Oh Glory Be! Another Middle East Peace Conference

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace”(Jeremiah 6:14). “While they are saying, ‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). In a special address he gave recently, President Bush announced the formation of yet another Middle East peace conference to address the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. This is just more of the same. One has to wonder when our leaders will learn that there will be no peace in that part of the world, or any part of the world for that matter, until Jesus returns. Furthermore, the pseudo-peace that is coming won’t be brokered by the United States. The Bible makes it overwhelmingly clear that it will be one of European origin that brokers a false peace between Israel and her neighbors. And on a side note—something no one seems to notice—every single time the United States has pressured Israel to give up more “land for peace”, a major disaster has struck the United States—every single time! It’s like, either we can’t learn or we won’t. But this one might be slightly different. How so? Only God knows, but it could be the beginning of a shift between the U.S. as peace broker to one of Europe as peace broker. In fact, I think that shift has already begun. Remember, the Bible says it will be a European “prince” who will “make a firm covenant with the many for [seven years]” (Daniel 9:26-27). The word make used here can be better translated make strong or cause to prevail. In other words, it’s not a new peace treaty this ‘prince’ makes but a confirmation of one already in existence. This ‘prince’, whoever he might be, will finally cause this seven year peace covenant to prevail, where other world leaders have failed.

On Monday, July 25, 2007, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair assumed his ‘limited’ duties as Special Peace Envoy for the so-called Middle East ‘Quartet’ that consists of the European Union, UN, Russia and the United States. His mandate is limited to helping the Palestinians develop and promote institutions and their economy toward their dream of an independent Palestinian State living ‘in peace’ alongside Israel. Can I smoke some of this weed too? Sorry, I get a little sarcastic at times. Anyway, this limited mandate isn’t setting too well with the leaders of the EU, who see themselves as the rightful leaders of the Middle East peace process. In fact, they are calling for Mr. Blair to take on more direct role of mediation, something generally reserved for the U.S. Furthermore, the EU is calling for the abandonment of the Road Map for peace and a return to the original plan and principles contained with the seven year (I’m not kidding) plan known as the Oslo Accords.

Why is this so amazing? As ridiculous as it sounds, this is pretty much in line with the way the Bible outlined the peace process described by the biblical prophets in the last days, or dare I say, the last of the last days. Daniel 11:39 says it will be based upon the concept of “Land for Peace”: “He will…parcel out land for a price.” Jeremiah 6:14 tells us this process will be totally one-sided in nature and leave Israel completely vulnerable: “They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace.” It will center on the city of Jerusalem—who will own it—and will be imposed by a global coalition: “It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.” Daniel 9:26-27 says it will be brokered by a European—a descendent of the people who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70, the Romans—and will be based on a pre-existing seven-year agreement: “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week” (week here means seven years). There is only one seven-year plan on the books right now and that is the Oslo Accords brokered in 1993—an agreement which collapsed when Arafat went home and started his little intifada (or uprising—or better yet, cry-baby fit).

I am not saying Tony Blair is the long awaited antichrist. More than likely, he is not (see Daniel 11:37). However, his role will most likely be to set the stage for Europe to replace the United States as the primary Middle East peace broker. Such a move will put the EU in control of the process, which in turn will set the stage for the antichrist—exactly as the Bible predicted –with astonishing accuracy—over 2500 years ago. But wait, it gets better! At some point before this agreement is ‘confirmed’, the Bible tells those of us who are believers: “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15-17). With everything going on in the world of peacemaking these days, one has to wonder just how close we are to the Rapture of the Church. I believe we are mind-bogglingly close! Are you ready to meet the Lord in the air? If not, your time is quickly running out