THIS website’s editor sent me a reader’s comment on what he described as ‘A Miracle in Our Own Time’. In it, the reader proposed a potential parallel of God hardening the Pharaoh’s heart during the Ten Plagues in the Bible, and the hearts of the successive Palestinian Arab Leaders during the Israeli/Palestinian Peace Process.
Then the reader asked for my evaluation. I have published much data both publicly and privately on the Palestinian Arab leadership’s status, behavior and culture, and their resistance concerning peace with the Jewish State of Israel.
Therefore, I shall also refer to a few statements of what I wrote in the Times of Israel, ‘Unmasking the Israeli realities’, and my article in The Christian Messenger, ‘Are we on the brink of Ezekiel 38 being played out in the Middle East?’, and elaborate several more points.
However, as far as God, or in this case, maybe His Son, Jesus Christ, who was born a Jew, presented to God by Jesus’ earthy Jewish parents, in the Temple at Jerusalem, and providing a sacrifice, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, then blessed by righteous and devout Simeon and prophet Anna (Luke 2:22-39) – Jesus Christ may additionally be hardening the Palestinian Arab Leader’s hearts. Both would serve a purpose to harmonize God’s plan, and his Son’s, Jesus Christ.
Moreover, there is an ancient tragedy, a prophecy from the angel of the Lord, that is authentic (Genesis 16:11-12). Wait long enough, and the Arabs related to Ishmael, in this case, the Palestinian Arabs, will begin fighting between themselves.
Plus, there are those, both theologian and otherwise, that claim that prophecy does not reveal a Palestinian country in Israel. Calculating that prophecy only discloses the nations of Israel and Judah, who are joined together near the ‘end days’.
In equivalent, Israel has a substantial worldwide pro-Israel community. Outspoken, evangelical Christians, Protestant and Catholic groups, and many others, who undeniably and unilaterally support Israel. Supporting all of Israel and modern Israel. Including the entire Biblical borders of ancient Israel and prophetic borders of Israel, which envision a much, much larger realm.
In glaring contrast, the Palestinian people, or Arabs on the whole, do not have a coordinated ideal or nation model. Most of the splintered leadership is stagnated with the outdated and repulsed violent and murderous methods of the 1970s and 80s, and are still currently associated with past and present malevolent terror attacks. This continued terror connection, paying or supporting terrorists families, and related actions and behavior will never garner mainstream world support or produce nation-building.
But, the hope any kind of ‘peace’ from the Oslo Accords was forever dashed after the failure of the 2000 Camp David Summit. Attending, was Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.
Reports were positive that Barak was willing to go to great lengths to secure peace. Yet, Arafat’s reluctance, supposedly demonstrated to the Israeli government that Arafat was not going to compromise and wanted more, all of Israel. Or wanted Israel, minus the Jewish State. As a result, Israelis charged that Arafat and the Palestinian leaders never relinquished violence against Israel, and to this day teach children to kill Jews.
Later, other proposals met the same fate – no deal from the Palestinian Arabs.
Also, Yasser Arafat was (perhaps) the only Palestinian leader who could have made peace with Israel. He commanded and controlled the Palestinian Arabs.
Today, the Palestinians have chronically fractured and have leaders of groups, zones, terror
organizations, or leaders in name only, but lack a dynamic, solitary leader to govern a nation.
And ‘one’ of the existing Palestinian Arab leadership, President Abbas, while living in luxury as the average Palestinian Arab only gets by in life or lives in poverty, Abbas firmly believes that anything short of territory in the pre-1967 borders, and Jerusalem as their Capital, is a starting point of negotiations (they want more), and insulting, to say the least, if not included in any peace plan.
Concurrently, and this is crucially paramount. Allegedly, Muslims in general are apprehensive to concretely openly associate with any Israel/Palestinian Authority peace plan for fear of harassment and attacks from terrorist and Muslim hardliners opposed to Israel. Moreover, reprisals if the peace plan fails.
Again.
So purportedly, with Muslim resistance and reluctance to visibly contribute, even in some cases to be linked with a peace plan, lack of Palestinian Arab unity, lack of a distinctive, comprehensive Palestinian leader, lack of coordination, lack of ANY flexibility nor willing to initially talk, insults to the US, Israel and personnel, and the continued support and use of terror, is it any wonder there is no peace between the Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs.
Likewise, many Arab nations in the region are basically, weary of this decades long, perpetual, Pandora’s box Israeli/Palestinian ‘Peace Plan’. Eventually, the Palestinian Arab leadership cluster, and people will get nothing.
