Latest Prophecy Commentary
Rice: Peace In One Year; Peres: Can't Be Done
The Middle East peace summit in Annapolis is ready to go and the invitations have been sent out with many of the important participants planning to attend. But at this time, a joint document outlining the goals and what they plan to accomplish over the next several months has yet to be drafted.
Israel claims that the Palestinians don't want to create a joint document while the Palestinians say Israel doesn't want to set specific timelines for completion of the core issues. But both agree there is still plenty of time to come to a consensus before the Tuesday, November 27th peace summit.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters that she believes a final status Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement can be achieved before President Bush leaves office in January of 2009. Israeli President Shimon Peres is not quite as optimistic but did not completely rule it out. "It is theoretically possible to reach an agreement during the term of President Bush but it is practically impossible," Peres told Japan's Tokyo Shimbun. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=14621
I have to agree with Mr. Peres. As I've said in the past, I do not believe the Bible supports the US brokering a peace treaty that will usher in the start of the tribulation period and the revealing of the antichrist.
There are a number of theoretical problems with this possibility. One, Daniel 9:27 states that the antichrist will come out of the nations of the old Roman Empire which is believed to be today's modern European Union. Two, if the US brokers an eventual peace agreement before President Bush leaves office he will receive credit for bringing peace to Israel, the Palestinians and the greater Middle East. Barring a supernatural miracle, within a matter of weeks of bringing peace, he will then have fulfilled his term in office leaving the next administration to oversee his peace agreement to completion.
As you can see, the scenario that awaits us, even if fulfilled within the term of the Bush administration, does not match what the Bible say's will happen in the last days. For the Bible says that whoever brings the seven-year peace accord will eventually break it at the halfway point. So if the present plan does go as scripted, President Bush will not be in power to break the peace plan 3 1/2 years later.
I suspect the next twelve months will be very frustrating for negotiators who will come very close to peace, but in the end, will run out of time.
Ultimately, the peace process will be shelved by the next US administration who will be eager to make good on campaign promises of distancing themselves from the problems of the Middle East.
In the passage of time, with the Middle East on the verge of war, the European Union will find it in their interest to revive the peace process and eventually bring it to its conclusion.
Although I don't know who the future antichrist will be, here is a possibility that could very well play out in the near future.
With the European Union Reform Treaty likely to be ratified in December of 2007, the EU anticipates elections to be held for its first permanent president by March of 2009. It is widely believed that current Quartet Middle East peace envoy, Tony Blair, will run and win the elections becoming the first EU president.
As new EU president and a person who played a significant role in the Middle East peace process, it is my belief that Mr. Blair will take up where he left off, and in essence, "confirm" the Middle East covenant that had fallen by the wayside (Daniel 9:27).
Certainly, this is only a theory, but a theory that makes sense with present knowledge.
Of course, anything can happen between now and the start of the tribulation period. I suspect the biggest changes will take place between the rapture and the start of the tribulation period...for that will be when satan will build his kingdom and select his antichrist and false prophet.
One thing I'm sure of, as we look down from heaven, his (satan's) choice will probably be a surprise to all of us.
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, your time is running out!
Terry Malone
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