Jerusalem
(June 23, 2008) Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared that a temporary peace document will be signed by the Israelis and the Palestinians before 2008 is over. (‘Olmert says peace document likely this year’) Whether or not this becomes a reality the Bible indicates that some sort of covenant or agreement involving Israel is going to be reached at the beginning of the End-Times. The prophet Daniel spoke of a future leader whom Christians call the Antichrist. In chapter 9 of Daniel it states that a ruler or prince will confirm a covenant with many for one week of years or seven years which is called the Tribulation Period. Many believe this covenant will be a peace treaty of some kind. Daniel speaks of this ruler or Antichrist and what he will do during this period:
“24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 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 9:24-27)
That this covenant seems to be a peace treaty [which may include the rebuilding of the Third Temple (i.e. the holy place) since the Antichrist enters it and causes sacrifices to cease] is indicated in another passage in Daniel and in the writings of Paul:
“23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:23-25)
It states here that this ruler will destroy many through his policy of peace. The apostle Paul in writing about the End-Times also mentions a false sense of peace in the world just prior to the apocalypse:
“1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-9)
Paul declares that the world will finally think it has achieved peace (probably through the charismatic efforts of the Antichrist). That is when sudden destruction comes in the form of God’s judgment upon a rebellious earth. Thus, anytime a peace agreement is discussed concerning Israel it is worth keeping an eye on developments that surround it. Notice in the last verse Paul wrote above he declared that the only way to avoid the judgment of God is to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. If you want to read what it means to be saved you can go here (What must I do to be saved)
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Tags: 1 Thessalonians, 70 weeks, Daniel 9, Israel, Palestine, peace covenant, salvation