In other articles in this issue we have been speaking about covenants made by God with His people on earth — covenants that were made with them for His glory and their blessing. However, men have made and will continue to make covenants that involve death and destruction. Let us look at two of these covenants that have particular relevance in the present day, in view of the prophecies in God’s Word concerning Israel.
The Hamas Covenant
Nearly twenty years ago, on August 18, 1988, the Islamic Resistance Movement declared the so-called “Hamas covenant” as a statement of its aims and methods concerning future activities. Formed by radical and extremist Muslims, the movement vows to take over the entire land of Palestine and place it under Muslim control. It is interesting that they not only view themselves as children of Abraham, but also bring in the name of Moses to this end. The covenant says, “If Moses comes and throws his staff, both witch and magic are annulled,” no doubt referring to the power they hope to have over their enemies.
The avowed aim of this movement is also to annihilate Israel, as evidenced by the following words:
“Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all our sincere efforts. . . . The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah’s victory is realized. The Islamic Resistance Movement . . . strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.”
There is no doubt in this covenant of the ways and means that are advocated to attain this objective. Another quotation says:
“The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say, O Moslems, O Abdulla, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him.”
“Now and then the call goes out for the convening of an international conference to look for ways of solving the (Palestinian) question. . . . The Islamic Resistance Movement does not consider these conferences capable of realizing the demands, restoring the rights or doing justice to the oppressed. . . . There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad.”
“Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem.”
In view of these expressions, and many others like them, it is easy to see why all the efforts of world leaders to seek peace in the Middle East are doomed to failure. The Hamas covenant, by its very words, becomes binding on every Muslim, whether man or woman, young or old, and of any nationality. In spite of these aggressive statements, the covenant claims that:
“Under the wing of Islam, it is possible for the followers of the three religions — Islam, Christianity and Judaism — to exist in peace and quiet with each other. Peace and quiet would not be possible except under the wing of Islam. . . . Islam confers upon everyone his legitimate rights.”
This is indeed a strange claim by those whose recent history has been characterized by vicious bloodshed and terrorism of every description. The Koran gives full license to Muslims to kill those who do not submit, and conversion from Islam to another religion is also a crime punishable by death. While some Muslims continue to insist that theirs is a peaceful religion, there is peace only if there is total submission to its demands.
During the past twenty years, the Hamas group, both on its own and in association with other Islamic organizations such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization, has been responsible for countless atrocities and terrorism, both in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. By their own admission, they will never rest until all Jews are destroyed and Palestine is firmly under their control.
A Covenant With Death
In view of all this, Israel is determined to hold its own and to defend itself against such an agenda. To this end they have enlarged their borders during the past forty years, armed themselves with the best of weapons, and made alliances with other nations for protection. For the time being this has worked reasonably well, for unlike most Arab nations, Israel is prosperous and has a strong economy. They have doubtless suffered from the attacks of terrorists and suicide bombers, but their ability to retaliate with sophisticated weapons has kept the somewhat disorganized Arab world at bay. We know from Scripture that this will not continue indefinitely.
In a coming day, after the church is called home, God will begin to work in this world in judgment. At that time Israel will consider itself secure from the invasion of the king of the north (the latter-day Assyrian) because of their covenant with the Roman beast. Israel’s attitude will be one of scorn, but the Lord calls that covenant with the West “a covenant with death.”
“Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves” (Isa. 28:14-1514Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: (Isaiah 28:14‑15)).
In the middle of the last prophetic week, we know that the western powers (the confederacy under the Roman beast) will break its covenant with Israel, leaving them open to attack. We read in Daniel that “he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease” (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)). Israel will be forsaken by those on whom they have relied, for God wants them to rely on Him, not on human help. This is confirmed by what we read in Isaiah, for the Lord says, “Your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it” (Isa. 28:1818And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. (Isaiah 28:18)). During that time their worst fears will be realized, and they will not be able to escape the “overflowing scourge.”
Future Blessing
However, the Lord has His eye on that nation and upon that land. He will not allow them to be devastated beyond what is necessary to work repentance in their hearts. They must learn to trust the Lord and not put confidence in man. When they have been reduced to total desolation, both by the king of the north and by direct judgment by the Lord, He will appear on their behalf. When a second attack is planned, the Lord will “roar out of Zion” (Joel 3:1616The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. (Joel 3:16)) and destroy their enemies. Islam claims the land of Palestine for its own and wants dominion over it, but the Lord speaks of “My people and . . . My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land” (Joel 3:22I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. (Joel 3:2)). The Lord will bring in millennial blessing and establish Israel again in their land, not in their own strength and in unbelief, but on the ground of what Christ has done.
Then only will there be real peace and real blessing. The Islamic Resistance Movement, in their covenant, calls Palestine “the navel of the globe and the crossroad of the continents.” No doubt this is true, and the eyes of the whole world are now focused on that small area. But God will make it His center in a coming day, when He establishes Israel again. More than this, He will set His rightful King “upon My holy hill of Zion” (Psa. 2:66Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6)). There cannot be real blessing and peace in this world until the Lord Jesus is given His place as King.
While we, as the church, do not look for earthly blessings, how good it is to be among those who “love His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:8)!
W. J. Prost