On September 15th, 2020, Israel signed peace agreements (dubbed as the Abraham Accords) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain. This then led to subsequent agreements with Sudan and Morocco. Since then, the momentum surrounding the Abraham Accords hasn’t slowed down but has instead grown with even the Biden Administration wanting to see this initiative expanded.
In May of 2021, it was announced that Jared Kushner who had a significant role in this process launched a peace institute to advance the Abraham Accords. Then in September, it was reported that former US Ambassador David Friedman launched the “Friedman Center for Peace through Strength” institute for the advancement of the Abraham Accords.
As of January 2022, we also now know that a bipartisan caucus launched by US lawmakers was created to further promote and expand upon the Abraham Accords, “[T]he group would provide ‘bipartisan leadership to strengthen existing partnerships and widen the circle of peace to new countries,’” (The Times of Israel). These are just a few of the recent examples of this continued momentum but the question now is why should we care about the Abraham Accords and these ongoing efforts to further expand it? Is it something worth paying attention to?
I believe that this may be contributing to the stage setting for the Daniel 9:27 covenant as well as for the conditions for the Ezekiel 38-39 invasion. First, in regards to Daniel 9:27, this future covenant will be confirmed for a “week” or 7 years which will be what starts the tribulation period. The word for confirm in Hebrew is gabar – to make strong, strengthen, to confirm.
It’s likely that something will already be in place in some form which the antichrist will then “strengthen”. What we’re seeing is an Israel that’s more than willing to enter into agreements with others for their benefit. This isn’t necessarily bad, but it shows us the mindset they have. It’s preparing them to enter the agreement of the ages. Along with Daniel 9:27, we’re also seeing the increased setup for the Ezekiel 38-39 war.
What we’re seeing with the accords is an increased call for peace in the Middle East as well as Israel reaping economic benefits. In Ezekiel 38 we’re informed of Israel’s state of being when several nations go against it.
After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you. Thus says the Lord God: ‘On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates— to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’ (Ezekiel 38:8-13)
Ezekiel 38:8 and Ezekiel 38:11 show us that Israel will be dwelling “safely” when this invasion occurs against it and that the people there are “peaceful”. The next important piece to this is why exactly are the nations coming against Israel? “To take plunder and to take booty” (Ezekiel 38:12). For this to occur we must infer that at this time Israel must also be a prosperous nation.
For other nations to want to come against it for material gain of some kind, it presupposes an Israel that has something valuable to take in the first place. Interestingly, these peace agreements are being hailed as bringing about a more prosperous and safe Middle East, and of course, Israel would be a part of this prosperity and safety.
Lastly, we see a few nations protesting this invasion. Included are Sheba and Dedan, or modern-day Saudi Arabia who is currently on friendly terms with Israel and is also expected to likely sign an agreement with Israel in the future.
For nations to protest against an invasion of Israel, they would have to be on good terms which is what we’re seeing amongst Saudi Arabia and Israel, and other Arab nations. Ultimately, as we see the setup for the future fulfillment of bible prophecies being set up right before our eyes concerning events that occur in close proximity to the tribulation, it should tell us that our redemption draws ever so near.
Sources
- US lawmakers launch bipartisan caucus to promote Abraham Accords (January 11th, 2022) – The Times of Israel
Featured Image by Kevin Snyman from Pixabay
