The Abraham Accords are a series of agreements intended to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighboring Arab and Islamic countries. Because Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all trace (or claim to trace) part of their religious heritage to Abraham, the Accords seek to encourage nations shaped by these traditions to pursue shared interests despite their political and religious differences. The hope for regional unity on diplomatic grounds may be politically pragmatic. However, it proceeds without regard for God’s purposes, promises, and prophetic plans for Israel as presented in Scripture.
For the past several years, the Abraham Accords have been a recurring subject popping up in the news cycles, especially as significant events occur in the Middle East. They have remained an important piece of U.S. diplomacy in the Middle East under the Trump administration, given their intent as a vehicle for stabilizing relations between historically hostile Arab states and the nation of Israel. While not a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Abraham Accords provide a framework upon which future expansion and political momentum can be built with the ambition of bringing peace and stability in a region plagued by conflict.
Let’s start with the first question. The Abraham Accords’ goal of “normalizing” relations among participating countries means that these countries agree to treat each other as ordinary, peaceful states rather than adversaries. In doing so, it opens the door to diplomatic relations such as exchanging ambassadors and establishing embassies or consulates in each other’s capital. Commercial flights begin, trade expands, investments increase, and new business partnerships become possible. With these, collaboration in additional areas like culture and education eventually follows. The most important takeaway from all of this is that each of the participating nations acknowledge one another as actual, legitimate states. This has profound implications for Israel.
Since Israel’s rebirth in 1948, most Islamic countries have rejected Israel’s legitimacy and denounced its existence, referring to Israel’s statehood as “illegitimate,” its people as “occupiers,” and those who support them as “Zionists.” Many wars and skirmishes have been fought amongst these nations, beginning the day that Israel declared its independence. Among these conflicts, none have been fiercer than the battle over Gaza and Judea and Samaria (the so-called “West Bank”), commonly referred to by many as “Palestine.”
That brings us to the second question: Why should Christians pay attention to these agreements? For believers who take biblical prophecy seriously, the answer has less to do with diplomacy and more to do with Israel’s unique place in God’s prophetic program. The Bible predicts several things related to Israel as a whole and the city of Jerusalem, in particular.
One of the most significant prophetic events concerning Israel is described in Ezekiel 38. There, Gog of Magog, believed by many to be Russia, leads a coalition of nations, including Persia (modern-day Iran), Cush (Ethiopia), Put (Libya), and others believed correspond to modern Turkey, in an attack against Israel. Before this invasion occurs, Israel is described as dwelling securely in a land of “unwalled villages” (Eze. 38:11). Could it be that the reason Israel will be dwelling safely in the land is due to its formal recognition and friendly relations with neighboring countries which will join the Abraham Accords?
Zechariah also foretells a future in which Jerusalem becomes the focal point of international attention. The surrounding nations will eventually pursue control of the city with such determination that Scripture compares them to drunken men staggering toward their objective. Ultimately, all nations will gather against Jerusalem.
In light of the Abraham Accords, these prophecies begin to look quite relevant to the days in which we live. Several countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and most significantly, Saudi Arabia, are viewed as potential candidates for normalization with Israel. As the birthplace of Islam, home to Mecca and Medina, and one of the Arab world’s most influential political and economic powers, Saudi Arabia occupies a unique position.
If it were to join the Abraham Accords, the implications would be enormous. But Saudi Arabia has repeatedly exercised caution in joining the Accords, viewing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as an obstacle to joining, and requiring progress towards Palestinian statehood as a precondition. This is the same precondition desired by other countries.
The push for a “two-state solution” where Palestinian statehood is achieved represents the division of the land promised by God to Israel and would align with the prophetic warnings written about by Joel. If Joel’s prophecy refers to a future division of the land God promised Israel, then the modern push for a two-state solution deserves careful consideration.
When viewed alongside Ezekiel’s description of Israel dwelling securely and Zechariah’s prophecy concerning Jerusalem, it appears that efforts to establish coexisting Israeli and Palestinian states may succeed…for a time. If that happens, the Abraham Accords may well provide the diplomatic framework that makes peace and security possible.
While the desire for stability and peace in the Middle East is an admirable goal, Scripture indicates that any peace ultimately achieved will be temporary. Ezekiel describes God intervening dramatically to destroy the invading coalition of nations that will assemble against Israel. His purpose is to magnify His own name and remind the nations that He alone is the Lord (Eze. 38:23). Some students of prophecy believe this event becomes the catalyst for the covenant described in Daniel 9. If that interpretation is correct, then the Abraham Accords may represent far more than a diplomatic achievement. They could form part of the geopolitical landscape upon which future prophetic events unfold.
Daniel 9 records the angel Gabriel’s prophecy concerning Israel’s future, including the coming of the Messiah, His sacrificial death, the rise of the Antichrist (“prince who is to come”), and the events leading to the end of the age (Da. 9:27). One of the most noteworthy details in this prophecy is the establishment of a firm covenant between the “prince to come” (Antichrist) and “the many,” an expression believed by many to refer to numerous peoples or nations.
This strong covenant could involve either the confirmation of an existing agreement or the enactment of a new and stronger arrangement designed to bring lasting stability between the peoples of the world and Israel.
This raises an intriguing question: Could the Abraham Accords provide the foundation for this future covenant, or even serve as a catalyst for a more comprehensive and forceful arrangement designed to bring the nations together? Only time will tell.
What we do know with certainty is that the enactment of the Antichrist’s covenant with the many initiates the seven-year Tribulation, which ultimately concludes with the armies of the earth assembled against Israel at the battle of Armageddon (Re. 16:12-16, 19:17-21, Zec. 14:1-4).
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