The Iraq Study Group's Plan for Israel

by Michael G. Mickey

(12-9-06)

I knew it would be painful, but I finally sat down and read the Iraq Study Group's Report, but, as someone who sent me a copy of it suggested I would find to be the case, it read as though it was almost equally an outline of a new world order-like plan for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No surprise here as we know, through the prophetic Word of God, where all this peacemaking mumbo jumbo is headed! That would be against the nation of Israel and toward the advent of Antichrist, in case you don't know.

For me, the moment of clarity in my reading of the document came when I reached page seven of the report. It was there that I began to clearly see that James Baker and company's plan for Iraq reinforces what I've been saying the international community became convinced of some time ago --- that Middle East peace can not possibly be reached without Israel handing over more of its God-given covenant lands to its enemies! The Report reads as follows:

The United States cannot achieve its goals in the Middle East unless it deals directly with
the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability. There must be a renewed and sustained
commitment by the United States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon,
Syria, and President Bush’s June 2002 commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and
Palestine. This commitment must include direct talks with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon,
Palestinians (those who accept Israel’s right to exist), and Syria.

By now, you're probably wondering what all of us with clear heads are wondering, which is this: What does Israel have to do with Iraq's various factions committing terrorist acts against fellow Arabs and U.S. soldiers within the borders of Iraq? Good question, isn't it? These matters are interconnected only in the minds of the spiritually deceived --- and the global elite.

The issue of the Israeli-Arab conflict fades for a time in the report, but resurfaces with a vengeance on page 39, where we read the following:

4. The Wider Regional Context

The United States will not be able to achieve its goals in the Middle East unless the United
States deals directly with the Arab-Israeli conflict.

There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United States to a
comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon, Syria, and President Bush’s June 2002
commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. This commitment must include
direct talks with, by, and between Israel, Lebanon, Palestinians (those who accept Israel’s right
to exist), and particularly Syria—which is the principal transit point for shipments of weapons
to Hezbollah, and which supports radical Palestinian groups.

The United States does its ally Israel no favors in avoiding direct involvement to solve the
Arab-Israeli conflict. For several reasons, we should act boldly:

• There is no military solution to this conflict.

• The vast majority of the Israeli body politic is tired of being a nation perpetually at war.

• No American administration—Democratic or Republican—will ever abandon Israel.

• Political engagement and dialogue are essential in the Arab-Israeli dispute because it is an
axiom that when the political process breaks down there will be violence on the ground.

• The only basis on which peace can be achieved is that set forth in UN Security Council
Resolutions 242 and 338 and in the principle of “land for peace.”

• The only lasting and secure peace will be a negotiated peace such as Israel has achieved with
Egypt and Jordan.

This effort would strongly support moderate Arab governments in the region, especially
the democratically elected government of Lebanon, and the Palestinian Authority under
President Mahmoud Abbas.

RECOMMENDATION 13: There must be a renewed and sustained commitment by the United
States to a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace on all fronts: Lebanon and Syria, and President
Bush’s June 2002 commitment to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

RECOMMENDATION 14: This effort should include—as soon as possible—the unconditional
calling and holding of meetings, under the auspices of the United States or the Quartet (i.e., the
United States, Russia, European Union, and the United Nations), between Israel and Lebanon
and Syria on the one hand, and Israel and Palestinians (who acknowledge Israel’s right to exist)
on the other. The purpose of these meetings would be to negotiate peace as was done at the
Madrid Conference in 1991, and on two separate tracks—one Syrian/Lebanese, and the other
Palestinian.

Is everything I've been discussing in recent months beginning to tie together?

On 9-27-06, I wrote the following:

Just when you think the international community has finally settled on a set number of parties to be involved in Middle East peacemaking, i.e. the international Quartet of Russia, the United States, the European Union and Russia, as well as a set plan, i.e. the Quartet's roadmap to peace, along comes something to make you ponder whether everything that has been discussed to date will eventually be scrapped in favor of something brand new. In today's example of this, the Washington Post is reporting that Spain is floating the idea of a new Madrid peace conference like one previously held in 1991. To get an idea what the Madrid peace conference of 1991 involved detail-wise, you can read an actual invitation to the conference that is posted online or a Wikipedia article on the same that is quite detailed.

Interestingly, as we see in the Post article, there's a chance, if this peace conference comes to pass, an end result may see the Quartet of Middle East peacemaking nations expanded to include new countries. This is interesting, of course, as we see in Daniel's prophecy detailing the advent of Antichrist (a leader of Roman descent), that he will confirm a seven-year covenant of peace "with many."

While I've always considered the possibility that the Quartet could be the "many" of which Daniel referred to, depending on how the idea of a new Madrid peace conference is received globally, we may see a much larger group of "many" involved in Middle East peacemaking than we've seen thus far. Not only that, a new Madrid peace conference, should it take place, would present the European Union an opportunity to headline the event, as well as offer any number of its diplomats an unprecedented opportunity to negotiate a settlement in the ongoing Middle East conflict which we know is eventually going to take place, as seen in Daniel 9:26-27.

