A few headlines from this past week.
Savaging
Trump plan, Abbas says Palestinians cutting all ties with Israel, US. Times
of Israel
Iran
President: Trump’s Peace Deal Is the Most Despicable Plan of the Century. Jerusalem
Online
Turkey’s
President Erdogan Lashes Out at Gulf States for ‘Betraying’ Palestinians. Algemeiner/Reuters
Arab League rejects Trump's Middle East plan. Aljazeera
Would you believe this is good news?
“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 NKJV
I am sure many like me who watch the
events unfolding in the Middle East often wonder at some of the personalities
involved in the “peace process” and form the opinion that it certainly appears
that this may be something which will never be accomplished. If that thought has ever crossed your mind,
let me be the first to congratulate you.
You see, in my opinion you are exactly right; it never will. Now many might read those words and counter
with the statement that the antichrist does indeed bring peace between Israel
and its enemies, but as to that thought, I think it important that we examine
this passage from Daniel a little closer.
Many of you are probably familiar
with Chuck Missler, a wonderful Bible teacher and founder of Koinonia
House. I have been fortunate enough to
not only study many of his teachings, but to visit KHouse to hear him teach. Over time, there are two things he has said
which have had an enormous effect on how I approach my study of the scripture
and I would like to share those with you today.
The first is, “if you torture the
data long enough, you can get it to confess to anything.” The second is, “we should not only be aware of what the Bible says, but of what it
doesn’t say as well.” It is with
those two principles in mind that I will attempt to explain my thoughts on
peace in the Middle East, and this passage from Daniel.
Since taking office, President Trump
has made peace in the Middle East a priority for his administration. Relations with Israel are as good if not
better than they have ever been, and Jerusalem has finally been officially
recognized as the capital of Israel by our government. Then this past week we finally saw revealed
the framework for a peace agreement that has been promised for quite some time
and highly anticipated. Unfortunately,
as most have come to expect by now, the Palestinian leadership as well as a few
other of Israel’s enemies have totally rejected it. This has led our government to take the
position that it seems apparent to all that the Palestinian Authority has no
interest in peace, and is not a viable partner in any discussions to end this
stalemate.
As this relates to the passage from
Daniel, I want to point out a few things which I believe we all need to be
aware of. Many have taught, and many
think that the coming antichrist signs a peace agreement between Israel and its
enemies. While that position has often
been inferred from verse 27, it certainly is not what it says. What it does say is, “he
shall confirm a covenant with many”.
“He” refers to the coming world leader also known as the
antichrist. “Shall confirm” is the
Hebrew word “gabar” which literally
means “to enforce”. “A
covenant” is the Hebrew word “bĕriyth”
which is used over one hundred times in the Old Testament to refer to an
agreement between either men, or between God and man. The phrase, “with many” is the word “rab” which means “a great many, multitude”, and in the context of this passage is
used as an idiom referring to the nation of Israel.
Understanding that the text tells us
this covenant will be enforced, many scholars and teachers have come to believe
it is not a new agreement, but rather an existing one, and as God has an
“everlasting covenant” with the nation of Israel concerning the land, many
believe this verse is telling us that the antichrist will enforce an agreement
giving Israel the permanent borders it has never had since being regathered as
a nation. I believe this makes perfect
sense considering permanent borders has been the sticking point between Israel
and its enemies since 1948.
This is from Chuck Missler’s
teaching on Daniel; “This "70th
Week" of this prophecy is defined by the duration of time - seven years -
during which this coming world leader commits to confirming (or enforcing) a
covenant. (He doesn't necessarily "sign a treaty"; he may simply
enforce what is commonly called the Palestinian Covenant: Israel's right to the
land.)”
Yet probably the most important
point here is that this verse tells us that this covenant with Israel is
enforced, rather than agreed to. If we
understand that a covenant, as defined in the Bible, is an agreement between
two parties, then it follows that Israel finds the terms of this covenant
acceptable. Taking that into
consideration, it also follows then that this covenant is not “enforced” upon Israel, but rather on
its enemies. Using the power he
possesses, the antichrist will force Israel’s enemies to accept the fact that
Israel will be allowed to exist and live in peace within borders that are
designated by the covenant.
Unfortunately, as we all know, this passage also tells us this
enforcement will only last for three and a half years out of the seven before
the antichrist stops the sacrifice and worship in the temple and declares
himself to be God.
I believe if we look carefully at
the relationship that Israel has with its enemies at the present time, this
narrative certainly seems to make sense.
There is no real desire for any type of peace with the nation of Israel
by those who would do her harm, rather it would appear that Israel is alone in
truly wanting peace. They are more than
prepared to accept an agreement which would guarantee their right to live
within established borders while the surrounding countries would most certainly
have to be forced to accept it. So while
many might be exasperated by the intransigence of the Palestinian Authority, and
the outright hatred by a few of their neighbors, I believe it to be a sign that
the end as described by Daniel is most certainly near.
Every week we are treated to more
and more signs that our deliverance is close at hand. If you have never made the decision to accept
the gift of eternal life offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
I urge you to do it today. Simply tell
God you accept His Son Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and turn your life
over to His control. Never forget today
might be the day, and tomorrow might be too late.
Keep watching.
I thought today I would also share
something with you that I found this past week which not only encouraged me,
but also made me smile. I have shared
before the saying, “coincidence isn’t
kosher”, which I have heard more than once in my studies over the
years. Well, this past week one of the
devotionals I read on a daily basis was about Enoch, and the fact that he was
of the seventh generation from Adam when he was raptured. As I thought about that, I recalled talking
to you a few weeks ago about the length of a generation being 70-80 years as we
are told by God. Considering many of us
in the body believe the rapture is imminent, and we are the generation that
will experience the rapture, I wondered if looking back from this point 7
generations would produce anything of signifigance. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that we
are the seventh generation from when Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five thesis
to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenburg Germany in 1517 starting the
period we now know as the Great Reformation.
Probably just coincidence.
