Peace gone to ruin?

Israel and the Philistines

Never before in its seventy-five year existence has the state of Israel undergone such a tragedy as the attacks since October 7th of this year. It was exactly fifty years after the beginning of the famous Yom Kippur War, when the Jewish state was also militarily surprised and attacked during one of its high holidays. Then by Syria and Egypt, now by the Palestinian Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip. This area, roughly forty by ten kilometers, is the same region where the Philistines lived in Biblical times. And thus, in a totally different time and setting, the ancient conflict between Israel and the Philistines is revived. The word for ‘Philistines’ in Hebrew is the same as the word for ‘Palestinians’.

peace accords sabotaged

It was only a few weeks ago that Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, delivered a passionate speech at the United Nations in New York about a beckoning peace in the Middle East. This was partly because Saudi Arabia was expected to soon join the six countries with which Israel had signed the so-called Abraham Accords. Peace and prosperity in the region seemed closer than in any previous decade. Only Iran was still seen as a possible spoiler. But while Netanyahu was announcing his dreams to the world, he was simultaneously covering up the serious internal division within his own country. A fierce conflict between religious right and secular left, which remains far from resolved even now. Never before in its existence was the morale of the nation so low as it had been over the past year. From a tactical point of view, therefore, this was the perfect moment for Hamas to sabotage the approaching peace in the Middle East. By striking with horrific brutality and forcing a hard retaliation from Israel, the terrorist organization compels the Arab world to take a stand against the Jewish state. It is also noteworthy that in Hebrew, the word hamas means ‘violence’ (cf. Ezek.7:23). The attack on Israel last week sets a chain reaction in motion with enormous geopolitical consequences. Should Iran and world powers like America and Russia become directly involved in this conflict, even a third world war is not unthinkable.

the Biblical prophecy

Those familiar with GoedBericht.nl know that the situation in the Middle East is always closely monitored. But always and consistently without taking political sides. Nor from a Zionist perspective. We cherish a great love for Israel and know that this people is destined to soon be a kingdom of priests among the nations of the world. But we also realize that the current Zionist state is an unbelieving anticipation of that promise.
The land intended since 1948 as a safe haven for all Jews will, in practice, prove to be the most unsafe place in the world. According to Biblical prophecy, the fate of the Jewish state will end dramatically, and at the conclusion of Israel’s great tribulation, no living inhabitant will be found in the land (Isa.6:11). That is not a popular view and certainly not a pleasant message to proclaim. But “it is written” and thus “so shall it be.”
Why then, as believers, should we take sides in the complex political relations? Or wave flags? We should pay attention to the prophetic word as to a lamp shining in a murky place (2 Pet.1:19). And all the more as we see the day approaching.

the year 6000

In the Nederlands Dagblad (Dutch newspaper) I read an interview with the Dutch rabbi Evers, who emigrated to Israel two years ago. He is extremely pessimistic about the current situation and declared:

I have given up hope for true peace.

But he added the following:

According to the Jewish calendar, we are living in the year 5784 after creation. There is a tradition in the Talmud that says the Messianic era will commence around the year 6000. In the past 3336 years, our people have survived all enemies, from Nebuchadnezzar to Hitler, Nasser, Hussein, and many others. The struggle we are now fighting is the final ‘exile’ and will inevitably lead to the coming of the Messiah. We continue to trust in God.

The year 6000 (exactly or approximately) has traditionally been regarded in both Jewish and Christian traditions, but also on solid Biblical grounds, as the year in which the great world sabbath will begin. After all, “one day is as a thousand years…”
According to the Jewish reckoning, there are still 216 years to go before the year 6000 arrives. But elsewhere on this site I have argued and explained that the Jewish calendar, in my opinion, has miscalculated by 206 years, so that according to Biblical standards it is currently the year 5990. In that case, we are only 10 years away from the seventh Millennium. In other words: the time in which we are living is, Biblically and chronologically speaking, even more exciting than rabbi Evers assumes!

spectacular peace approaching

According to the book of Revelation, the unfolding of the prophetic program is preceded by the opening of the first seal (6:1): a rider on a white horse gallops forth, conquering and to conquer. As the context shows, this symbolizes the coming of a spectacular (but also short-lived) peace in the land.
From a prophetic perspective, this is what we are to expect first: (apparent) peace. Indeed, at this moment it seems further away than ever, but do not forget: precisely against the backdrop of imminent warfare, a peacemaker will soon present himself all the more spectacularly. What extraordinary times we are living in!

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