Hamas-Israel ceasefire and Daniel 9:27

Symbol of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

Israel’s security cabinet has approved the ceasefire deal that US President Joe Biden announced on Wednesday:

17 January 2025

The high-level security cabinet voted Friday afternoon to approve the hostage release-ceasefire deal with Hamas in Gaza, and recommended that the government adopt it, the Prime Minister’s Office said. The full cabinet convened minutes before the start of Shabbat for a discussion and vote, with the meeting extending into the Jewish day of rest.

The full cabinet is expected to vote by a large majority to approve the deal, which was signed overnight in Qatar and is set to take effect on Sunday.

The recommendation by the forum of top ministers was made “after examining all diplomatic, security and humanitarian” aspects of the agreement, with the understanding that the deal “supports the achievement of the war’s goals,” the PMO said. https://www.timesofisrael.com/security-cabinet-approves-hostage-ceasefire-deal-full-cabinet-convenes-to-review-vote/

The full cabinet did approve it Friday in the USA, but Saturday in Israel:

January 17, 2025

Israel’s Cabinet approved a deal early Saturday for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks. The deal brings Israel and Hamas a step closer to ending their deadliest and most destructive fighting ever. https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-ceasefire-updates

The deal, officially, has three parts or phases. Here is what it calls for:

Phase 1

The first phase will halt fighting for 42 days with 33 Israeli hostages incrementally freed from captivity in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

There are 97 hostages – civilians and soldiers – in captivity, but only 60 are thought to be alive.

On the first day of cease-fire, now set for Sunday, Hamas will release three hostages, then another four on the seventh day.

After that, there will be weekly releases during the initial six-week period.

Israel will let 30 Palestinian women, children and elderly imprisoned go in exchange for every civilian hostage freed from Gaza.

For every female Israeli soldier released, the Jewish state will deliver 50 Palestinian prisoners, including 30 facing life sentences.

In exchange for bodies returned to Israel, all Palestinian women and children detained from Gaza by Israel since the war started on Oct. 7, 2023 will be released. …

Phase 2:

If Israel and Hamas reach a further agreement, all remaining hostages are supposed to be freed and in return Israel will completely withdraw from Gaza during this phase.

Reaching that next step could prove difficult, because Israel has said it won’t relent to a total withdrawal until the terror organization’s military and political power is wiped out.

Hamas has said it won’t release the last hostages until all Israeli troops leave. …

Phase 3:

The third – and final phase — would entail Hamas trading the bodies of the rest of the remaining hostages in Gaza in return for a 3- to 5-year rebuilding plan in the decimated Palestinian territory under international supervision. https://nypost.com/2025/01/15/world-news/israel-hamas-cease-fire-timeline-revealed-for-all-3-phases/

In his speech, which I heard on the radio, Joe Biden said that there were three parts of the deal and that third part was a permanent peace deal. Notice:

US President Joe Biden says the hostage release and ceasefire deal his administration helped broker between Israel and Hamas will bring about a “permanent end of the war” in Gaza at the conclusion of its second of three phases. 01/15/25 https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/biden-stresses-tonights-hostage-ceasefire-deal-will-bring-about-a-permanent-end-of-the-war/

That is overly optimistic. This deal will be violated. It is NOT permanent.

Donald Trump also took credit for the deal, and indeed many believe it was his influence that got both Israel and Hamas to agree (see https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2025/01/16/thoughts-on-the-ceasefire-deal/).

The Bible prophesies:

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?'” (Ezekiel 13:10-12)

Now, this deal will basically be positive for the released Israeli hostages and their families. As well as for many in Gaza.

However, many convicted Palestinians terrorists are to be released. The prophet Isaiah was inspired to warn the following:

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. … 11 Therefore the Lord shall … spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8, 11-12)

The Bible clearly is prophesying problems from some Syrians and some Palestinians. And this would be expected to include terrorism.

