Friday, April 30, 2010

Confirming the Covenant

We know from Daniel 9:27 that the antichrist will make himself known (to the biblical-prophecy reader anyway) by confirming the covenant between Israel and "the many", presumably Israel's surrounding enemies. To "confirm", could mean to strengthen an existing covenant or it could also refer to a mandatory covenant being forced upon Israel. In either case, I have felt for years, that the confirmation process of this scripture will involve sending in "peace-keeping troops" to Israel, most likely under the direction of the EU/Med Union (aka "revived Roman Empire").

Recently, over the past several months, one of these scenarios appears to be gaining momentum, and certainly the rhetoric on the topic has increased. This topic involves the issue of creating a mandate for a "Palestinian State", without Israel's agreement.

Just this idea alone seems preposterous in its premise. Just try and imagine, for instance, a UN mandate that New Mexico and Arizona will be given back to Mexico - and having international "peace-keeping" troops sent to those areas to ensure the states buckle under to the mandate. Its unthinkable, yet this idea is gaining significant momentum in the world.

This concept could very well be the "confirming" process that we see in Daniel 9:27.

Current news seems to support the fact that we are inching closer and closer to such a mandate imposed upon Israel:


"Jerusalem fears PA may ask UN to recognize state on 1967 lines"


While Israel and the Palestinian Authority are finally expected to begin US-mediated indirect “proximity” talks in the very near future, concern is growing among some in the Israeli government that the PA is planning to marginalize the diplomatic process and instead unilaterally seek UN recognition for a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines.

There is a rising conviction among some in the Netanyahu government, The Jerusalem Post has learned, that the PA is aiming to secure a new UN Security Council Resolution, updating 1967’s Resolution 242, providing for the establishment of Palestine and fudging the refugee issue.

The idea of such a move, runs the bleak assessment, would be to establish a state not at peace with Israel, but rather to continue the conflict with Israel.

Within the Netanyahu government, the Post understands, there is a growing awareness of the rising level of international support for Palestinian statehood, and of the reduced international empathy for Israeli concerns and reservations.

The fact that the PA refused to resume direct talks with Israel after Netanyahu took office last year, and sought to impose preconditions that contributed to the repeated postponement of even the indirect “proximity” talks, has reinforced the sense of many senior figures in the Netanyahu government that the PA is not urgently seeking progress via the negotiating process, and instead intends to take the UN route.


We also see more of the same in the following article:


"Israeli officials: Obama to call world summit if Mideast peace talks fail"


U.S. President Barack Obama has told several European leaders that if Israeli-Palestinian talks remain stalemated into September or October, he will convene an international summit on achieving Mideast peace, senior Israeli officials told Haaretz on Thursday.

The officials said the conference would be run by the Quartet of Middle East peacemakers - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia - in a bid to forge a united global front for creating a Palestinian state. The summit, they said, would address such core issues as borders, security arrangements, Palestinian refugees and the status of Jerusalem.


Obama is determined to exert his influence to establish a Palestinian state, the officials said, and several European leaders have vowed that the EU would support any peace plan proposed by Washington. Therefore, though so-called proximity talks are set to start in the coming weeks, Obama is already readying for the possibility that the indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks might reach a dead end.


"We want our state to be declared under an international agreement," Abbas told the agency while visiting the Jordanian capital of Amman Thursday. "If this could not happen, the Arabs will go to the UN Security Council to get recognition of Palestinian statehood."



At the same time, while we see the wheels in motion which would impose a "Palestinian State" against the will of Israel - we see more threats against Israel (an "interesting" way to attempt "peace"):

"Syrian-Turkish Joint Army drill intensifies Threat to Israel"


Syria is tightening its military alliance with Turkey as it reinforces its recent threat to send Israel back to “the Stone Age” if it attacks Hizbullah. Syrian President Bashar Assad told a Kuwaiti newspaper on Saturday it has “surprises" in store for Israel.

Turkish military officials said that its soldiers began joint military exercises with Syria on Monday, the second time in a year. The army maneuvers are another sign of closer ties between Damascus and Ankara, which was considered to be a friend of Israel until last year, when it fell in line with most of the Arab world’s anti-Israel campaign.

Turkey also has established closer ties with Iran, and an Iranian-Turkish-Syrian-Lebanese axis would pose a monolithic threat to Israel from the north.

Syrian sources told the Kuwaiti daily Al-Rai that if Israel were to attack the Lebanon-based Hizbullah terrorist army, Syria would impose a naval blockade on Israel, using ground-to-sea missiles.



Right on schedule, everything is falling into place. We inch closer and closer to the covenant from Daniel 9:27. We see the region destabilized by the build-up to war and the rhetoric which seems to become more and more inflammatory by the day. We watch as the "nations" attempt to divide Israel and Jerusalem - two actions strictly forbidden by God Himself, yet the world blindly rushes in to control the region, while lustfully ignoring God's strong warnings against such actions.

It is all happening for a reason - it had to. God's prophecy is 100% and it tells us where this is all heading. Events are lining up perfectly for the world to witness the complete destruction of Damascus, as revealed in Isaiah 17, the epic battle of Gog-MaGog from Ezekiel 38-39, and then, of course, the beginning of Tribulation, once the covenant is confirmed.

It all seems so close. But God is in complete control, and the events will roll out exactly according to plan. Our job is to watch, and to warn others of this approaching storm. Time is growing short, but there is still an opportunity to reach our family and friends before it is too late.

At the same time, we can "look up" and anticipate what is in store for us:

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28)

and, of course, this scenario comes into play - a scenario referred to as the Rapture of the Church - a scenario which tells us that we will not be here to experience the Tribulation:

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thess. 5:9)

"Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to test those who live on earth" (Revelation 3:10)

"...and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath" (1 Thess. 1:10)


Maranatha! He is coming soon!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Scott,
I am relatively new to watching for prophetic events. I am very appreciative of your ability to assemble and simplify these events as they unfold. This makes it easier to encourage other believers in these last days, especially in regards to reaching out to nonbelievers and those who are lackadaisical in their walks. -- a question that I have is how do we prepare for our nonbelieving loved ones who might go through the tribulation?
Thank you!
--Sharon

Scott said...

Sharon
Thats a very good question, one that many of us have pondered....

I have given copies of my book to all of my unsaved friends (in fact, part of the reason I wrote it was for that purpose) and my feeling is, at least they will have been warned and at least they'll have a guide as to what is going on...

The problem is, it takes a while (in any conversation) to get into this and to a skeptic, its hard to make the case in a few minutes. When I preach on this, I always have to spend at least 10 -15 minutes just "setting the stage" for the discussion./..Thats hard to do in a 'normal conversation'....

Many times however, it can come up from a "trigger" via the news (Tsunami, earthquakes, warfare, etc) - perhaps the next time something "big" happens, it can be an opportunity.

For me, also - it seems that everybody that is around me knows that I am "into" prophecy so that opens a lot of doors, because people frequently will come by and ask questions, and those questions open the doors to discussing Christ.

Its not easy Sharon, and I find that the closer we get to the very end, the more resistant people are to the TRUTH. (a strange paradox).

This probably isn't helping a whole lot and I apologize. Its difficult. Perhaps someone else has some suggestions. Its probably easier for me, because of the above reasons ---

Maybe a simple request (to your friends) that they hit some websites? (Thomas Ice collection comes to mind, the Rapture Ready web site, etc.) - maybe if someone had the time and interest they could hit some of the better websites (?).

I'll give this some more thought - sorry I don't have better answers.

God Bless and thanks for stopping by!

Scott