During these end times, it’s important to watch worldwide events for key markers that indicate the return of Jesus Christ is even closer. Events concerning Israel are particularly important and so the recent news where the UAE and Israel agree to sign peace agreement is getting some attention. This surprise ‘historic deal’ certainly changes things in the Middle East where tensions have always been on a knife-edge. Perhaps we are witnessing a significant piece on the Bible prophecy timeline being put into place.
The deal is seen as historic because previously only two Arab nations – Egypt and Jordon – have had agreements with Israel. The last one being over 25 years ago in 1994 with Jordan. This agreement has also halted Israel’s plans of annexing parts of the West Bank that were causing increased tension. The agreement includes many features that will mutually benefit both nations from tourism and direct flights to technology and healthcare.
People are also seeing this agreement as an ‘ice breaker’ for more Arab nations to follow and normalise their relationship with Israel. The still future prophecy of Ezekiel 38 comes to mind:
Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, ‘Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?’” (Ezekiel 38:13 NIV)
Here we see Sheba (Yemen) and Dedan (Saudi Arabia) protesting but also standing off as nations invade Israel. We seem to be some way off the fulfilment of this prophecy as Israel needs to be living in peace with ‘unwalled villages’ (Ezekiel 38:11) but, as we know, things can move quickly. If other nations come on board with these agreements there could be increased pressure on the remaining nations to do the same. That is one way Israel might be able to live in peace and safety.
Calling this deal the ‘Abraham Accord’ is interesting, makes us think of the Abrahamic covenant God made with His chosen land:
I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:7-8 NIV)
Abraham is seen as the father of the 3 main faiths in the Middle East, naming the deal after him is probably hoped to help ease any tension and aid the overall peace process. Either way, scripture is clear who owns the land of Israel as God gave to land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
It is difficult to assess the potential significance of this news at the point, but having nations acknowledging Israel’s right to exist is a big deal, something that the Palestinians will have a hard time accepting. One thing we do know, God is in control and the more we see events like this happening in and around Israel we know the Coming King‘s return is not far away.
He remembers his covenant for ever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: ‘To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit.’ (Psalm 105:8-11 NIV)
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