner version), uses the expression “God of peace” (Romans 15:33; 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:20))–there are no similar statements related to Mary.
But is not just Pope Francis that believes that ‘Mary’ is the way of peace. People I have termed as ‘Fatimists’ (those who erroneously believe that the apparition that appeared in Fatima, Portugal before 3 young children in 1917 was Jesus’ mother Mary and had an important message) believe ‘Mary’ will bring peace if the Pope takes certain actions.
Notice something that came out in 2013 after Pope Francis prayed to Mary for peace in Syria:
Father Gruner noted that the Pope has just completed a worldwide day of prayer and fasting for the intention of avoiding war in Syria. “Pope Francis’ Friday message regarding the threat of war invoked the very theme of our conference. As the Pope said: ‘Let us ask Mary to help us to respond to violence, to conflict and to war, with the power of dialogue, reconciliation and love. She is our Mother: may She help us to find peace; all of us are Her children!’”
“Indeed, Mary is our Mother — the Mother of the Redeemer — and thus the Mother of all humanity,” said Father Gruner. “And She can indeed help us find peace. The Catholic Church calls Her the very Queen of Peace, and She gave the whole world a peace plan at Fatima. That is what the Message of Fatima is all about.”
The Message of Fatima is contained in a series of Church-approved apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to three shepherd children at Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Two of the children, Francisco and Jacinta, were beatified — declared blessed, the final step before canonization — by Pope John Paul II. The last surviving Fatima visionary, Sister Lucia, died in 2005. In the Message, the Virgin promises a period of world peace if and when Russia is specifically consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart, which ceremony would, the Virgin said, bring about the religious conversion of Russia and with it a time of peace for all humanity.
“God has chosen Russia as the object of this consecration because Russia is where so much of the suffering of the 20th century began, following the Bolshevik Revolution,” Father Gruner noted. “Furthermore, Our Lady warns that if Her request for the Consecration is not heeded, the world will face even worse chastisements than the two world wars, including what She warned would be the ‘annihilation’ of ‘various nations.’”
“In fact,” said Father Gruner, “Pope Francis has had his entire pontificate consecrated to Our Lady of Fatima by the bishops of Portugal. This shows how seriously the Pope takes the Fatima message, as did his two predecessors, who both made pilgrimages to Fatima.”
A brochure that Fatimist Priest Gruner put out in 2013 states:
And Our Lady has told us that if the consecration is delayed, we risk “the annihilation of nations” and great suffering for the Pope and persecutions of the Faithful. She has also told us “Only I can help you.” WE HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN! OUR LADY IS OUR ONLY HOPE AND HELP!
While the above is blasphemous and many will think that this is only the view of certain Fatima extremists, let me state the Pope Francis continually brings up his version of ‘Mary’ and tells people to pray to her to intervene for peace. He even had his pontificate consecrated to the ‘Lady of Fatima’ (Pope Francis’ pontificate consecrated to ‘Lady of Fatima’).
No verse in the Bible says to pray to, turn to, or call upon, the name of Mary. Notice also that the only two times the DRB (a Roman Catholic Bible) uses the term intercession it is referring to Jesus, not Mary:
34 Who is he that shall condemn? Christ Jesus that died, yea that is risen also again; who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:34, DRB)
25 Whereby he is able also to save for ever them that come to God by him; always living to make intercession for us. (Hebrews 7:25, DRB)
Mary is not the intercessor of the Bible, nor was she considered to be by the early Christian church (see also Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions). Considering that Mary provides intercession is not biblically-proper and has other negative consequences.
We are not to call on, or turn to, Mary, but on the Lord God Jesus:
22 But flee thou youthful desires, and pursue justice, faith, charity, and peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22, DRB)
Notice who is the Lord of peace according to the Apostle Paul:
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you everlasting peace in every place. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand; which is the sign in every epistle. So I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)
Mary is NOT the way to peace (see Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions and Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?).
Despite what the Bible teaches about the end times (Matthew 24:4-30), in late 2014 Pope Francis taught that peace is what is prophesied for the end times, and he does NOT mean the millennial peace. (His church officially teaches that any version of the millennium is a doctrine of Antichrist; see Catechism of the Catholic Church. Imprimatur Potest +Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger. Doubleday, NY 1995, p. 194). Pope Francis believes that his ecumenical agenda will lead to peace in the world and the Middle East, yet the Bible warns that the world ecumenical religious cooperation leads to disaster (per Revelation 13, 17, & 18).
