World News Through the Third Lens: The Peace of Jerusalem

 

PM Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with a number of foreign leaders over       the weekend, telling them he would be prepared for an immediate, comprehensive ceasefire with Hamas if the latter agrees to halt all rocket fire from Gaza. Meanwhile, Hamas on television announced a list of its own ceasefire demands, none of which included a cessation of the constant rocket-fire on Israeli civilians that led to the Pillar of Defense Operation. (INN/Ha’aretz) At the present moment it seems like a ceasefire is wishful thinking, much less peace.

 

In the USA, it is difficult to comprehend what life would be like with 850 rockets being launched across our borders within the space of a few days. Yet this is just an intense display of the terror that has been plaguing the nation of Israel for the past 64 years. Some times it has come in the form of attacks on many fronts from many nations (1948, 1967, 1973); other times disguise as a young man innocently passing through a shopping mall or taking a seat on a crowded bus, who detonates the bomb strapped to his chest shouting, "Allahu Akbar!" The last effective ceasefire was the end of the Yom Kippur War on October 25, 1973. Since then virtually every ceasefire arranged with the PLO, PA, Hamas or Hezbollah has been broken. Despite the hope and promise of The Camp David Accords in 1978, the Oslo I Accord of 1993, or the Wye River Memorandum of 1998, peace has remained as elusive as nailing jello to a tree.

 

Throughout these past six decades, Christians have been exhorted time and again to pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you." Psalms 122:6 (NKJV) This exhortation has come from Zionists (those who believe Israel has a just claim to the land) and from evangelicals who just take the Bible seriously. The understanding of what peace in Jerusalem means varies with ones view of eschatology (end-times events).

 

Through the Third Lens of Scripture: The peace of Israel and Jerusalem is a topic spoken of frequently in the context of end-times. The angel Gabriel gave Daniel insight into this matter over 2500 years ago. "Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." Daniel 9:27 (NKJV) Without going into detail, this speaks of a 7 year peace treaty confirmed by one who, after 3-1/2 years will break the covenant, will enter the (rebuilt) temple and commit "the abomination which causes desolation."

 

Jesus speaks of this event (remember it takes place 3-1/2 years into the last 7 year period, often referred to as the Tribulation) during His discourse on the Mount of Olivet. ¹⁵ "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand), ¹⁶ then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Matthew 24:15-16 (NKJV) In Matthew 24, Jesus answers His disciple's questions concerning the end of this present age and the Second Coming pretty much in chronological order. Note that He speaks of the days following the "abomination" this way: ²¹ "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
²² And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened." Matthew 24:21-22 (NKJV) Following the words of Jesus, we discover that the event which will cut short the Great Tribulation is His Second Coming, which is  immediately preceded by signs in the heavenlies. You can track all of this in Revelation 6, which culminates with signs in the heavenlies, and the declaration that the "great day of their wrath has come." (v.16)

 

As Revelation continues, we see that two classes of people are protected from the wrath of God in two different ways. 144,000 Jews will remain on the earth during this time and are protected by a seal on their foreheads (Revelation 7:3), while the saints of God will be taken from the earth via the Rapture (Revelation 7:14). Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit to write about these events also. Again, this is just a summary of some of the headlines. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 he writes about the Rapture and the Resurrection (other details are provided in 1 Corinthians 15). Paul continues in 1 Thessalonians 5 reminding us that while the Rapture (immediately followed by the Day of the Lord's wrath) will occur during times and seasons of which the prepared Christian is aware, it will come upon the unbelieving world as a "thief in the night." (v. 1-2) The believer is encouraged with the words ^"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (NKJV)

Paul continues to give us insight in his writings to the church in Thessalonica:
^{1 "}Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you,
² not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.
³ Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition," 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1950 years ago people were trying to distort the clear teaching of Jesus concerning the end-times. Paul makes it clear that the Rapture/Day of the Lord had not already come (v. 1-2) and would not come until two things happened: 1) a great apostasy or rebellion against God and His truth, and 2) the revealing of the man of sin (Antichrist) spoken of by Daniel and Jesus (see above).

The next peace to come to Israel and Jerusalem will be a false peace. How it comes about will probably be unknown to most of the world, but they will be grateful for it. That peace will be short-lived and will be followed by a time of unprecedented persecution. Those days will be cut short by the Resurrection/Rapture/Day of the Lord, after which Jesus will set up His Millennial Kingdom. Then the Prince of Peace will sit upon David's Throne and the government will be upon His shoulders. Then our Psalm 122:6 prayer will be answered. I just wanted you to have a good idea of what needed to happen before it would come to pass.