Hamas and Israel have a temporary cease fire–a prelude of Daniel 9:27?

Symbol of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

What is supposed to be a four-day cease fire between Hamas and Israel reportedly has begun:

November 24, 2023

A four-day truce between Israel and Hamas went into effect at 7 a.m., local time (0500 GMT), expected to be followed by the release of dozens of Hamas-held hostages and 150 Palestinians held by Israel.

The truce includes a comprehensive cease-fire in north and south Gaza, spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari told journalists in Doha earlier.

According to the deal, 50 women and children who were abducted from Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 will be released in exchange for 150 Palestinian women and minors jailed in Israel.

Thirteen hostages will be released from Gaza on Friday, and additional groups of hostages will be released each day of the cease-fire until 50 are freed.

“We all hope that this truce will lead to a chance to start a wider work to achieve a permanent truce,” Al-Ansari said.

At the request of the Israeli government, child abuse experts from Jerusalem’s Haruv Institute have developed guidelines on how Israeli soldiers should handle the minors once they are released from Gaza. …

Israel said the four-day stop in fighting would be extended an extra day for every 10 additional hostages freed by Hamas. The Qatari spokesperson said Doha hopes to broker another agreement to release more hostages from Gaza by the truce’s fourth day. The International Committee of the Red Cross said it could assist with any release. …

Israel and Hamas have both said they will return to fighting once the truce concludes.

The spokesperson of Hamas’ armed wing on Thursday called for the escalation of hostilities with Israel.

“We call for escalation of the confrontation with the occupation throughout the West Bank and all resistance fronts,” Abu Ubaida, the spokesperson of the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, said in a speech aired by Al Jazeera TV. https://www.voanews.com/a/israel-hamas-truce-release-of-hostages-and-prisoners-starts-friday-/7368391.html

Many, including the families who Hamas is holding as hostages, hope this cease-fire will be extended.

We will see.

Five years ago, a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas was in the works:

November 4, 2018

On Saturday, a Hamas-affiliated media released a draft of what they claim is a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. If such an agreement is signed, it could theoretically end the hostilities on Israel’s southern border.

On Saturday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Sharm el-Sheikh as part of Egypt’s efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. …

I{f} signed by both sides, the agreement will be binding for three years. The ceasefire was also reported by Palestinian news, Al Quds, which described the agreement as an exchange of “quiet-for-quiet” and “staged incentives.”

Though Hamas ousted the Palestinian Authority in 2007 and rules in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority is included in the deal. Hadashot news analyst Ehud Yaari explained.

“Sissi is pressuring [Abbas] to back the plan for calm by agreeing to pay salaries and to take the responsibility for Qatar passing funds to Hamas leaders in the Strip,” Yaari said. https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/116368/text-of-alleged-ten-point-hamas-israel-ceasefire/

The Hamas-affiliated Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar published Saturday an initial draft of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, including ten provisions, with every provision constituting a condition for the next one.

The clauses of the draft are as follows:

1. Hamas will restrain the riots along the Gaza border fence, punishing protesters violating the terror organization’s orders.

2. Cessation of Monday’s weekly demonstrations—including the flotillas embarking from Gaza towards the strip’s naval border with Israel—in northern Gaza near Kibbutz Zikim.

3. The continuation of the “March of Return” campaign in its non-violent manner form until the end of the year.

4. Egypt will work to lift 70 percent of the siege imposed on Gaza until the complete termination of the riots.

5. Gaza’s fishing zone will increase up to 14 nautical miles.

6. The strip’s crossings will open permanently, and 5,000 Gazans under the age of 40 will be granted work permits allowing them to be employed in Israel. …

7. Egypt will work to implement the prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel, on which currently negotiations talks are not being held.

8. A calm of at least three years on the Gaza border under international supervision under the auspices of the United Nations and Russia.

9. A permanent opening of the Rafah crossing and additional crossings for transferring goods into Gaza in order to support the strip’s power station and infrastructures.

10. Launching projects meant to provide 30,000 work places for universities graduates in Gaza.

The draft is yet to be finalized, since both sides are still holding negotiations talks.

It is the 8th point that caught my attention for two reasons back then and for two reasons now.

First, it is a timed deal–a deal with a time limit. Hamas and the Palestinians do not wish to permanently give up the rights to go for what they want. This is consistent with the deal of Daniel 9:27, which we will get to later in this post. Hamas had actually proposed an 8 year deal back in 2015 (see Hamas allegedly ready to sign 8-year peace deal, but Israel denies discussion in progress).

Second, that deal involved the United Nations and Russia. In other words, an international ‘peace keeping’ (or in this case ‘peace monitoring’) force looks to be involved. That brings to mind the following words of Jesus:

20 But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-22)

While the 2018 proposed ceasefire put forces on the Gaza border, it is not much of a stretch to realize that a deal in the future involving Jerusalem would put armies there.

Therefore, because it involves a time limit and outside forces, the Hamas plan now and back in 2018 looks to be a possible precedent for what will happen according to Jesus and Daniel.

Now to Daniel 9:

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 9:26-27).