Pope Francis wants international forces to help bring in Middle East peace:
Pope: Jews Living in Judea, Israel: Bad for ‘Regional Stability’
November 21, 2019
After the Trump administration reversed US policy regarding Israeli settlements deeming them legal under international law, the Pope made a vague statement opposing the decision. …
Pope Francis also said that the decision “undermines already fragile regional stability.”
The full statement is as follows:
“In the context of recent decisions that risk undermining further the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the already fragile regional stability, the Holy See reiterates its position of a two-state solution for two peoples, as the only way to reach a complete solution to this age-old conflict”.
The statement also reiterated the Vatican’s support of “the right of the State of Israel to live in peace and security within the borders recognized by the international community.” However, this statement could be viewed as confusing since Trump’s recent decision means that there is no longer a clear consensus with regard to how the international community views Israel’s borders.
The Vatican’s statement also said that the See “supports the same right that belongs to the Palestinian people, which must be recognized, respected and implemented”.
The statement concluded by calling on “the two Parties, negotiating directly with each other, with the support of the international community and in compliance with United Nations resolutions, may find a fair compromise, which takes into account the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples”. https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/140363/pope-jews-living-judea-israel-bad-regional-stability/
Pope Francis is not only opposed to changes in US policy, basically he wants the UN, Europe, and the Vatican to be involved in getting a peace deal. He has made some Vatican efforts in the past (e.g. see Pope Francis proposed peace negotiations with Israel and Palestine).
Revelation 13:11-18 and Revelation 17 show that a religious leader associated with the city of seven hills/mountains will support that leader.
As it turns out, Catholic writings tell of a time when a European leader will arise, bring “peace,” and have the blessing of the Vatican.
And there are a lot of such writings. Notice many of them:
John of the Cleft Rock (1340): The White Eagle (Great Monarch), by order of the Archangel Michael, will drive the crescent {Islam} from Europe where none but Christians will remain–he himself will rule from Constantinople. An era of peace and prosperity will begin for the world … God will raise up a holy Pope (Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, pp. 33-34)
Sister Marianne Gaultier (18th century): “… When all shall appear lost, all will be saved … It is then that the Prince shall reign, whom people did not esteem before, but whom they shall then seek. The triumph of religion shall be so great that no one has ever seen the equal (Dupont Y. Catholic Prophecy: The Coming Chastisement. TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1973, p. 75).
Bernhardt Rembordt (18th century). He will be called a “Roman Emperor,” and he will give peace to the world. A good and happy era will follow. God will be praised on earth, and war will be no more. (Dupont, pp.34-35)
Werdin d’ Otrante (13th century): “The Great Monarch and the Great Pope will precede Antichrist…All the sects will vanish. The capital of the world will fall…The Great Monarch will come and restore peace and the Pope will share in the victory.” (Connor, p. 33).
Telesphorus of Cozensa (16th century). “A powerful French Monarch and French Pope will regain the Holy Land after terrible wars in Europe. They will convert the world and bring universal peace …” (Dupont, p. 31).
Catholic Priest and saint John Bosco (19th century): War will come from the south, peace from the north. … At that moment the Venerable Old Man of Rome went forward to meet him, … The warrior and his followers bowed profoundly to the Venerable Old Man and joined hands with him. (THE THREE PROPHECIES OF ST. JOHN BOSCO, given 1870. http://www.franciscan-archive.org/bosco/opera/bosco.html#12 viewed 08/16/14)
Rudolph Gekner (died 1675). “A great prince of the North with a most powerful army will traverse all Europe … and shall subdue to his dominion the Mahometan Empire. A new pastor of the universal church will come from the shore (of Dalmatia) through a celestial prodigy, and in simplicity of heart adorned with the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Peace will come to the world.” (Connor, p.36).
Melanie Calvat (The Seeress of La Salette, 19th century). “After a frightful war a Great King will arise and his reign will be marked by a wonderful peace and a great religious revival.” (Dupont, p.13).
