Genesis 13:15 – “All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”  Throughout the Bible God made a covenant with Abraham that the land he was given would be his heirs forever.  Yet, in AD 70 the Roman armies destroyed Jerusalem and ruled the covenant land.

Deuteronomy 28:64 – 65 –  “Then the LORD will scatter you among all nations, from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship other gods—gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your ancestors have known. Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.”  Over the pursuing years the Israelites were scattered throughout the world.  The majority of the world seemed that the prophecy to Abraham in the Old Testament was no longer valid.

Galatians 3:29 – “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Some Christian theologians believed that Christ’s Church replaced Israel and the Catholic Pope was God’s appointed ruler.  Therefore, the Jews rejection and crucifixion of God’s Son transferred God’s blessing from Israel onto the church.

Do you believe that God would break His promise to Abraham?  It seems that since AD 70 there has been no time that the Israelites have lived in peace.  1 Thessalonians 5:2 – 3 – “for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”  Do you ever remember a time that the Israelites believed they were at peace and living safely?

I believe the Bible is predicting a time that the Jews will accept a peace treaty believing that it will end all wars with their enemies and they can live in peace. But it will be only for a short time.  Revelation 6:4 – “Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other.”

Luke 21:25 – 28 – “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.  At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

It is not hard to understand why we have had our presidents try to develop peace in the Middle East.  For the Jewish people will be deceived believing that they can have peace.  It comes but only for a short time.  No matter who or how hard they try peace will not come until God wills it to happen.  When that happens the following will be a time of devastation.  It seems to me the longer we live without peace in the Middle East the longer it will be before the end time.

In my previous blog I used the following Scripture: II Thessalonians 2:3 – 5 – “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.  He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”

Many continue to wonder how close we are to the end time. A poll indicated a number believe we are in the last days—meaning within five to ten years. We have a few people predicting the exact day.  Remember, many believe the Jews will enter into a peace treaty before it happens.  We will then see the man of lawlessness revealed and rule from the temple.  So it looks like the end is still a little further off.  Prepare for retirement, you may have to provide for a while longer. However, we are told numerous times to be alert and always prepared spiritually for that day.   In fact many of us may not be alive when that happens.  If we are spiritually prepared the end-time should never matter—except to get others to accept Christ as their Lord and Savior.

I don’t discount the fact that we are living in a time similar to what occurred during Noah’s life.  (Luke 17:16 – “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.”)  I suppose if I lived in Mexico, parts of Africa and Asia I might think we were living in the time of tribulation.  I base much of my belief on what is happening to Israel. Because Israel is the fig tree and that is what Christ told us to watch.  (Mark 13:28)

May I make it clear that I do not sense that I have any prophetic gift of knowing the future.  My interpretation comes by studying the Bible for many years and hopefully common sense.  I am in disagreement with a number of Christian authors and my purpose is to provide another outlook.  Too many self-proclaimed theologians are predicting things that are taken out of context.  All my writings on prophecy are strictly a personal opinion after praying and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.  I have no guarantee that He gives me His guidance.