Latest Bible Prophecy Commentary
As UN Recognition of PA State Looms, Quartet Makes Final Push To Restart Talks; Sources: Netanyahu Open To '67 borders With Conditions
The foreign ministers of the Middle East Quartet will be meeting Monday in Washington and are expected to release a statement endorsing U.S. President Barack Obama's May 19 speech on the Middle East, which called for negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the borders of a future state based on pre-1967 lines with agreed-upon land swaps.
According to sources in Jerusalem, the Quartet, which consists of the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, will not invite the parties to a summit meeting but will instead send a delegation to the region to determine if the will exists and the time is ripe for renewed negotiations.
On Sunday the group of eight senior Israeli cabinet members convened to discuss the anticipated announcement by the Quartet following a similar meeting on Friday. A source in Jerusalem said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet colleagues have concerns that the Quartet announcement could provide a surprise for Israel similar to Obama's May speech, the contents of which were revised less than 24 hours before it was delivered.
The U.S. is proposing a Quartet statement that mentions the Obama address in relatively general terms and announces that a Quartet delegation would visit the region for additional talks.
Israeli sources have said Netanyahu has been somewhat more flexible in his stance regarding the principles expressed in Obama's address, saying that he would agree to base talks on the 1967 borders with land swaps. In exchange, he is seeking Obama administration ratification of President George W. Bush's letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon regarding Jewish West Bank settlement blocs coming under Israeli sovereignty and for Palestinian refugees to be resettled in a future Palestinian state (Haaretz.com).
The revelation that Netanyahu is becoming more flexible toward his stance regarding 1967 borders with land swaps as we draw closer to September is predictable. The Bible says there will be peace in the Middle East with Israel, a group of nation (likely the Arab League) and a world leader yet to be revealed known as the Antichrist. The only question is, will this be the time and peace accord that will fulfill this prophecy (Daniel 9:27)?
In the past, I have proposed this present peace push could merely lead to the creation of a Palestinian state followed by a Middle East war. Some have speculated this war could be the prophesied Psalm 83 War, that would be followed by another Middle East War known as the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezekiel 38 & 39). Bible prophecy states Israel will come out victorious in both wars. It is also, believed this is when Israel will rebuild their Temple on the Temple Mount.
Once these two wars are completed, it is then that many believe there will be peace between the coming Antichrist, Israel, and many other nations.
Whether or not we are on the cusp of witnessing this prophesied peace accord being fulfilled is unknown. Are there still at least two more wars Israel must fight before peace will be established? I have my doubts and this next story plays an indirect role in my apprehension.
European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has called an emergency meeting of top officials dealing with the euro zone debt crisis for Monday morning, reflecting concern that the crisis could spread to Italy, the region's third largest economy.
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet will attend the meeting along with Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the region's finance ministers, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Olli Rehn, the economic and monetary affairs commissioner, three official sources told Reuters.
Van Rompuy's spokesman Dirk De Backer said: "It's a coordination, not a crisis meeting." He added that Italy would not be on the agenda and declined to say what would be discussed.
However, two official sources told Reuters that the situation in Italy would be discussed. The talks were organized after a sharp sell-off in Italian assets on Friday, which has increased fears that Italy, with the highest sovereign debt ratio relative to its economy in the euro zone after Greece, could be next to suffer in the crisis. A second international bailout of Greece will also be discussed, the sources said (reuters.com).
The Bible says the Antichrist will rise up out of the revived Roman Empire for which many experts believe to be the modern day European Union.
As many of you know, the Eurozone countries are in a severe debt crisis that could literally bankrupt the European Union and bring about the collapse of the euro. If this were to happen, financial markets around the world would plunge to unprecedented levels.
I don't believe the European Union will collapse, but this crisis could be the avenue for which the Antichrist catapults onto the world stage. In describing the attributes of the Antichrist, the Bible says, "through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand (Daniel 8:25a)". Most prophecy experts interrupt this to mean he will be a financial genius.
As the Eurozone crisis continues to spread from nation to nation, it is my belief a financial genius will soon rise up and solve not only the financial woes of the EU but the world as well...temporarily. Since the Bible is clear that his empire will only comprise of ten kingdoms, it is likely he will either reduce or create a new core EU. Some believe the ten kingdoms should be interrupted as representation for ten world regions the Antichrist will rule over.
Whatever direction you believe the Antichrist will follow, I think we can agree he will come on the scene suddenly, change the world dramatically, and deceive the world into believing he is God.
In the end, through his attempt to bring world peace, he will destroy many (Daniel 8:25b).
Are you ready to meet the Lord? If not, your time is running out!
Terry Malone
Calvary Prophecy Report
http://www.calvaryprophecy.com/
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