Notice also something else about the deal:

January 17, 2025

Without a complete analysis here and at this time, suffice it to say that the proposed deal has several major flaws: it does not create a permanent cease-fire, does not disarm Gaza, does not eliminate Hamas from Gaza, does not have terms for the release of ALL the 98 hostages, and has so many pitfalls that it could be violated at any stage in the first stage of 42 days during which 33 hostages, dead and alive, are slated to be released in exchange for thousands of Hamas terrorists. …

Before the deal has even begun to be implemented, the terms alone create national trauma. Releasing thousands of hardened terrorists to return to Gazan streets to perpetrate acts of terror that threaten all Israelis is creating pre-trauma. …

Some feel that any deal that Israel’s enemies agree to is a bad deal, because they will never stop trying to massacre innocent Jews and annihilate Israel. The thinking goes that if the terrorists think it’s a good deal, it’s bad for us. Indeed, Palestinian Arabs are celebrating their victory. https://israel365news.com/399530/the-trauma-of-the-hostage-deal-we-all-want/

Permanent peace will not come to the Middle East until AFTER Jesus returns. Pray for His return and the Kingdom of God to come (Matthew 6:10).

The Bible shows that the time will come when there will be a temporary ‘peace deal’ in the Middle East (see the article The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

But the Hamas-Israel ceasefire is NOT the prophesied one.

The Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal has so many problems that it is doubtful that the three phases will be implemented–and if so, expect changes.

Furthermore, the Bible also shows that a European leader–probably a German one–will be involved in confirming a coming prophesied deal of Daniel 9:26-27–this is NOT the current Hamas-Israel deal.

Let’s look at what Daniel 9:26-27 states:

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).

The “prince” is a European leader who is later called the King of the North in Daniel 11:40. 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). This break is also confirmed in the following scripture:

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” is the European King of the North.

One way to show Daniel is referring to a European kingdom is to realize 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. Jewish sources, while not understanding all of this, also agree that it was Roman sources that destroyed the city and sanctuary as the following demonstrates:

“The people of the prince will come and destroy the city and the Sanctuary” Daniel 9:26, refers to the Roman legions of Vespasian and Titus, who destroyed Jerusalem. (Daniel 9 – A True Biblical Interpretation. Jews for Judaism. https://jewsforjudaism.org/knowledge/articles/answers/jewish-polemics/texts/daniel-9-a-true-biblical-interpretation/ accessed 07/30/16)

In the 21st century, 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 of Daniel 9 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” of Revelation 13:1 fits with the beasts from the “great sea” of Daniel 7:2–and that sea is the Mediterranean Sea according to the Old Testament. Hence a power in Europe the only region that could have an empire geographically like the old Roman one (for more details, please see Europa, the Beast, and the Book of Revelation).

The deal of Daniel 9:27 is an important prophetic event. It is one that the late Dr. Meredith of the Living Church of God taught, but that its current leadership has distanced itself from.

That said, consider the following prophetic sequence based upon Daniel’s writings and Jesus’ words in the Gospels:

The beginning of sorrows (Matthew 24:4-8)–this has begun.
A seven year deal is confirmed/advanced and the final countdown begun– this has not happened yet, though various ones are working on it.
There will be persecutions against those the support the true end-time Philadelphia work –this will intensify.
The Gospel of the Kingdom will reach the world as a witness — this is in progress but not finished.
The sacrifices, which will have started, will stop and the abomination spoken of by Daniel will be set up (Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11). This is about 3 1/2 years after item 2.
The most faithful will flee (Revelation 12:14-16).
The Great Tribulation will begin and Jerusalem will be trampled down by Gentiles for 42 months.
Jesus will return 3 1/2 years after the Great Tribulation begins.
Jesus will bring peace (see How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About?).

Notice how many items are directly predicated on the seven-year deal of Daniel 9:27. Note: The sacrifices will have to start before they are stopped, but precisely where that appears in the sequence is unclear, other than it is after item 2 and prior to item 5.

Let me also add that the European Union has a Middle East “peace envoy” and it expects to be involved in a peace deal (see https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-751872).

Although the fighting between Hamas and Israel is NOT permanently over, with various ones wanting some part of Middle East peace deal, Europeans wanting to be involved, a deal will later happen.

World events are aligning with properly understood biblical prophecies.

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?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God This free online pdf booklet has answers many questions people have about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and explains why it is the solution to the issues the world is facing. It is available in hundreds of languages at ccog.org. Here are links to four kingdom-related sermons: The Fantastic Gospel of the Kingdom of God!, The World’s False Gospel, The Gospel of the Kingdom: From the New and Old Testaments, and The Kingdom of God is the Solution.
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.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem? There are also two related YouTube videos you can watch: Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated and God’s and Satan’s Plan for Jerusalem.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.