In Part II of our message, we will explore what the Bible says, will take place in the Middle East between the Arab countries and the
land of Israel. As we have stated in the past, according to God there will be no permanent peace in the region, until Jesus Christ
returns, after a failed attempt at a 7 year covenant by the countries involved in this distressed area. The most recent attempt to
secure peace, in this region between, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yassar Arafat, continues to be troubled with mistrust and
accusations. Former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir once stated that, “Totalitarians go to peace conferences to lull their
potential victims” (Israel certain Syria had role in bombing, Gazette Telegraph, Nov. 21, ‘91).
By reading the prophetic Scriptures, we know that a major Arab/Israeli war will soon take place. The countries which will be involved
are listed in numerous passages. Psalms 83 gives us one of the longer lists. Isaiah Chapters 14 through 19 give a more detailed
picture of the war and also Jeremiah Chapters 49, 50 and 51. Pulling all of these Scriptures together, our understanding of the
picture develops like this:
Part two of the war known as “Operation Dessert Storm” will soon take place against Iraq. Israel will be involved in this conflict,
which will end with the permanent destruction of Iraq, leaving the region around the city of Babylon uninhabitable. Jeremiah Chapters
50 and 51 deal the most extensively, with this particular aspect of the Arab/Israeli conflict. We link this battle up, with the Arab
confederacy in the other prophetic passages, we cited because it is likewise identified to be united with the Arab League, by its
ancient names of Assur and Assyria. Egypt will be the prominent leader of the coming assault and will be dealt with without mercy,
because of her betrayal to Israel. Egypt's present peace, treaty with Israel, will soon come to an end. Israel will destroy Egypt's
man-made sea (Nasser's Lake), which covers apx. 10,000 square miles, by blowing up the Aswan Dam. This in turn will cause the
Nile River to divert to a new course, thus suggests Egypt, will be brought to ruin. The other countries described in these passages
include: Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, the Arab Emirates and the Palestinians. It will be the most terrifying war, the
world has seen to date. Indications are found throughout these Scriptures, that nuclear weapons will be unleashed. The tide of the
battle will seem to turn against Israel, at a crucial point, but we are assured by God, that Israel will come out of this the victor.
With all due respect, to many fine prophecy teachers who believe otherwise, we place the timing of this war to happen “before” the
signing of the doomed 7 year peace treaty and “before” the future Middle East invasion by Russia, with another Arab confederacy,
because of the following reasons: First, four times the Scriptures state in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39, that Israel will be dwelling
“peacefully” and “safely” and in “unfortified cities”, when Russia invades the Middle East. Prophecy clearly teaches that this will by
no means be, Israel's status during the last 31/2 years of the coming 7 year covenant. Therefore, systematically applied exegesis
leads us to conclude, that the Russian invasion must come “after” the peace treaty is signed and “before” the second half of the 7
years.
On the other hand, Israel's status, described in the Arab war prophecies, describe Israel as a “terror”, at the time of the Arab/Israeli
War (see Isa. 19:17), and as a country forged like a mighty weapon of God (see Jer. 51:19-24). At present, Israel is looked upon by
every nation in the world, as one of the most powerful military forces upon the earth, complete with the ability to deliver nuclear
destruction to other continents. Israel at present, is truly considered a terror.
Secondly, in our opinion, this Arab war cannot be happening in the latter part of the 7 years, because the Scriptures teach, that at
that time, Israel will be on the verge of being annihilated. Two thirds of the Jews are prophesied to die and the remnant, will be saved
only, because they turn back to God and are delivered by their recognized Messiah, Jesus Christ (see Zech. 13:8-9 and 14:1-2).
Israel is not described, at that time, to be a mighty weapon, neither are they dwelling in peace and safety.
Thirdly, Israel will never have even the false sense of peace and safety, which is prophesied for them, until her mortal enemies are
disarmed. It is in our mind, unimaginable to think of Israel living in unfortified cities, under the present circumstances, no matter how
many peace initiatives are signed. Iraq alone still casts a long shadow of planned annihilation over Israel, which the Jews know they
can never ignore until Iraq is disarmed or destroyed. Yet the Scriptures tell us, that Iraq is with this Arab invasion force. Therefore,
we are persuaded that this war must take place before Israel can sign any peace treaty, that gives her the false sense of peace and
safety described to be present, when Russia invades along with Iran, Ethiopia, Turkey, Germany and Libya (Ezek. 38:5-11).
We believe, that the initial defeat of the United Confederation of Arab Countries, aligned against Israel, will produce the mindset
needed for both the Arab and the Jews to accept the 7 year disarmament plan, offered to them by the soon-to-be welcome
Anti-Christ. Israel must have this obviously manifested peace, before Russia invades and Russia must invade, before the Anti-Christ
takes this peace away, at the middle of the Tribulation.
In Matt. 24:21-27, Jesus compared those who truly believe His words, to those who just pay a kind of lip service. The phoney
believers were illustrated, as a foolish person, who builds his house on sand, while those who clung to His every word in complete
obedience, as a person, who built their house on a solid rock. Jesus is the Rock, which stands against all the modern floods of
misinformation and winds, of ever-changing opinions. It is He, who is the very Spirit in every God-breathed prophecy found in the
Scriptures (Rev. 19:10)... And it is He, who has said, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and
these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
Today you can have eternal life and a firm stand upon the Rock of Ages, by coming to God, for the forgiveness that, His Son Jesus
Christ purchased for every believer when, He died and was resurrected almost 2,000 years ago. It is almost over and there is a
limited time for this offer. Don't put it off, come to the Saviour, Christ the Lord today.
Jamma M.
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