by Michael G. Mickey

(2-23-06)

Some of the Bible's prophesies have been fulfilled. Others have not. While none of us know precisely how things are going to shake out in relation to the fulfillment of the Bible's remaining prophecies, one thing even the most mildly interested Christian knows of Bible prophecy is the Bible predicts the battle to end all battles will take place in the Middle East. We refer to it as Armageddon.

Revelation 16:16: And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

How close are we to Armageddon? Only the Lord knows as the onset of the seven-year Tribulation Period during which Armageddon will occur will only take place once the Rapture of the Church (1st Thessalonians 4:16-17) has occurred and the Antichrist, the son of perdition (2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4), has come forward to confirm a seven-year covenant of peace in the Middle East between Israel and her enemies "with many." (Daniel 9:26-27)

Can we see any evidence in the world around us that may indicate all of the events detailed in the preceding paragraph may be drawing near? I certainly believe so, as I continue documenting on this site.

Presently, the revived Roman empire of Bible prophecy, the European Union, is heavily involved in peacemaking efforts in the Middle East. Not only is the EU involved, there are three other world powers aiding them: the United States, Russia, and the United Nations. Could the highly publicized Quartet comprised of these four globally influential powers be the "many" the prophet Daniel foretold we'd see the Antichrist arise from among to confirm Middle East peace? Quite possibly, although I would never be so bold as to say so dogmatically.

Not only do we have the Quartet in existence, there is a seemingly failed peace covenant discussed often which had an original seven-year timeline, the Oslo Accords. Many people tell me Oslo, which was signed in 1993 and was to see a Palestinian state born in the year 2000, is a dead issue, but I continue to document that it remains a basis for future peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians to this very day, the most recent example being found in a Jerusalem Newswire commentary dated 2-21-06.

In the JN commentary, Jerusalem Newswire's Ryan Jones documents the results of a recent survey conducted by Jerusalem Media & Communication Center, one result of which found the Palestinians "are split on whether Hamas should even bother with the Oslo Accords." Does this indicate that the Oslo Accords are a dead issue? Hardly, leaving me to wonder if there is yet a chance that Oslo may play a role in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

Could it be that what didn't take place in the first attempt at implementing the Oslo Accords will take place in a second attempt? As we look at Daniel's prophecy detailing the advent of the Antichrist, it's interesting that we see the seven-year covenant will be 'confirmed' or be made strong. How do we 'confirm' peace covenants in these end times? We use peacekeepers, right? Again, I'm not being dogmatic in stating the Oslo Accords may form the basis for the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy concerning the rise of Antichrist in the future. What I do dogmatically believe, however, is this tidbit of information, along with many others present in the world around us, should be stored in our minds as a reminder that Christ's return for His Church may be close at hand! Why? Because whatever gives us hope in our flesh, which is often weary from the troubles of this world, that we may soon be caught up to be with the Lord gives us great spiritual power and motivation to live our lives in the center of God's will!

So, what does this issue of Israel saying Hamas is forming an 'Axis of Evil' with Syria and Iran potentially have to do with Bible prophecy? Lots! Let's look at that for a moment.

A Ynetnews article states (emphasis added mine) "Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Gillerman, on Tuesday warned of a new “terror axis” between Iran, Syria and Hamas, which could kick start “the first world war of the 21st century.”"

I don't know about any of you but I'm convinced the next world war that takes place on this planet, pitting nation against nation and kingdom against kingdom, is going to swiftly lead the world to Armageddon. How could that not be the case when so many nations have nuclear weaponry and so many more are on the brink of developing these deadly weapons of mass destruction?

Gillerman's words ring very prophetic to me as we know for a fact, based on Ezekiel 38 & 39, Iran (referred to as Persia in the Old Testament passages) is going to be involved in the prophesied Gog-Magog invasion attempt described in those two chapters. Syria, interestingly, is mentioned by Gillerman but is nowhere to be found among the list of nations that will come against Israel in the Gog-Magog attack.

Could it be that Damascus, the vacation spot of radical Islamic terrorists the world over, won't be around to join in the attack? The prophet Isaiah wrote, as seen in Isaiah 17:1: The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Although there are some respected theologians who suggest Isaiah's prophecy of Damascus being utterly destroyed has been fulfilled in the past, I can't help but wonder, particularly knowing how dedicated Damascus is to Israel's destruction, why it would sit idly by while practically every Islamic nation in the region joins Russia in attempting to achieve the long-standing goal of the Arab world - the destruction of Israel.

Encarta states Damascus is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, documenting its history from 15th-century BC Egyptian inscriptions that refer to it as the capital of a city-state until now. Although I've read, even in Encarta's description, that Tiglath-Pileser of Assyria left Damascus in ruins in 732 BC, I am not convinced, based on the fact Damascus has continued onward as a city and remains one to this day, that Isaiah's prophecy concerning Damascus has been completely fulfilled, particularly when I look at the Gog-Magog attack to come. Where, oh where, is the world's #2 state sponsor of terrorism when Gog-Magog occurs? Could it be that the totality of Isaiah's prophecy being fulfilled is yet to take place during this time when advanced weaponry, particularly nuclear weaponry, could see an entire city taken from being a city in mere seconds, leaving it a ruinous heap? Something for us to ponder at the very least.

No 'Axis of Evil' will prevail against Israel or Christ!

If an 'Axis of Evil' should form each and every day between now and Christ's return, both for His Church at the Rapture and visibly, physically and bodily at the battle of Armageddon with His Church at His side, the nation of Israel, as seen in the Word of God, will survive, albeit battered by the time Christ returns at Armageddon, Jerusalem having been trampled under foot for forty and two months by the forces of Antichrist, as seen in Revelation 11:2.

While the born-again believer should be upset that the enemies of our God are plotting a takeover of the Holy Land, we need to maintain a sense of calm, realizing, as we pray for the peace of Jerusalem, that all these things must come to pass as detailed in the Word of God. We should also, particularly at this moment in history, realize that these troubling matters point toward a brighter day coming for those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ, potentially in the not-too-distant future!

Luke 21:28: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

What're you waiting for, Christians? Look up! Lift up your heads! Jesus Christ is coming soon!