Vatican wants peace deal involving Jerusalem

Jerusalem

A few weeks ago, Jordan called for the Europeans to be part of a Middle East peace deal (see Jordan Wants Europeans as Part of Peace Plan). This morning, Zenit.org (a pro-Vatican news agency) reported the following:

Holy See: Palestinian-Israeli Conflict Needs a Solution…

NEW YORK, NOV. 4, 2010 (Zenit.org).- A solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a vital part of finding solutions to the numerous problems that bring “chaos” to the entire Middle East, many of which have serious ramifications around the world, says the Holy See.

Archbishop Francis Chullikatt, permanent observer of the Holy See at the United Nations, stated this Tuesday…

Jerusalem, a city for all

The Holy See, he added, “further underlines that a lasting solution must include the status of the Holy City of Jerusalem.”

“In light of the numerous incidents of violence and challenges to free movement posed by the Security Wall,” the archbishop said the Holy See renews its support for “internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities.” http://www.zenit.org/article-30840?l=english

The Archbishop also called for the Palestinians to have more “”governing authority”.

Now, what appears to be a temporary peace deal is discussed in the Bible, but the same passage warns that it will be broken in the middle:

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,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.
(Daniel 9:26b-27)

(A detailed explanation of this passage in Daniel is found in the article Can the Great Tribulation Begin in 2010, 2011, or 2012?)

The Bible warns that Jerusalem would become a problem for those involved with it at certain times:

2 “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. 3 And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it. (Zechariah 12:2-3)

The Hebrew scriptures also warn:

22 Behold, the noise of the report has come, And a great commotion out of the north country, To make the cities of Judah desolate, a den of jackals. (Jeremiah 10:22)

6 Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem
You have sold to the Greeks, That you may remove them far from their borders. (Joel 3:6)

Notice that Jeremiah wrote that a “great commotion” is to come “out of the north country”–this seems to be a reference to the empire that is now forming in Europe. Joel’s writing about the idea of selling to “the Greeks” is interesting because not only are the Greeks part of the European Union, but also the Judaic nation of Israel currently does a lot of trading/selling with the nation of Greece.

In the New Testament, Jesus taught:

20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. (Luke 21:20)

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. (Matthew 24:15-17)

Yet, the reality is that the coming European power will, in fact, be a major player in this act to surround Jerusalem with armies. Daniel wrote:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

The “him” above is the final King of the North as is so identified as such a few verse down in Daniel 11:40. It is believed by many biblical scholars that when Jesus was referring to Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, He was referring to the same incident that Daniel wrote about above. The abomination will likely be something associated with the final Antichrist.

Certain Catholic prophecies themselves teach that a leader, often called the Great Monarch (or King), will go to Jerusalem essentially at the beginning and end of his reign:

Brother Louis Rocco (19th century): Terrible wars will rage all over Europe. God has long been patient with the corruption of morals; half of mankind He will destroy. Russia will witness many outrages. Great cities and small towns alike will be destroyed in a bloody revolution that will cause the death of half the population. In Istanbul (Constantinople) the Cross will replace the half-moon of Islamism, and Jerusalem will be the seat of a King. The southern Slavs will form a great Catholic Empire and drive out of Europe the Turks (Mohammedans), who will withdraw to North Africa and subsequently embrace the Catholic faith. (Dupont Y. Catholic Prophecy, p.76)

Monk Adso (died 992): Some of our Teachers say that a King of the Franks will possess the entire Roman Empire. This King will be the greatest and the last of all Monarchs, and after having prosperously governed his kingdom, he will come in the end to Jerusalem and he will lay down his sceptre and his crown upon the Mount of Olives and immediately afterwards, Anti-Christ will come. (Culleton, The Prophets and Our Times, p. 137)

The Great Monarch/King seems to be same person that the Bible describes as the final King of the North.

We in the Living Church of God have long taught that Jerusalem would be divided and that the Vatican would likely, for a time, maintain a stronger physical presence in Jerusalem, with perhaps the pope/antipope moving there for a short time. Here is an interesting Catholic prophecy that seems relate to that:

Priest E. Sylvester Berry (published 1920): The two horns denote a twofold authority – spiritual and temporal. As indicated by the resemblance to a lamb, the prophet will probably set himself up in Rome as a sort of anti-pope…Antichrist will establish himself in Jerusalem…with his ‘lying wonders’… (Berry ES. The Apocalypse of St. John, 1920. Quoted in Culleton RG. The Reign of Antichrist. Reprint 1974, TAN Books, Rockford (IL), pp. 199-200).

With the Vatican increasingly making comments about Israel, Jerusalem, and the wanting Jerusalem to be a city with “internationally guaranteed provisions to ensure the freedom of religion and conscience of its inhabitants, as well as permanent, free and unhindered access to the Holy Places by the faithful of all religions and nationalities”, this suggests that it hopes to work with everyone it can in the Middle East to obtain the objective of it having a stronger presence in Jerusalem.

This looks like it will come to pass.

Some articles possibly related interest may include:

Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet”. Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist?Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?