Good Article from Rapture Ready’s Nearing Midnight weekly musings…
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We have all done it one time or the other as children–and maybe even as adults. We have looked into a long tube and watched a constantly changing picture of colorful shapes and patterns. Kaleidoscopes with colored glass prisms rearranging while we turned the cylinder and watched through the little hole, were a source of entertainment–well, before technology made such entertainment…quaint…for lack of a better word.
I would like to revive the use of the kaleidoscope–at least the concept of the kaleidoscope—for purposes of trying to briefly view the shapes and patterns of these prophetic times. The twists and turns of hourly news indeed bring into view biblically prophetic reminders–shapes and patterns of what God’s Word says about things to come.
And remember, God’s Word is all-important in our viewing tube. We must have a bright light at the end of the kaleidoscope to fully illuminate the details of the display.
Looking into our kaleidoscope just within the past week, the specter of Tribulation-like developments begins to take on form and substance. Let’s twist the instrument just slightly to bring into some degree of focus the distinctives within each news item.
The Middle East peace process continues to be the centerpiece of the watchman’s attention. It takes no more than a nuance of eye movement across the headline to bring this most important end-times matter into a definitive prophetic image.
Barak to Haaretz: Israel Ready to Cede Parts of Jerusalem in Peace Deal
Ahead of [the] start of direct peace talks in Washington, Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods will be part of a Palestinian state; a “special regime” to govern holy sites.… The defense minister believes in the 2010 peace summit even more than the principals taking part in it.… From his office at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, his sense was that there is a good chance that Netanyahu will surprise us.…
“In the current reality that is encircling us, there are remarkable changes underway. Thirty years ago, the Arabs competed amongst themselves in spouting rejectionist slogans… Today the Arab states are competing amongst themselves in arguing over which peace initiative will be adopted by the international community. The same situation is taking place with us…
“Netanyahu leads a process, a significant number of rightist ministers will stand with him. So what is needed is courage to make historic, painful decisions. I’m not saying that there is a certainty for success, but there is a chance. This chance must be exploited to the fullest…we cannot be deterred from working toward the success of the peace negotiations.” (Ari Shavit, Haaretz, 9/1/10; thanks to John Stettin)
The light behind this kaleidoscopic picture of the peace process, in which the Obama administration and the international community are pressuring Israel to cede God’s land to the enemies of the Jewish state, is effulgent with forewarning.
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.… And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isa. 28:14-15, 18)
Whatever peace agreement the current process brings about might presage the covenant that will initiate Daniel’s seventieth week.
We slightly twist the instrument again, and yet another ominous shape moves into view.
Ashton Unable to Attend Mideast Peace Talks
BRUSSELS — European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Saturday she could not attend next month’s Middle East peace talks because of a China trip, and she had no place there anyway.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Friday the EU should be at the table when the Israeli and Palestinian leaders resume direct peace talks in Washington on Thursday.
“It would be a shame if there was no European representation,” Kouchner said, suggesting it should be Ashton.
He referred to the fact that EU countries are the major contributors of Palestinian aid, but the EU plays second fiddle diplomatically behind the United States. (AFP, 8/28/10)
A fire is burning within the heart of Europe, the nucleus out of which the Beast system of Revelation chapter 13 will emerge. That burning desire is to become a power along the lines of ancient Rome. This will eventuate, many of us believe Bible prophecy foretells.
God’s prophetic light reveals the reshaping European behemoth with regard to the ongoing pressures for Israel to acquiesce in dividing the land to achieve Middle East peace. The “prince that shall come” (Dan. 9:26) will come out of this reviving Rome–Europe: “And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week” (Dan. 9:27a) .
A half-turn or so of our end-times kaleidoscope gives the next visual of prophetically shaping events.
Mideast Peace Envoy Announces Second Round of Peace Talks
The Israeli Prime Minister, in his opening statement ahead of the talks, said real peace could only be achieved by “painful concessions from both sides,” stressing that security for the Israelis was paramount to reaching an agreement.
“Achieving security is a must. Security is the foundation of peace. Without it peace will unravel,” Netanyahu said. (AP, 9/2/10, thanks to Christopher Mangan)
This Israeli prime minister, in my estimation, is the strongest in quite some time, in terms of resisting the incessant call for his nation to give in to the insane notion of giving up more territory for a peace process that seems to have no end. Yet, it is as if Mr. Netanyahu–if he is genuine with his words—can’t resist the same trap other Israeli leaders have fallen into.
Biblically prophetic illumination tells us that at the end of this age and the beginning of the next–the Tribulation (Daniel’s seventieth week)— Israel’s leadership will give in to the covenant of the false, deadly peace that the “prince that shall come” will confirm. The concession those leaders make will come as a result of a cry for peace and safety by Israel and the other nations of the world. We are hearing that cry frequently and loudly today.
“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” (1 Thess. 5:3).
At any moment, the resplendent image we see when looking into our end-times kaleidoscope might be the face of Jesus Christ as He shouts, “Come up hither!” (Rev. 4:1).
— Terry
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myBlessedHope 