8/7/2000, Vince Aquilino
Although the recent Camp David peace talks failed to achieve a peace covenant, it was reported that both sides had "given" some on issues. Barak backed-off his long-standing position of an undivided Jerusalem accepting Palestinian sovereignty over some Arab areas. Likewise, the Palestinians drew up maps that accepted Israeli demands to incorporate some nearby Jewish settlements into Jerusalem.
However, in spite of this "cooperation" to negotiate in good faith, in the final analysis, the breakdown in the talks was over Israel maintaining its sovereignty over East Jerusalem’s Temple Mount -- the flashpoint issue that has the potential to escalate into full-blown war. Prime Minister Ehud Barak suggested, at the Camp David summit, that the site be shared, by dividing sovereignty both "vertically and horizontally." However, in response, Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker and chief negotiator Ahmed Qurei told The Jerusalem Post on Friday Aug 4,2000 that the Palestinians will never accept any Israeli part in the control over the Temple Mount, where Islam's third holiest site, Al-Aksa Mosque, is located….."[Shared sovereignty] will never be acceptable to us, even if that means that the struggle will continue for another 1,000 years!"
From the beginning of the peace process in 1993, the status of Jerusalem has been the troublesome stone that Zechariah spoke of: "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" (Zec 12:2-3).
One of the most prophetically significant events may have occurred after the failed talks. Clinton publicly voiced his displeasure with Arafat and may have inadvertently lit the fuse that will lead to the Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel.
In the aftermath of the talks, Clinton seemed to go to great lengths to praise Barak for his "understanding of the historical moment." He deemed him as "more courageous" than Arafat. These were clear "slams" against Arafat for being "intractable" at the peace table. But what shocked Arafat and the Arab world was Clinton's suggestion that the United States move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (by the 20th of January -- the day President Bill Clinton leaves office). This would be official recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the city and U.S. recognition of Israeli claims to the holy site.
Clinton's veiled threat to move the embassy to Tel Aviv has served to rally Arab support against Israel.
On Saturday, August 5th, The United Arab Emirates (UAE) warned the United States that even the slightest hint of moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would damage its credibility as an impartial Middle East peace broker. In Jordan there were riots as demonstrators protested the transfer of the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Thursday, August 3, 2000 Saudi Arabia expressed support for Palestinian demands that East Jerusalem be the capital of their future state. King Abdullah of Jordon told Arafat in Rabat last week that Jordan will also reject any Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Egypt has offered to help Israel reach a peace deal with the Palestinians but said it would not put pressure on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to make concessions on Jerusalem. Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who had earlier held talks with Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak, said Mubarak had proved an "attentive listener" during 90 minutes of talks. But Egyptian Foreign Minister Amr Moussa said after the talks that his country remained firm in its support for Arafat over Jerusalem - the main stumbling block at talks.
Also, on Israel's northern border, because of the upcoming Lebanese elections and the need for Syrian President Bashar Assad to establish his control over the area, things have been quiet, but on August 3rd, the Hizbullah have deployed large forces along the border and in addition, held exercises near Israel's frontier. This prompted an IDF response and a threat that Israel would retaliate with a heavy hand if there were such a flare-up.
On Aug 2,2000, according to Iranian radio, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami despatched envoys to all corners of the Arab and Islamic world in the coming days for talks on the fate of Jerusalem. Khatami is acting chairman of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the 56-nation pan-Islamic body whose rotating presidency is currently held by Tehran.
But, in one of the most disturbing post-summit events was what was coming out of Turkey - an ally of both Israel and the United States. Turkey has close ties with Israel that include military agreements and military cooperation such as in the recent Air force maneuvers using F15 and F16 fighter jets. However, Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said after talks Yasser Arafat on Saturday, August 5th, that he supported the principle of Palestinian statehood. But was even more disturbing was that Arafat pointed out that Turkish soldiers are in the West Bank city of Hebron assisting a Palestinian army unit.
Turkey is an important regional power that is continuing to move toward the Arab world. President Suleyman Demirel visited Eygypt last year with hopes increasing economic cooperation and to consolidate already close political ties with Cairo. King Abdullah of Jordan also said during a visit last year to Amman that Turkey should play an important role in middle eastern peace making: ``Changes in the region dictate that our relations with Turkey assume a strategic dimension which we hope will set an example for Arab-Turkish ties,''
Of particular note was Intelligence Digest's observation at that time that " Syria cannot possibly go to war with Israel until Turkey is neutralized." In their eyes, Turkey is the linch-pin to stability in the area. Syria figures prominately in Biblical prophecy as Isaiah chapter 17 tells us that at some point in the future that Damascus will be utterly destroyed:
"The burden against Damascus. "Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken; they will be for flocks which lie down, and no one will make them afraid. The fortress also will cease from Ephraim, the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria; they will be as the glory of the children of Israel," says the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 17:1-3)
The Syrian-Israeli peace talks broke off in early 1996 and relationships with Syria continue to be strained. A Syrian peace agreement was always contingent on Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, which has occurred, but what has proved a stumbling block is the status of the Golan Heights -- which is critical to Israeli defenses. Syria is insisting that the entire Golan be turned back over to Syrian control. This is not likely to occur and could make Syria the trigger-point that could result in a full-scale assault against Israel.