Note: I always use the distinction “Arab” Palestinians instead of merely the term, Palestinians. Why? Because preceding Israel’s re-Statehood in 1948, during the British occupation, anyone in the territory commonly referred to as the Palestine Territory (not a country or state), both Jews and Arabs were called Palestinian. Particularly the Jews, as Arabs were many times referred to simply as “Arabs”. Passports were issued under British sovereignty.
Consequently, where or how does the ‘peace’ failures correspond with the Israelis and Palestinian Arabs, the rest of the global population, or the Biblical timeline nowadays? As I reiterated in my article in this website ‘Are we on the brink of Ezekiel 38 being played out in the Middle East?’, I do not believe we are in the era of Ezekiel 38. Prophecy events do not line up despite a few, kind-of, similarities. Modern Israel has never lived in safety or had peace.
Subsequently, I look backwards in prophecy to what could apply.
I have come to the conclusion, ruling out any immediate or future alteration, that the Middle East instability, rhetoric, threats, military buildup, assaults and counter-assaults, between Israel versus Iran (and clandestinely Russia), Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority, might develop into a horrific, massive air and missile war. Preventing an establishing ground war, until the last days of conflict.
Further complicated by, the historical, Israeli-Jewish political quandary of the political, religious and ideological divide in which the State of Israel, to this day of the writing of this article, cannot agree on a political party majority or prime ministry.
And the ‘pandemic’ plague of the Corona virus, that is wreaking havoc in the region and on the planet. Pestilence alone can savage the populace, thus, destroying a multitude of country’s economies, armies, political systems and order.
Regional war, civil war or plague, or any combination therein are ‘tools’ God has used to hone measures into His plan. Perhaps, transforming Israel and the region into results similar in Ezekiel 34, 35, 36. When the Lord replaces Israel’s shepherds with His shepherds, removing His enemies, remove enemies of the Jews from inside Israel (the Palestinian Arabs) and neighboring Israel (making them desolate and desolate wastes), thus rebuilding Israel peaceably, treaties with Arab neighbors, with no need of walls, bars or nuclear weapons, hence, all living in safety. Then, returning the entire House of Israel in Ezekiel 37.
During which time, Russia, Iran and Turkey may have to retreat, or suffer loss and humiliation, vowing to return someday. Therein ultimately preparing the way for God’s full fury and wrath in Ezekiel 38, 39.
This could also coincide with the Jewish prediction, according to traditional Jewish interpretations, that the ‘end times’ will occur near the Jewish calendar year of 6000. Which means, if deciphered accurately, there are approximately two-hundred and twenty years till the ‘end times’ of when the Messiah appears (for us, when He returns). As the Jewish calendar is presently 5780/5781 during year 2020. And Jewish predictions should not be immediately ignored by Christians, but studied for truth and relevance.
Remember what Jesus Christ told the woman in Samaria at the well; John 4:22 ‘…for salvation is of the Jews.’ This timetable would as well provide time for the land of Israel to recover, rebuild and live in peace and safety as described in Ezekiel 38.
Although take special notice of Ezekiel 38, 39 in its entirety. God’s fury is not aroused during USA/Russia conflicts, nor against China/USA, the United Kingdom and European quarrels, or
China/Pakistan/India tensions. It is only when Israel is invaded therefore fully demonstrating God’s irrefutable love for his chosen country and people – I added this for those anti-Jewish and anti-Israel individuals that call themselves Christians, or believe in the Replacement Theology. Consider too, that God will be making a New Covenant with the House of Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 31:31), He will not forget or abandon His chosen people as additionally illustrated in Zechariah 8:23 – “Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.”
Another exclusive notification – in Revelation 20:9, when Satan and the world nations attempt to conquer Jerusalem, God does not save North America, South America, Europe, or Asia. God sends fire from heaven to consume all, as God saves His city, Jerusalem, and His people together with His saints.
As a result, a forewarning to anyone that is anti-Jewish and anti-Israel at the Judgment Seat of Christ or the equally terrifying Great White Throne (including the Palestinian Arabs against Israel). Predominantly, people who claim to be Christian, or a follower or friend of Jesus.
Disbelieve me? Read Biblical prophecy comprehensively, and Apostle Paul’s warning to Gentile believers in Romans 11:13-22. Also read ‘The unavoidable accountability of Christians concerning Israel’ in this website.
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Don Davis is a published Middle East analyst and book author. For more than twenty years most of his research material was client confidential and behavioral related. But many of his abridged reports on current or Israeli subjects have been posted as articles or blogs in The Christian Messenger in India, The Times of Israel, and in American news online. Don is also the book author of ‘The Children of Santiago’ and ‘The Theogonic Resurrections’.