Efforts to have peace in the Middle East and especially in present-day Israel remind us of Jeremiah 6:1414They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14), "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of My people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." The preceding verse says, "From the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.”
Interestingly, a succeeding verse exhorts them in this, "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." This verse is good and timely instruction for believers today. Oh, that we would stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, and the good way to walk therein. Going back to the old paths and the good way, for us in this church period, takes us back to the book of the Acts. May we yet learn to continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Struggle and war have continued for Israel and her neighbors instead of peace. In the struggle for peace by the great men in power, Daniel writes this: "These kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed" (Dan. 11:2727And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. (Daniel 11:27)). It is treachery concealed under the form of a treaty.
Some of the prophetic details have had a partial fulfillment, but God has allowed it to be rehearsed in preparation for what will be seen in the time of the end. This is full of interest to believers who know that God's appointed end draws near. We do not want to overestimate what we are seeing in our time, but we are encouraged that the end is near.
More than 50 of the greatest leaders of the nations gathered last November to pay their final respects to the assassinated Yitzhak Rabin. He was laid to rest by longtime friends and enemies in the city where he was born, and which he recaptured for Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967. The consensus of the leaders is that the pursuit of peace is irreversible. There is no turning back, because of assassination or anything else.
Psalm 122:66Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalm 122:6) says, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." So we can and do pray, but we know they shall not have peace until Christ, the Prince of Peace, brings it, when that people shall own Him and say, "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Matt. 23:3939For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. (Matthew 23:39)).
When the Lamb opens the first seal of Revelation 6, we see revealed just how the terrible tribulation of seven years begins. "And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer." This is apparent peace, but most terrible war and destruction follow. We might ask, Are we now in a preparation time that foreshadows this? Ed.