If Israel defends itself against Syrian aggression with a nuclear strike against Damascus, not only would this undoubtedly precipitate the Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel, but the whole world would stand against Israel.
Adding fuel to the flame, on Saturday, August 5th, Israel's top rabbis will for the first time give a formal hearing to a proposal to build a synagogue on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, next to Islamic holy sites.
Although this approval is unlikely since a) there are strict biblical regulations on entering the Temple area; including purification ceremonies that cannot be carried out today and b) the Israeli government have kept Jews from praying on the Temple Mount to avoid provoking Muslims, we know that this will someday occur.
"Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. "But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city under foot for forty-two months." (Rev 11:1-2)
Now compare the above scripture with Ezekeil 42:20 where the millennium temple is measured.
"He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place." (Ezekiel 42:20)
The Dome of the Rock has an inscription that says essentially that God is not begotten and neither does he beget -- a slam against Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The wall of separation between the sanctuary and the prophane (Dome of the Rock) mentioned by Ezekiel, would sit in the outer court based on detailed measurements of the Temple Mount and some conjectures of where the original temple once stood.
Although both sides currently appear intractable on the status of the Temple Mount, there appears to be some movement behind the scenes.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright voiced support for Vatican input as she believes the Vatican could play a critical role in narrowing gaps between Israel and the Palestinians over Jerusalem, the main stumbling block in their peace process. Albright said, noting that she had conferred twice with the Vatican during the Camp David summit that: "They are wise and they have had a long-term interest in this."
However, on Wednesday, Aug 2,2000, Israel and the Palestinians jointly rejected Vatican demands to internationalize holy sites in Jerusalem's walled Old City. Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Jean-Louis Tauran said the Holy See was not making claims on the city, but wanted ``international guarantees'' on Christian, Muslim and Jewish holy sites in the city ``in a way that in the future none of the sides can claim for itself exclusive control in these areas of the sacred city.''
Although the Israelis and Palestinians rejected the demand, the statement by said Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian spokeswoman, left room for debate: ``We have respect for freedom of access and freedom of worship for all religions……but this does not negate Palestinian political and legal rights to the city.'' Perhaps a wall separating the Dome of the Rock from the Jewish Temple may provide the solution to equal access to the Temple Mount just as Ezekiel saw thousands of years earlier.
Meanwhile, Russia is once again under ex-KGB President Putin, building its conventional forces.
Remember that it is Russia that arms and leads the Israeli invasion force outlines in Ezekiel 38. Putin's military doctrine, published in April, jolted the Western world when it openly granted Russia permission for a nuclear first strike. Putin is not afraid to rely on the country's nuclear weapons to back up Moscow's military assertions which will provide the time to bring the conventional forces up to par.
Putin has already begun restructuring the military. Putin fired six high-ranking Defense Ministry officials on July 31 and recently announced that he would increase the number of elite airborne troops by 5,000 by the end of 2001 as part of his plan to improve Russia's conventional forces.
We know that when "peace" is finally achieved that "when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape." (1 Thes 5:3)
Will it be in the aftermath of the Ezekiel 38 invasion (which precipitates a nuclear exchange in the Middle East and a simultaneous potential nuclear hit on the United States - see prophetic links below) that the "man of peace" -- the antichrist will come up with the ultimate solution. Will his "solution" include the confirmation of the peace covenant with Israel ushering in the reign of anti-christ and the ultimate return of Jesus the Christ to planet Earth? Will his plan for "peace at any cost, " in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange, persuade the World to lay down national interests and form the One World Government to avoid nuclear war in the future?
Jesus said that the generation that sees the Fig Tree (Israel) blossom will still be alive to see the return of Messiah (Matthew 24). Biblical Prophecy is being fulfilled before your eyes. How far off is the Lord's Return? Maybe not as far off as you first believed -- there might not be much time left, so choose this day whom you will serve.
At his juncture we will have to see if a conflict ensues. If it results in the Ezekiel 38 invasion of Israel and judgement on the Russian-led and Russian-armed army comprised of Israel's enemies, the U.S.A. may also come under God's judgement at that time. These events would provide the opportunity for the "man of peace" to appear on the scene with the solution to the world's problems and with the U.S.A. "distracted" by judgement, could facilitate the rising of the revived Roman Empire.
"For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which now exist are kept in store by the same word, reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.." (2 Peter 3:5-14)
The rapture and the return of the Lord might be closer than most people think. In light of these events, what manner of person ought you to be? Your salvation may depend on it!
To understand the statement about the United States involvement in the Ezekiel 38 conflict, please read the articles referenced by the Prophetic Links below.
Maranatha
``Watch and pray, therefore, that you would be counted worthy to escape the judgment that is coming upon the earth and be able to stand before the Son of Man'' (Luke 21:36).
Peace in the Middle East? A Prelude to War! (07/20/2000)
Peace in the Middle East? Not Just Yet! (07/25/2000)
Judgement on America - Part 1
Judgement on America - Part 2
Judgement on America - Part 3
Peace in the Middle East - Part 1
Peace in the Middle East - Part 2
Peace in the Middle East - Part 3
Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 4
Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 5
Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 6
Ezekiel 38 Invasion of Israel - Part 7
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