2012 Alerts: December 31, 2009
In This Issue:
U.S.-Israel Relations
Middle East Peace Treaty
A Significant Development in Iran
Israel: A Jewish State?
Update on Apocalypse 2012
Many Thanks & My Prayer for You
U.S.-Israel Relations
The Obama administration has been pushing Israel for more concessions regarding the land it “occupies”. In other words, the administration sought to stop Israel from building in “settlement” areas, such as East Jerusalem, even those areas in Israel where only Jews live. In addition, the U.S. administration has pressured Israel to offer to hand over the entire West Bank and East Jerusalem to the Palestinians with the assumption that the “occupied” land does not belong to Israel. However, a well-done Wall Street Journal article this week demonstrates Israel's right to much of that disputed land. Thus, it seems the U.S. is pushing Israel where it may not have a right to push. This, of course, does not help U.S. – Israel relations.
In addition, this week the Obama administration called for the public clarification of Israel's killing of three terrorists. This is highly unusual and indicates a public challenge to Israel for going after terrorists in the West Bank. This cannot help U.S. – Israeli relations.
Why is this important? It is important for two reasons. First, there are always consequences for mistreatment of Israel (see Genesis 12:3); so look for the U.S. to experience those in the days ahead as our leadership continues to “dis” Israel and push that tiny democratic nation to give up even more of its God-given land to its enemies.
Second, I suspect that God will use the continued deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and Israel to move the U.S. away from its “good friend” status, leading the U.S. to step out of the Biblical prophetic picture. After all, the U.S. is not found in Bible prophecy, which has Israel at the very center of the picture; it is not even one of the ten nations that will effect a treaty with Israel.
Middle East Peace Treaty
During the funeral of three Fatah (the party to which Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinians in the West Bank and with whom the U.S. has been trying to negotiate a Middle East peace treaty between the Palestinians and Israel) terrorists—whom Israel killed—thousands of Palestinians angrily accused Abbas of collusion with Israel. As a result of this kind of pressure, Abbas turned these terrorists into martyrs with an announcement this week and has decided not to resume peace talks with Israel. But this is all part of God’s plan, as the Bible predicts Israel will sign a treaty with ten other nations—not with the Palestinians. In a more Biblically fitting scenario, the Arab League this week called for other nations to mediate the peace talks with Israel, indicating its interest in having the U.N. take over the negotiations.
This, of course, would be a new direction in seeking after a peace treaty, which the world seems to desire at this point. After all, there has been no real progress in working with the Palestinians on this issue; and now that they refuse to even negotiate, it seems God will use their stubbornness to involve (ten) other players as confirmatory participants. Thus, the apparent “no progress” toward a peace treaty may, in fact, lead to real Biblical progress—in terms of fulfilling prophecy. (Interestingly, it seems that the leaders of these ten nations—which all exist within the boundaries of the old Roman Empire [extending through Iraq to the Western border of Iran]—will rise politically to become powerful rulers under the rule of a one-world leader. So it might be very interesting to keep an eye on this to see which nations step forward to be directly involved.)
One more peace process update: Tuesday, Benyamin Netanyahu and Hosni Mubarak, the respective leaders of Israel and Egypt met to discuss the peace process. Over the past few months, Arab leaders (particularly from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan) have repeatedly met with Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss two main issues—the peace process and the Iranian concern. This is interesting on two fronts.
First, the sidling up of certain Arab nations to Israel may be preparation for five of those (U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell has also mentioned Syria and Lebanon as necessary involved partners) to be co-signers of the future peace treaty. The number five seems to be inferred by the book of Daniel by indicating that of the ten confirmers of the treaty with Israel, five seem to be from the Western half of the old Roman Empire, while five seem to be from the Eastern half—i.e., Arab nations.
Second, the focus on Iran may indicate the role that nation will play in God’s plan to lead to the announcement of a peace treaty and of the world believing it has finally achieved “peace and security” (as per 1 Thessalonians 5:3). (See past “2012 Alerts” for more explanation on this. By the way, these can be found at www.2012apocalypsebook.com.) This leads us to our next subject.
A Significant Development in Iran
The Obama administration signaled this week that it wants to keep the door open for talks with Iran, even though the third deadline for talks with Iran will end at midnight tonight. Meanwhile, "the administration will revisit its options" regarding Iran. If this seems to you that the U.S. does not seem to be in a hurry to stop Iran’s race toward obtaining nuclear weapons, I would say you are correct. This is what troubles Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. For if Iran were to obtain nuclear capability, not only would the entire region change, it would likely bring a change to the whole world as reported in past “2012 Alerts”. However, hope is on the horizon.
Even though opposition leaders have been threatened with execution, the New York Times reported this week that the opposition to the current regime is becoming bolder. Government protests, in which the protestors are being numbered, in some cases, in the hundreds of thousands in areas in Iran, are putting the regime on the defensive. This is leading to a growing desperation in the Iranian leadership. In fact, Haeretz, a Jewish publication, is claiming that the government protests are leading to a political "earthquake". Iranian police are now refusing to shoot at protestors; thus, some are seeing these demonstrations as unstoppable, leading to a leading to a regime change.
All signs indicate that God has a significant role for Iran, that of preparing Israel and the rest of the world for a future peace treaty. If so, and if the treaty is the Biblical, seven-year treaty of Daniel chapter 9, then 2010 could be a monumental year. That is not to say that the treaty will be initiated then, but 2010 could a foundational year in preparation for that treaty.
As presented in Apocalypse 2012: The Ticking of the End Time Clock, on the same day that treaty begins its seven-year countdown, Jesus will come in the air to take all Christians to Himself. Therefore, it would be a very good idea for us to use 2010 to prepare to meet the Lord.
Israel: A Jewish State?
The question in this by-line seems redundant and even silly. Why would we even question if Israel is a Jewish state. Because it is not—at least not in the sense that it operates by Jewish law as presented in the Hebrew Bible (our Old Testament). However, Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to change that. In a speech to the Knesset (their parliament) this week, the Prime Minister called for Israel to become a Jewish state. This could be a fascinating development in terms of fulfillment of Bible prophecy. As demonstrated in Apocalypse 2012, at the inauguration of the seven-year treaty, Israel will conduct itself according to the Mosaic law (as presented in our Old Testament). To fully operate in that way, Israel will need to rebuild the Temple (on the Temple Mount) in Jerusalem. The Bible clearly shows that Israel will rebuild the Temple, and the seven-year treaty will provide for the nation to offer sacrifices in the Temple—for the first time in almost 2,000 years! Might the Prime Minister’s call be a preparation for that? We will keep an eye on the response of the Knesset in the days ahead.
Update on Apocalypse 2012
Typesetting on the book has begun, and I have just provided my input on the style to be used for the book. After typesetting, the book will be printed, and marketing will take place. It still looks like I will be receiving a thousand copies of the book (many of which are already spoken for) by the end of February. If you want to make sure you receive one of those copies (and do not have to wait until May to get the book), you may place your orders by sending a check for $16 per book, along with $3.99 shipping per copy, to:
John Claeys
2709 S. Garrett St.
Marshall, TX 75672
I will be glad to autograph any copies you order upon your request to do so.
Many Thanks & My Prayer for You
Many thanks to the many of you who have lent your support to the book by your book orders, your prayer, and your promotion of the book. One valuable way in which a number of you have promoted it has been by forwarding this e-letter to friends, co-workers, and family members.
My prayer for you is a very special New Year in which you experience God’s blessing in your life and you seek to prepare for the (soon?) return of Jesus Christ.
Keep looking up!
John