So, all the way back in September, I was already considering the possibility that a peace conference like the one the Iraq Study Group is currently proposing might be in the works. Much as I anticipated, any such peace conference may be modeled after the 1991 Madrid Peace Conference which led to the Oslo Accords. The Oslo Accords, I might add, had a seven-year timeline --- from 1993 to 2000 when a Palestinian state was to be born. Alas, it wasn't to be, but why? No one confirmed peace in that instance and things, predictably, went downhill from there! That may not be the case in the future, however, as I've discussed in the past and will review deeper in this reflective commentary.

By 10-8-06, I was encouraging my readers to pay particular notice to the mad dash that was underway to achieve Middle East peace, asking them to carefully consider the following news stories and issues below:

• EU's Solana says "new push" needed for Mideast peace - Neither side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resolution of which is viewed as the key to ending all Middle East conflict, is seriously trying to implement the Quartet's proposed roadmap to peace according to Solana who says an international conference on the topic will be needed at some point. Many of you may recall that I've documented that this conference may already be in the works, potentially being planned to be held in Madrid, Spain where a 1991 peace conference became the catalyst for the Oslo peace process.
• The BBC is reporting that "more than 130 former world leaders, politicians and Nobel laureates have called for urgent international efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict." Again, we see in the BBC article, a call is going out for an "international conference to map out a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East."
• The International Crisis Group is additionally calling for action on the Arab-Israeli conflict. The president of the group, Gareth Evans, is quoted as saying, “There is a real hunger out there for present-day political leaders to take hold of this catastrophically divisive issue and resolve it once and for all.”

Indeed there is a seemingly insatiable hunger in the world today to see the Arab-Palestinian/Israeli conflict resolved once and for all. Parties from around the globe have their eyes on Jerusalem and are hoping that someone - ANYONE - can bring peace to the region. Bible prophecy, as seen in Daniel 9:26-27, demonstrates that, sooner or later, the international community is going to find one who can. He will be a prince (or leader) of Roman descent who will somehow confirm (or make strong) a seven-year covenant of peace. He will notably, in light of how many past and present leaders we see calling for peace to come to the region now, do so "with many." This leader will be the prophesied Antichrist. Although the world will not view him as evil at the time he resolves the Middle East conflict, he will rapidly rise to become the supreme leader of the European Union and, ultimately, the most powerful global dictator the world has ever known. But first something has to happen and it could happen at any moment.

In 2nd Thessalonians 2 we see that something or someone is restraining the Antichrist from making his rise to global power and has been since the days of old. What or Who is this restraining influence spoken of in scripture? David Guzik, director of Calvary Chapel Bible College in Germany, spells it out for us in a commentary on the entire chapter of 2nd Thessalonians 2 which I hope everyone will take time to read who has been erroneously taught that the Antichrist will arrive on the world stage before the coming of Jesus Christ for His Church.

By 10-25-06, I was wondering if the revived Roman empire of Bible prophecy could actually confirm Middle East peace in fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. At that time, I wrote the following, in part:

In yesterday's commentary I discussed the possibility, based on several statements that have been made by influential voices in the EU, that a European Union visit to the Middle East which is now underway could be paving the way for a new initiative to be proposed in the quest for Middle East peace - an initiative of a uniquely revived Roman empire flavor. Further, I posed the question of whether a peace conference such as the one held in 1991 in Madrid, Spain that led to the Oslo peace process could be in the offing and, if so, whether the advent of the Antichrist, an event which will be preceded by the Rapture of the Church, could, hypothetically, occur as a result. Today, I want to build on yesterday's commentary by answering the following question: Can Middle East peace be confirmed by the European Union? The answer, in my opinion, is yes - and very, very soon.

On 10-23-06, a Deutsche Well article indicated that EU industry and government leaders were "meeting in Berlin to discuss a host of defense topics, including making sure that European mobile battle groups are ready to report for duty early next year." Early next year as in 2007, which is only a mere two months and some change away!

What will these European mobile battle groups consist of and be capable of doing? According to the article, they will consist "of 50 to 60 thousand soldiers who can be deployed within 60 days and sustained in the field for at least one year." The article goes on to state that these "battle groups will be similar to NATO's rapid reaction force, but will be under EU command. The battle groups will be created in response to a crisis and only stay for the duration of that crisis."

By 11-02-06, I was, in typical fashion, telling as many people as I possibly could that I had solid evidence indicative that Christ's return for His Church may be drawing near, a portion of which read as follows:

In yesterday's commentary, I addressed the European Union's failed peacemaking trip to the Middle East, as well as plans underway to potentially revisit an EU-led peace conference format that, in Madrid, Spain in 1991, laid the foundation for the Oslo Accords. Whether or not that will come to pass is unsure, but an article appearing in the Tehran Times indicates that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana believes "ending the Israeli-Palestinian crisis could provoke movement on many stalled fronts." Achieving that goal could, according to the article, "be a key that unlocks other parts of a vastly complicated Middle East puzzle stretching from Egypt up to Lebanon, over to Syria and then across to Iran."

