For decades, the United States has been protecting our great friend in the Middle East, Israel. It has been a strategic and important alliance for both sides. Almost every election, our presidents, senators and congressmen make it a point to stress their allegiance to Israel because they know it is important to the people of the United States to protect Israel. I believe this allegiance to Israel is rooted in the promise in Genesis 12:3 that reads:
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
President-elect Trump promises to strengthen ties with Israel and try to restore the relationship that we had with Israel prior to the damage done by President Obama. With Obama now in his “lame duck” period of his presidency, there has been a lot of debate revolving around what, if anything, Obama will do before his term is up with regards to Israel. There has been much anxiety in anticipation of Obama potentially letting the UN pass resolution(s) against Israel, or even recognizing a Palestinian state.
On December 23rd, our fears came true. The United States, under Obama’s watch, abstained from a vote allowing the passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSC) 2334 in a vote of 14-0. Resolutions passed under the UNSC are considered legally binding in the realm of international law, and can be enforced through sanctions, charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC), or even military action. The resolution was very hostile towards our ally, even calling Israel terms such as “occupiers”, and insinuating that they are violating international law by building settlements beyond the 1967 borders. This resolution effectively gave East Jerusalem, and much of the land beyond the 1967 borders to the Palestinians. The resolution stopped shy of recognizing the state of Palestine.
As of the writing of this article on December 29, 2016, Obama still has 23 days in office. The Paris Peace Conference on the Israel-Palestinian peace efforts is coming up on January 15th just days before Obama is set to leave office. There is much speculation as to what will happen during this conference, and many fear that Obama will allow another UN Resolution to pass which will recognize the state of Palestine, officially giving the Palestinians the land beyond the 1967 borders. Looking at the situation now, I fear this is very likely.
Those who have been unsuccessfully working towards obtaining a peace treaty between the Palestinians and Israel for so long are recognizing they have an opportunity that they have not had before; the US has a president who is willing to turn on its long-time ally. I believe this rare opportunity will be taken advantage of while it exists to pass another resolution. If it is now illegal to build settlements beyond the 1967 borders, why not recognize a state of Palestine? It seems like this is the next obvious step. Thankfully, Donald Trump has made it very clear that he will do everything in his power to protect our ally against the UN by using our veto power. This means when Trump is sworn in, the United Nations will be neutralized in its ability to force a treaty. However, because of Trumps resolve and promises, this means those interested in dividing Israel are quickly running out of time.
Peace talks have been going on for decades, but a final treaty eludes all who work towards peace. In 2014, John Kerry worked for months in constant talks between the two sides and was confident he would end up finally getting the job done. However, the talks ultimately resulted in another failed attempt. I believe though, that in the decades of negotiations that have been taking place, those involved probably have a very good picture of what the final treaty will look like. It is looking to me like this whatever that picture looks like will probably be passed in another resolution before Obama leaves office while the rare opportunity exists.
We know from Daniel 9:27 that there will be a treaty between the Palestinians and the Israelis, that the anti-christ will be involved in its passage, and that half-way through he will stop animal sacrifices. This gives us a lot of information:
And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. – Daniel 9:27
We also see in Revelation 11:1-2 that the Temple Mount must be shared:
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
Joel 3:2 tells us why the Battle of Armageddon happens:
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Matthew 24:15-21 explains what will happen after the mid-point of the final 7 years:
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea (known as the West Bank in 2016) flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Zechariah 12:1-11 talks about how the world will be gathered against Jerusalem:
1 The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him. 2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4 In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. 6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. 7 The Lord also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah. 8 In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.
In fact, what is even more interesting about Zechariah 12:2 is that it specifically identifies two of the regions that will be under siege, Judah and Jerusalem:
2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.Judah is known as the West Bank today, and is beyond the 1967 borders. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem to be the capital of the soon-to-be state of Palestine. As you can see, the same two areas mentioned in this prophecy are the same areas in dispute today.
Zephaniah 2:8-11 shows us that Edom and Ammon will be judged for 'magnifying their border'. The area of Edom, Ammon and Moab in the Bible is known today as Jordan. Ammon is the capital of Jordan.
8 I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border. 9 Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. 10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts. 11 The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
These passages give us a lot of information about what the treaty will look like. We can see that there must be a temple in order for sacrifices to be taking place and then stopped by the anti-christ (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15). In order for the Temple to exist, the Temple Mount must be shared (Revelation 11:1-2). The land must be parted, which means some of it will be given to the Palestinians (Joel 3:2, Zephaniah 2:8). The signing of this treaty will begin the final 7 years to Armageddon (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:21, Zechariah 12:11).
As you can see, with the passage of UNSC Resolution 2334, we have gotten significantly closer to the fulfillment of some of these major prophecies. Is it possible that the final seven years could begin within the next three weeks? It is very possible. If the UN Takes advantage of the opportunity it has to pass yet another resolution, we could be looking at the start of the final seven years to the battle of Armageddon. Even if it doesn’t start before Obama leaves office, this resolution certainly has brought us much closer….