by Michael G. Mickey

(5-23-06)

A Haaretz article opens as follows:

U.S. President George W. Bush on Tuesday hailed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's plans for Middle East peace as "bold ideas" that could prove to be an "important step" leading to a two-state solution, should the process outlined in the internationally brokered road map to Middle East peace falter.

"While any final status agreement will be only achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes... the prime minister's ideas could be an important step toward the peace we both support," Bush said with Olmert standing at his side.

Well, watchers of Bible prophecy, a lot could be made of President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's first-ever summit, but it all boils down to this: The meeting didn't change a thing.

Olmert came to Washington hoping he could convince President Bush to support his convergence plan which would see the Israeli government unilaterally take steps to bring peace to the Middle East by giving up territory to its enemies. Olmert's position, which is accurate in theory in my opinion, is that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is unable to speak in his people's name. Abbas cannot even stop the minimum of what Abbas himself has described as "terrorist Palestinian activities," as noted in an International Press Center article.

Setting aside all the political niceties of the day, the summit didn't change a thing because President Bush believes Olmert could be useful to the international community's goals, but only if the international Quartet's road map peace plan falters!

What the international community wants, you see, is exactly what Olmert's Israeli government doesn't believe can be achieved - a negotiated final status agreement between the two long-standing enemies. Thus, Olmert's ill-conceived decision to unilaterally give "Hamas-istan" some more of the Holy Land in return for absolutely nothing!

Right on cue, by no coincidence, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, as seen in a Haaretz article, said today, "If Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, peace will prevail and we will implement a cease-fire [hudna] for many years. Our government is prepared to maintain a long-term cease-fire with Israel." Not peace, mind you, but a "long-term cease-fire!" In terrorist speak, that means they'll stop blowing things up until they get some more of Israel's God-given covenant lands under their control to plot further attacks on the Jewish nation and nothing more.

Isn't it interesting how clear it is that what Bible prophecy tells us is ultimately going to happen is what is ultimately going to be required to resolve this never-ending conflict? Peace in the Middle East is going to have to be "confirmed" or made strong by a third party!

So, who is going to step up to the plate and bring all this Middle East madness to its conclusion? Shmuel Rosner, Chief U.S. Correspondent of Haaretz, wrote the following in his blog recently:

In the global arena: The U.S. does not want to anger the Europeans, particularly at a time when Washington needs their support on other issues, such as Iran; neither does the U.S. want to stir more discontent in the Arab world.

Not only does the United States not want to anger the Europeans, as Rosner accurately stated, I believe a Reuters report which suggests the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "has slid down the U.S. agenda as Bush confronts low approval ratings, an increasingly unpopular war in Iraq and an emerging nuclear challenge from Iran" is highly accurate for the reasons stated. The United States' hands being tied on many fronts may, in my opinion, be a doorway through which another superpower will be able to step up to center stage - one the United States would, due to several of the aforementioned reasons, love to see get its hands more involved in straightening out the Middle East.

Where am I going with this? While there doesn't seem to be a legitimate Palestinian partner for the Israelis and the international community to negotiate Middle East peace with, the United States' present distractions afford the European Union, the revived Roman empire of Bible prophecy, a unique opportunity to bring forth a leader from within its ranks to fulfill Daniel 9:26-27. The prophecies of Daniel 9:26-27 indicate a leader of Roman descent, who will ultimately go on to become the final dictator to essentially rule the entire world, will arise to global prominence and fame via his "confirming" of Middle East peace "with many."

Could the "many" of Daniel's prophecy be the international Quartet of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations? The verdict is still out, but everything seems to be panning out for a leader from within the EU to seize a fantastic opportunity to become known as the greatest peacemaker who ever lived - the prophesied Antichrist. As odd as it sounds to say the Antichrist, of all people, will be considered the greatest peacemaker ever known, I believe it's what the future is going to see him portrayed as. The Antichrist's true colors will not immediately be known but will slowly be unveiled inside the Tribulation Period to come, the onset of which will begin the second he confirms peace and the world begins to cry, "Peace and safety!"

Before our very eyes, the stage for such an event to take place is being set, but few seem to recognize the potential exists. Perhaps that's why we see the following written in 1st Thessalonians 5:3:

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.

No, it isn't necessarily going to take place at a time more obvious than this, for we see in Luke 17:26-27:

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Do you see a picture of life proceeding as normal in the passages shown directly above? Certainly, which is why I continue to point to events presently taking place in the Middle East which many in the world today have come to think are of little consequence to their personal futures and say, "Wake up! Jesus Christ is coming soon!"

For those of us who are ready to meet the Lord in the air, there is tremendous cause for us to believe we may soon be going home to be with Jesus. For others, however, Christ's return is going to be like a thief coming in the night! The Rapture will come on a day they aren't prepared; the Antichrist will arise; and all hell will break loose on the earth - literally!

ARE YOU READY?

The things of which I write could take place at any moment, perhaps today! If Jesus should come today, are you ready to meet Him in the air? If not, this needs to be the day you set a new course for your life! You can do so by visiting my site's Salvation Issues page for more information on how you can make the greatest decision you will ever make - a decision to live for Christ, beginning this very day!