How many times have I made the comment that the entire world believes that the root cause of radical Islamic terrorism is the Arab world's resentment of Israel? Thus, the international community's obsession with Israel.

Zechariah 12:2-3: Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the eyes of secular mankind, is the equivalent of turning water into wine it seems! Fix that and it'll "provoke movement on many stalled fronts" as the EU's Javier Solana put it! It almost makes it sound like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the brake pad of the world, doesn't it? It's this warped kind of logic that presently exists which will ultimately lead the entire world to come against Israel according to Bible prophecy! This will occur in fullness in the Tribulation Period to come when the forces of the Antichrist's global empire and the kings of the east meet up in the Middle East, leading up to Armageddon and the Glorious Appearing of Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 14:2-4: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

Presently, the world views Jerusalem as a burdensome stone and is committed to bringing peace between Israel and its enemies but there will be no true peace in reality, even when the Antichrist somehow confirms a seven-year covenant of peace in the region with many. There will be only a euphoric deception-laden perception of peace which will almost immediately be followed by sudden destruction in the form of the Tribulation Period to come!

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.

My point? When the Middle East puzzle is eventually unlocked, it will be the most evil human being to ever walk the planet who will do so - the Antichrist. What will follow will be a much larger puzzle for mankind to deal with - one that will unfold itself in wave after wave after wave of divine judgment.

And yes, there's plenty of evidence that we're heading toward all these things coming to pass. All one needs to do to see this is true is watch or read the news. Believe it or not, this world is traveling at breakneck speed toward Armageddon!

As we consider what the Iraq Study Group is proposing through the lens of what has been recorded here recently, it's clear that a peace conference like the one held in Madrid in 1991 now seems to be a certainty to take place in the not-too-distant future. All that remains to be determined is whether any such peacemaking effort, once initiated, will be fruitful. To be certain, unless we see a prince of Roman descent arise to confirm peace as detailed in the 9th chapter of the book of Daniel, the Iraq Study Group's proposals concerning the wider Middle East's troublesome issues will fail as all the others have failed.

Could the prophesied prince of Roman descent of Daniel 9:26 soon enter the diplomatic picture?

Could the confirmation of Middle East peace by a prince (or leader) of Roman descent be in the making right now, even before anyone acts on the Iraq Study Group's suggestions? Quite possibly and, perhaps, precisely a prince of Roman descent!

According to a Haaretz article dated today (12-9-06), Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is "ready to discuss Italy's proposal to send international troops to Gaza when he travels to Rome next week for a meeting with the Italian premier."

The Haaretz article states the following, in part:

Italy has floated the idea several times since this summer, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has long called for an international presence in the West Bank and Gaza. Israel, however, has opposed the idea.

Olmert said in an interview ro Italy's RAI Tg1 television news that he is on friendly terms with Premier Romano Prodi and would listen to what he has to say.

"If Italy is prepared that its army will be engaged on a daily basis against terrorist actions of Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the other terrorist organizations operating in Gaza, this is very interesting news. I want to learn it," Olmert said, speaking in English.

Only the Father knows what the future holds concerning how late the hour is concerning the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ is, but facts are facts and they need to be discussed in the Christian community. If you're a Christian and every hair on your neck isn't standing on end at this present moment, especially after reading what you just did, I have to wonder how much closer to the conditions required for the Rapture of the Church and the advent of Antichrist to occur we'd have to be to awaken you from your slumber! And if you're reading this having never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Make no mistake about it, it is time to repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior right now and I truly mean right now!

From RaptureAlert.com's arrival on the worldwide web in 2003 until now, I've been telling my readers to remain alert, particularly concerning anything taking place that would place the revived Roman empire of Bible prophecy, today's European Union, in a position that would allow a leader of Roman descent from within its ranks to somehow confirm (or make strong) a seven-year covenant of peace in the Middle East in fulfillment of Daniel 9:26-27, descriptive of the advent of Antichrist.

Why have I been telling my readers to keep an eye out for that to occur? Because the Rapture of the Church will precede the rise of the Antichrist and, subsequently, his New World Order which is being planned even now, perhaps before our very eyes!

2006 has been very active in terms of prophetic posturing and, already, 2007 is shaping up to continue the trend. As seen in a Haaretz article, "Germany will use its presidency of the European Union next year to launch new efforts aimed at helping secure peace in the Middle East." The following is an excerpt from that article (emphasis added mine):

The political process ... must be revived," Merkel said. "Germany will seize the initiative during the EU presidency. Above all, we believe the Middle East Quartet should be revived and here, the European Union has an active role to play."

KEEP LOOKING UP, CHURCH!