Ronald Conte, Jr. (21st century): Then there will be a brief time of peace and holiness … This time of peace begins with the reign of the great Catholic monarch (a holy political leader) and the Angelic Shepherd (the holy Pope of that time). After the great monarch’s kingship ends, when he willingly steps down as leader, his kingdom will be divided into four parts. The northern part includes most of Europe. The southern part consists of Israel, the Middle East, and northern Africa. The rulers over these two parts are referred to, in the Book of Daniel, as the king of the North and the king of the South. (Conte Jr., Ronald L. The Great Apostasy and the Abomination of Desolation. December 23, 2005. http://www.catholicplanet.com/articles/article131.htm viewed 03/11/18)
Monk Hilarion (died 1476): Before the Christian churches are renovated and united, God will send the Eagle (Great Monarch) who will travel to Rome and bring much happiness and good. The Holy Man (Angelic Pastor?) will bring peace between the clergy and the Eagle and his reign will last for four years. (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 137)
Abbott Joachim (died 1202) … A remarkable Pope will be seated on the pontifical throne, under special protection of the angels. Holy and full of gentleness, he shall undo all wrong, he shall recover the states of the Church, and reunite the exiled temporal powers. As the only Pastor, he shall reunite the Eastern to the Western Church … This holy Pope shall be both pastor and reformer. Through him the East and West shall be in ever lasting concord. The city of Babylon shall then be the head and guide of the world. Rome, weakened in temporal power, shall forever preserve her spiritual dominion, and shall enjoy great peace … At the beginning, in order to bring these happy results, having need of a powerful assistance, this holy Pontiff will ask the cooperation of the generous monarch of France (Great Monarch). (Connor, pp. 31-32)
Venerable Bartholomew Holzhauser (died 1658): There will rise a valiant monarch anointed by God. He will be a Catholic, a descendant of Louis IX, (yet) a descendant of an ancient imperial German family, born in exile. He will rule supreme in temporal matters. The Pope will rule supreme in spiritual matters at the same time. … thereby giving peace to the world … By his victories on water and land he brought the Roman empire under subjection, which he then ruled in peace … The Great Monarch will have the special help of God and be unconquerable. (Connor, pp.35-36).
Understand that the Middle East was part of the ancient Roman Empire. Catholic writings point to that area being dominated by a leader, often called the Great Monarch, that sounds a lot like the biblical King of the North.
The Bible tells of reorganization coming to Europe (Revelation 17:12-13) and the rule by a European Beast dictator with religious endorsement (Revelation 13). It also tells of a compromised Church of Rome which will cooperate with the Beast dictator for a time (cf. Revelation 17:1-13).
The Pope is subtlety calling for that. And biblically, we know that this will happen. Likely within a decade or so (e.g. Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?).
Although Jesus taught that true peacemakers were blessed (Matthew 5:9), notice that the Bible shows that many do not know the way of peace:
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)13 "Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit";
"The poison of asps is under their lips";
14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."
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 3:13-18)5 Destruction comes;
They will seek peace, but there shall be none.
26 Disaster will come upon disaster,
And rumor will be upon rumor.
Then they will seek a vision from a prophet;
But the law will perish from the priest,
And counsel from the elders. (Ezekiel 7:25-26)
Notice that the Bible also warnings about some who improperly proclaim peace:
13 "Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
14 They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
Saying, 'Peace, peace!'
When there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time I punish them,
They shall be cast down," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 6:13-15)10 "Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace — and one builds a wall, and they plaster it with untempered mortar — 11 say to those who plaster it with untempered mortar, that it will fall. There will be flooding rain, and you, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall tear it down. 12 Surely, when the wall has fallen, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the mortar with which you plastered it?'"
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "I will cause a stormy wind to break forth in My fury; and there shall be a flooding rain in My anger, and great hailstones in fury to consume it. 14 So I will break down the wall you have plastered with untempered mortar, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be uncovered; it will fall, and you shall be consumed in the midst of it. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.
15 "Thus will I accomplish My wrath on the wall and on those who have plastered it with untempered mortar; and I will say to you, 'The wall is no more, nor those who plastered it, 16 that is, the prophets of Israel who prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and who see visions of peace for her when there is no peace,'" says the Lord God.
17 "Likewise, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; prophesy against them, (Ezekiel 13:10-17)
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. (1 Thessalonians 5:2-6)
Real Christians need to watch what is going on and understand. All, Christians and non-Christians, should be concerned about the type of 'peace' and unity that the World Council of Churches, the Vatican, and United Nations are really trying to push (see also United Nations: Humankind's Last Hope or New World Order?). It is NOT the type of arrangement that the Bible teaches will result in peace, but in war.
The Bible further warns that those engaged in idolatrous practices will falsely trust that they can bring peace::
16 (for you know that we dwelt in the land of Egypt and that we came through the nations which you passed by, 17 and you saw their abominations and their idols which were among them — wood and stone and silver and gold); 18 so that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood; 19 and so it may not happen, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall have peace, even though I follow the dictates of my heart' — as though the drunkard could be included with the sober. (Deuteronomy 29:16-19)
Humans, apart from God, will not be able to bring real peace.
Disaster and destruction will come to the Middle East before Jesus returns (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:2-8).
