Is Peace in the Middle East Possible – History and the Bible Team up to
By Michael Bresciani (08/17/06)
Asking if there will ever be peace in the Middle East is not a hard
question to answer. It does depend on who you ask and your knowledge of
both history and the Bible.
I watched one day as a news reporter interviewed a Muslim student in the
lecture hall of one of America’s most prestigious schools. The young man
was adorned with a silk headpiece and appeared to come from a very wealthy
Arab family I supposed. When asked whether Israel had a right to live in
peace in the land that they now held as their homeland he became flustered
and indignant. He said, “Who is Israel and what history do they have, who
ever heard of Israel before now.”
His ignorance of Israel’s long history in the land they now possess
together with the poor reflection he gave of his schools academics left me
in amazement. Yet this is more typical than anyone might suspect. The
average American other than those who have attended Bible College or
seminary has little or no knowledge of Middle Eastern history.
Israeli and Arab history is inexplicably linked to the history and well
being of all other nations around the globe. History and Bible prophecy
are together both a look into the past and a far reaching view of the
future. When in 1948 Israel returned to its former ancient homeland and
then took back Jerusalem in 1967 from its enemies who outnumbered them
twenty to one she broke every record in the history of our world. No
nation has returned to its former geographical boundaries after being
subject to another nation or dispersed for more than fifty years and
become a free and independent nation again, except Israel.
From the days of Abraham and down through the Golden Era of Israel and up
to the present time the message of the prophets and now the historical
record have spoken with one voice to warn the world and to bring to
fruition every major prophecy in the Bible. So what is that message?
Put simply, the Bible says that when Israel occupies her original homeland
and Jerusalem that there is but one generation left to man before the Lord
Jesus Christ returns. Starting after the six day war after which Israel
took Jerusalem back the clock has begun ticking. Sadly, this is not a
promise of peace for Israel or any of the nations. Rather it is the signal
of several more events that will rock the world.
At about the same time Israel regains nationhood the Bible says that a
great world power will begin forming within the same geographical
boundaries as the old Roman Empire. The EU or European Union began forming
about 1955 and unknown to the average person today is becoming the
greatest block of nations ever seen in the history of the world. It
presently controls almost half the worlds shipping, has a gross national
product three times greater than the United States and when military might
is finally melded together will without doubt be the most powerful entity
in the modern era.
It is from that new power that the fiercest and most successful dictator
the world has ever known will emerge. He is a political and military
genius that swoops upon the entire world with an economic system that will
draw in every nation, tongue and tribe of the earth. He will make Hitler
look like a choir boy and he will succeed with such speed that no one will
form any resistance at all before he has the world reeling. The Bible does
not specifically name this final dictator but he is well known worldwide
as the Antichrist.
What does all that mean to the Middle East…plenty? When Israel missed the
time of her visitation (first coming of Christ) her prophets had already
foretold that she would be dispersed throughout the world and hunted and
killed as outcasts. History has already told us that part of the story.
Approaching the last generation her prophets told that she would be drawn
and gathered from all over the world back to her homeland although still
hated and harassed by all her neighbors and enemies.
The wars and skirmishes will continue and for a short time with the help
of the Antichrist Israel will know a few years of relative peace. Finally
the Antichrist will show his true colors to the world and Israel will not
escape. She will be taken over and other nations will trample through
Jerusalem for three and one half years. When the final push comes Israel
will be defended and delivered by the Saviour she rejected.
Peace in the Middle East? Yes but not until all the history has run its
course and the prophecy which is after all only pre-written history is
fulfilled.
Rev Bresciani
(Printer friendly version) Email: Michael Bresciani
