June 9, 2009
Jerusalem has been labeled as the "epicenter" in Joel Rosenberg's book by the same title. The prophet Zechariah calls the city a "cup of trembling" and a "burdensome stone" in Zechariah 12:2-3. The Apostle John declares that the court outside the (rebuilt) temple and the holy city (Jerusalem) will be given unto the Gentiles and it shall be trampled underfoot for 42 months. (Revelation 11:1-2)
In 2003, Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia proposed a new peace plan which "promised normal relations" with Israel. In 2003, the U.S. administration unveiled a new plan for peace in the Middle East, known simply as "The Road Map." Both the Saudi plan and the Road Map included the so-called "two-state solution" and a divided Jerusalem, with East Jerusalem as the capital of the new Palestinian state. Had either of these two plans followed their original timetable, the matter would be history by the space of four years. Instead the conflict and the rhetoric continue.
Just yesterday, JNN News (www.visionforisrael.com )reported:
SAUDIS: US MUST CUT AID IF ISRAEL DOES NOT AGREE TO PEACE TERMS: Saudi Arabian FM Prince Saud al-Faisal said last week, following Obama’s Cairo speech, the US should cut off all aid to Israel if the Jewish state does not accept the terms of the 2002 Saudi Peace Plan. He also made it clear the only concession the Arab world can make to Israel is diplomatic recognition, meaning all other terms of the Saudi peace initiative are non-negotiable. The Saudi Peace Plans calls for the 22-member Arab League to recognize Israel as a country, but not necessarily as a Jewish state, on condition that it surrender all of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, including numerous neighborhoods in Jerusalem and the Old City, where the proposed PA state would be headquartered.
The pressure is building. President Obama is more insistent than his predecessor that Israel stop construction in the West Bank and give up land for the formation of a Palestinian state. Now with the demands of oil-rich Saudi Arabia being raised again, who knows where this will lead. Bible prophecy students know that it will lead to a temporary peace and the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, but how convoluted the process may be to that point......well, just keep your eyes on the Word of God and the City of God......as we "look forward to the day of God and speed its coming" (2 Peter 3:12),
Pastor Les
You know, reading through this, I got the thought that had not occurred to me, but with the PM of Israel saying "OK, but these are our terms", I wonder if the TEMPLE mount will be added to that! Perhaps that will be how the Antichrist will bring that 3.5 years of peace! The Rapture is so immanent it makes me giddy!!!!
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