If the secular and Roman Catholic approaches discussed here will not work, do any of the Jews have any ideas?
Well, the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu believes that bombing places like Iran, and sometimes other lands like Gaza, is necessary for peace. While those type of actions can affect the world for a time, they also tend to drive many to become more radical in their determination to eliminate the State of Israel. I would add that the nuclear deal Iran has been involved in is not a deal for real peace and may well lead to conflict (see also Iran in Prophecy).
What about religious Jews? Well the Temple Institute has its own proposed solution:
ARE YOU READY?
Are you ready for the peace we all long for in the Middle East?
The Third Temple in Jerusalem will be the House of Prayer for all nations. Every prophet of Israel, without exception, prophesied that the Temple would be rebuilt, ushering a new era of universal harmony and peace. The “movement” to rebuild the Holy Temple was born almost 2,000 years ago, at the moment of the Second Temple’s Destruction.
After millennia of yearning, only one organization is paving the way for the rebuilding of the Temple. The Temple Institute, located in the Old City of Jerusalem, is a research organization dedicated to the preparing for the construction of the Third Temple, including the recreation of 60 sacred Temple vessels ready for use once the Temple is rebuilt. These include the High Priest’s breastplate featuring the twelve precious stones of the tribes of Israel, the half-ton golden menorah, and the musical instrument of the Levitical choir.
Now is time for one of its most ambitious projects yet: completing architectural plans for the actual construction, fusing ancient texts and modern technology. While strictly adhering to the religious requirements set forth in Biblical texts, the Third Temple will also be equipped with every modern amenity: full computerization, underground parking, temperature control, elevators, docks for public transportation, wheelchair access, and much more.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO WAIT AND PRAY FOR THE THIRD TEMPLE. IT IS A BIBLICAL OBLIGATION TO BUILD IT. https://www.templeinstitute.org/events.htm viewed 08/26/14
The ‘third temple’ that the Bible tells of does not get built until after Jesus returns. This does not mean that the Jews cannot possibly build another one prior to that, but it will NOT lead to peace in the Middle East (see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required? and The Red Heifer, Jewish Beliefs, and the End of the World).
Notice the following from the late David Jon Hill:
There will be no peace until King Christ personally rules all earth in His Kingdom soon to come.
Peace is ever elusive. Men speak peace and make war. Peace treaties are for the purpose of giving men time to gather strength for the next war -- and are of themselves all too often the very cause of the next war! We forget the prophet's stern warning to beware of those who say, "Peace, peace!" when there is no peace (Jer. 6:14; 8:11).
We forget the repeated maxim: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked" (Isa. 57:21). We forget that Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34).
We forget that one of the main signs that heralds the returning Christ is "wars and rumors of wars" (Matt. 24:6) -- which sign, if we look around today's world, we see fulfilled to its greatest extent in history! We forget the blood drenched prophecies of the book of Revelation which culminate in that horrible word "Armageddon" -- all of which must come to pass before the Prince brings peace to earth! Why do we have wars? The answer is given very plainly by James: "Isn't it because there is a whole army of evil desires within you? You want what you don't have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can't afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it. And even when you do ask you don't get it because your whole aim is wrong -- you want only what will give you pleasure" (James 4:1-3, The Living Bible).
As long as there is even one group of men left on earth who covets what some other group has, we will continue to have wars. When one person within a society exercises this lustful desire, it is called a crime; when one society exercises that desire against another society, it is called a "just war"! Just war -- that's all! ...
It is not a peaceful world -- and it will get increasingly less so with each passing year. But you can achieve peace as an individual, even in the midst of a war-torn world. Christ's peace is available now to all who seek it -- and will be available to all mankind when He comes to establish His Kingdom, after the many wars yet to come.
Please make your individual choice of peace on earth! Why not? (Hill DJ. WHY NOT? WHY NOT PEACE ON EARTH? Plain Truth, December 1978)
Individuals can make decisions now (see also Real Conversion).
Society will be fixed later, irrespective of what political leaders now decide.
Notice something the Bible teaches 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 world will get so bad, that despite proclamations of peace (1 Thessalonians 5:3), humanity will get close to the point of total annihilation:
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24:21-22)
But those days will be shortened. The time of no more war will also 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; see also The 'Peace Deal' of Daniel 9:27).
Humans, apart from God, do not know the way of peace. IT WILL TAKE THE RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST TO BRING REAL PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Thiel B. How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? http://www.cogwriter.com/middle-east-peace.htm COGwriter (c) 2014/2015/2016/2017/2019/2020 0815