This prophecy in Daniel is a referring to a timed deal–a deal with a time limit. The ‘one week’ has generally been understood by prophecy watchers to mean a seven year deal, that is broken in the middle of it (after 3 1/2 years).

The deal is confirmed by one called a “prince” in Daniel 9:26. This “prince” is pointing to a leader of the developing European empire who is called the King of the North in Daniel 11:40 (see King of the North and Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

There are several reasons that this is a reference to a European leader. One is that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed the city (Jerusalem) in 70 A.D. The European Union includes much of the land and peoples that were part of the ancient Roman Empire. And it is the “prince” coming from that people that verse 27 is referring to. Thus, this prophecy tells us that a lower level European leader will somewhat officially start to rise up about 3 1/2 years before the Great Tribulation (and yes, according to Jesus, some “tribulation” does happen prior to the start of the Great Tribulation). Another is the fact that the “beast of the sea” (Revelation 13:1) fits with the beasts from the “great sea” (Daniel 7:2)–and that is the Mediterranean Sea according to the Old Testament–hence this is an empire like the old Roman one (for more details, please see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

While the USA is likely to be involved in the peace deal, years ago the Palestinians rejected US President Donald Trump’s ‘deal of the century’ as worthless (see Palestinians consider Donald Trump’s peace ‘deal of the century’ worthless).

Why is Daniel 9:27 believed to be a type of ‘peace deal’?

Consider other scriptures in Daniel that discuss this leader:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

We see that this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace” and is involved in some type of deal. The word translated as “peace” in Daniel 8:25 is from the Hebrew term shalvah and essentially means security. In other words, this leader will destroy “many” who are under the impression that they are secure because of some type of security and/or trade arrangement. Such arrangements are now commonly referred to as peace deals or treaties. But as the prophesied one has not been confirmed, at least not publicly, the Great Tribulation would seem to be at least 3 1/2 years away. Verse 24 of the 8th chapter of Daniel also shows that this leader will somehow also be accumulating wealth. Perhaps to back up a European supported currency, he may end up with personal and/or national gold reserves and/or wealth from the Vatican. The Vatican has a vast amount of wealth and is prophesied to be improperly involved with the kings of the earth in the end times per Revelation 17. A pope will probably endorse/encourage the deal (cf. Revelation 13:11-17). This ‘prince’ of Daniel 9:27 is not representing Russia as Russia is NOT the King of the North of biblical prophecy.

Although Jesus said that the ‘peacemakers’ are blessed (Matthew 5:9), He also warned about those who act like sheep/lambs that are truly dangerous:

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)

People will be misled about the deal and will tend to believe it is good (1 Thessalonians 5:3; cf. Ezekiel 13:10-14). USA political leaders have long endorsed proposals for peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis that could be modified and perhaps temporarily adopted. Destruction of the USA will happen about three and 1/2 years after the deal is confirmed by the European leader (cf. Daniel 9:27, 11:31-39).

Notice something that the Apostle Paul wrote about:

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. (1 Thessalonians 5:3-4)

Many will NOT understand, but will be deceived about the temporal peace that will come.

Based upon what the Bible teaches about the seven churches of Revelation 2 & 3, it is my position that the seven-year component of the deal in Daniel 9:27 will not be clear enough to Catholics, Protestants, nor most who claim to be in the Church of God for them to realize this is the deal. Just like they do not consider certain prophetic matters clear enough (e.g. How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God), the vast majority will not truly understand the prophetic implications when the related deal is made.

I also should add that there are biblical reasons to believe that the Vatican will be involved in the peace deal and items that happen prophetically thereafter. The Vatican wants more access to certain sites in Jerusalem (such as Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill) and wants to establish itself as an intermediary between more nations and has taken some steps related to this. When it did not get that a few years ago, the Vatican more officially ‘recognized’ the ‘state’ of Palestine (see Vatican recognizes Palestinian state).

Despite current Palestinian and Israeli attitudes, a temporal peace deal will come in that region of the world.

Hamas is part of one now. It is not the prophesied one at this time, but the deal of Daniel 9:27 will happen.

Yet, real lasting peace will not occur until the establishment of the true Kingdom of God (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3, Revelation 21). Until then, the Bible warns of times of temporary (Daniel 9:27) and false declarations of peace (e.g. 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Ezekiel 13:10-14).

Christians need to watch and pray (Luke 21:36) and not be deceived like the world will be (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).

A timed peace deal in the Middle East is something to watch for.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

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.
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?
Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill Could this building, often referred to as the Cenacle, which is located on a Mount Zion, possibly have been the oldest actual Christian church building?
Does the ‘Cenacle’ deal have prophetic ramifications? After a 20 year negotiation, the Church of Rome has negotiated the right to have Catholic mass in the building known as the Cenacle. It is in the area where the Church of God on Jerusalem’s Western Hill once stood. This is believed to be the location of the earliest Christian church building. How does the Bible define the ‘temple of God’ in the New Testament? Could this be the area where the ‘man of sin’ will sit in the “temple of God’ that Bible prophecy discusses in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4? This is a YouTube video.
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 two related videos: Gaza and Bible Prophecy and Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? Two related videos include UN’s ‘New Universal Agenda’ is a False Gospel! and United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.