Just before Christmas, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building. Although the resolution won’t have any impact on the ground, because the United Nations doesn’t actually have any power, the measure was obviously designed to isolate Israel intentionally and pressure them into compromising with the Palestinians. For the resolution to pass, of course, the United States abstained. While the abstention gave the appearance of some kind of principled neutrality, in reality, the US was hardly on the fence about the issue.
Quite the opposite, David Keyes, the spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that “We have rather ironclad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place.” Sadly, this isn’t surprising at all. Let’s not forget that President Barack Obama’s State Department “supported a group that tried to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year to the tune of nearly $350,000, or NIS 1.3 million.” Given all of the anti-Russia hysteria about them allegedly influencing our elections, this is both highly amusing and staggeringly hypocritical.
Fortunately, President-Elect Donald Trump is very clearly an ally of Israel, and he remarked on Twitter that “As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.” Yet, at some point, Israel’s land will be divided. In a previous blog, this was discussed at length.
One of the reasons for God’s coming judgment of the nations is the dividing of Israel, which the Lord calls “My land” (Joel 3:2). The Antichrist will make a deal with Israel and many nations (Daniel 9:27), and this deal will confirm “the holy covenant” (Daniel 11:28). In other words, the international community, including all Arab states, will recognize Israel’s right to exist. Here’s the catch: Israel will have to give up the territory it captured during the Six-Day War in 1967. The Golan Heights will be given to Syria, while East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will be given to the new State of Palestine.
Incidentally, the Antichrist will hate Jewish ownership of the land of Israel (Daniel 11:30). That’s why this coming confirmation of God’s holy promise to the Jewish people is also called “a covenant with death” (Isaiah 28:15). Eventually, the Antichrist will invade Israel (Ezekiel 38), overwhelm it like a flood (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:26; Revelation 12:15) and desolate the Temple (Daniel 9:26; Daniel 11:31). Although Israel will be at peace for a short time (Ezekiel 38:8, 11, 14), like it was in ancient Judah, their agreement won’t last (Isaiah 28:18; Daniel 9:26; Revelation 12:15).
To protect themselves from Assyria, Judah made a deal with Egypt (Isaiah 30:1-7; Isaiah 36:6-9). It didn’t work out. The Assyrians invaded Judah, took some of its cities (Isaiah 36:1), and tried to make Judah surrender (Isaiah 36:2-21). King Hezekiah wouldn’t have it. He turned to the Lord in faith (Isaiah 37:1-35), and God supernaturally destroyed the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:36-38). Of course, a time is coming when the Lord will supernaturally destroy Israel’s enemies again (Ezekiel 38:17-23), because they’re going to divide the land He gave to the Jewish people (Joel 3:2). God takes His promises very seriously (Hebrews 6:13-16), and world peace won’t happen until the Prince of Peace returns in power (Isaiah 9:6-7). Come quickly Jesus (Revelation 22:20)!
Ultimately, while Obama’s parting shot at Israel is petty and futile, eventually, Israel will exchange land for a false sense of peace. When that happens, buckle up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride to the finish.