In the news

Several news articles are circulating this week, which are interesting from a prophetic perspective:


"Barack Obama hints at tougher line on Israel"

"Obama engineering 'most serious crisis in 61 years'"

"Lieberman Gives Iran Three Months - Or Else"


Highlights from these articles:

- Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman told Italian Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi that Iran should be given three months to respond to diplomacy regarding their nuclear ambitions, and afterwards take "concrete steps" against Iran.

- Described as "blackmailing techniques" - the U.S. administration appears to be offering help with the Iran situation only if Israel agrees to a "two-state" solution and complies with U.S. plans for the Middle-East, regardless of how destructive these plans are for Israel. In the "crisis" article above, an interesting quote is found: "In other words, the new America's message to Israel is: Resist our will, and we'll allow Tehran to continue its quest for an atomic bomb to fire at you."

- Obama's National Security Advisor, James Jones, advised a European foreign minister that "unlike the Bush administration, Obama will be forceful with Israel. The new administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question."

Overall, it appears that the U.S. feels that Israel needs our assistance in dealing with Iran's nukes. Subsequent to this, the U.S, will demand that Israel agree to the U.S. administration's plans for the region, including Israel giving up an enormous amount of land, and land that is critical from a military perspective. Additionally, the U.S. will demand that Jerusalem becomes divided, under UN control.

The significance of these potential peace talks and progress in the Middle-East is quite simple.

First - the bible tells us that there will be no real peace in the Middle-East until Jesus returns and sets up his 1,000 year reign on earth. There will be a brief period of false peace as "confirmed" by the anti-christ (Danial 9:27). The problem with the peace plan, as confirmed by the anti-christ, is the following scripture, where Paul discussed the beginnings of the Tribulation (also referenced in Daniel 9:27) in 1 Thessalonians 5:

"...for you know very well that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When people are saying, 'Peace and safety', destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman."

The antichrist will appear to have finally created peace in the Middle-East, and that will lead to global cries of "peace and safety"....However, as detailed in the book of Revelation, this false peace will quickly end in "destruction" coming on them "suddenly".

Second - We watch the progress of a peace plan in the Middle-East, because we know that ultimately, only the anti-christ will step forward with a definitive plan which "confirms" peace in the region. According to bible prophecy, the Church will have been removed prior to this event (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:4-9, Revelation 3:10, etc). Therefore, the closer we are to a peace plan in the region, the closer we are to completion of the prophecies given which describe the "catching up" or "gathering up" of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 15).

Third - if the U.S. continues along its path of demanding that Israel give up more and more land, in effect, weaking Israel and making their very survival tenuous, then I believe we are in significant danger of encountering the scriptural warning given directly by God in Genesis 12:3.

Things are moving rapidly right now. As previously mentioned, there is a flurry of diplomatic activity scheduled for the month of May. The Obama administration has now seemingly placed Middle-East peace discussions at the forefront of their agenda.

Even if misdirected, ultimately, thats good for the body of believers.

Jesus will come for His Bride. Its a promise.