Nov. 30, 2007
The Mideast peace summit held at Annapolis earlier this week is now over but its repercussions for this country may be felt for some time and in the area around Israel, it seems things be even worse.
As I was reading news accounts concerning the summit, I was struck by something president Bush said Sunday evening before the peace meeting was even supposed to start. The following quote by Bush from an Associated Press story sent chills down my spine.
“I remain personally committed to implementing my vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,” Bush said Sunday in a statement on the international gathering that begins Monday night with a dinner.
“The Israelis and Palestinians have waited a long time for this vision to be realized, and I call upon all those gathering in Annapolis this week to redouble their efforts to turn dreams of peace into reality,” he said.
Living side by side in peace and security. Sounds wonderful doesn't it, but delve into scripture and see where that exact phrase was used and it will make you shudder.
"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." — 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
While I am not saying President Bush's phrase is going to ensure our destruction, I am saying we must tread carefully in these treacherous waters.
It may seem to many that I am wasting too much space in this newspaper focusing on Israel, but we must remember that almost all prophecies concerning the end of days revolves around Israel.
Those prophecies did not end in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed — despite what many churches today preach.
Israel's return from the ashes in 1948 was truly a miracle and the scenarios in that part of the world that have played out since then should make even the most cynical nonbeliever shudder.
I worry for the world because it seems we are headed toward the great Tribulation.
While I do not worry for myself, there are others for whom I have great concern.
Some may ask, "Wayne, you can't know when the Rapture will happen or when the Tribulation will start."
Scripture reveals the answers to us. It does not spell out dates, but it gives us events to mark the time.
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He (the Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." — Daniel 9:25-27
The antichrist will be revealed when he confirms a seven-year covenant of peace with many.
Now don't get me wrong, if a peace deal is reached out of this debacle I am not saying it is "the peace deal."
I am just saying things are falling in line with those events. The Oslo accords which were negotiated in the 1990s featured a seven-year covenant of peace. It was never signed by both parties, but it is the blueprint being used for these negotiations.
All I ask is that we keep an eye out for Christ's return. He is coming to take his Bride (true believers in Christ) back with him.
For those who are left they will witness unspeakable atrocities if they make it through the tribulation. Many will lose their lives and there will be many who will come to Christ and still others will be fed a lie and they will believe it unto their own destruction.
These are not allegorical writings from deranged prophets, but warnings from Christ about what is to befall the world at the end. Heed his words.
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." — 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9
God does not want us to suffer through the tribulation. Christ wants to bring us home. Believe on his holy name, confess all sins and put your trust in him.
I give these warnings not out of fear, but of love. I do not fear these times for I know my Savior lives and is coming for me.
That same confidence can be yours — just look to the light that is Christ.
———
As I was reading news accounts concerning the summit, I was struck by something president Bush said Sunday evening before the peace meeting was even supposed to start. The following quote by Bush from an Associated Press story sent chills down my spine.
“I remain personally committed to implementing my vision of two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security,” Bush said Sunday in a statement on the international gathering that begins Monday night with a dinner.
“The Israelis and Palestinians have waited a long time for this vision to be realized, and I call upon all those gathering in Annapolis this week to redouble their efforts to turn dreams of peace into reality,” he said.
Living side by side in peace and security. Sounds wonderful doesn't it, but delve into scripture and see where that exact phrase was used and it will make you shudder.
"Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, 'Peace and safety,' destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." — 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
While I am not saying President Bush's phrase is going to ensure our destruction, I am saying we must tread carefully in these treacherous waters.
It may seem to many that I am wasting too much space in this newspaper focusing on Israel, but we must remember that almost all prophecies concerning the end of days revolves around Israel.
Those prophecies did not end in 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed — despite what many churches today preach.
Israel's return from the ashes in 1948 was truly a miracle and the scenarios in that part of the world that have played out since then should make even the most cynical nonbeliever shudder.
I worry for the world because it seems we are headed toward the great Tribulation.
While I do not worry for myself, there are others for whom I have great concern.
Some may ask, "Wayne, you can't know when the Rapture will happen or when the Tribulation will start."
Scripture reveals the answers to us. It does not spell out dates, but it gives us events to mark the time.
"Know and understand this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed. He (the Antichrist) will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.' In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him." — Daniel 9:25-27
The antichrist will be revealed when he confirms a seven-year covenant of peace with many.
Now don't get me wrong, if a peace deal is reached out of this debacle I am not saying it is "the peace deal."
I am just saying things are falling in line with those events. The Oslo accords which were negotiated in the 1990s featured a seven-year covenant of peace. It was never signed by both parties, but it is the blueprint being used for these negotiations.
All I ask is that we keep an eye out for Christ's return. He is coming to take his Bride (true believers in Christ) back with him.
For those who are left they will witness unspeakable atrocities if they make it through the tribulation. Many will lose their lives and there will be many who will come to Christ and still others will be fed a lie and they will believe it unto their own destruction.
These are not allegorical writings from deranged prophets, but warnings from Christ about what is to befall the world at the end. Heed his words.
"But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness.
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ." — 1 Thessalonians 5:4-9
God does not want us to suffer through the tribulation. Christ wants to bring us home. Believe on his holy name, confess all sins and put your trust in him.
I give these warnings not out of fear, but of love. I do not fear these times for I know my Savior lives and is coming for me.
That same confidence can be yours — just look to the light that is Christ.
———
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