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Those that are at Rest Dwelling Safely - The Abraham Accords
The American administration and Scripture agree - Many more Arab nations will follow the path to Peace!
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Friday, September 18, 2020
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www.bibleinthenews.com Audio & Print versions
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In last week’s episode of Bible in the News, Jonathan Bowen spoke at length of the fulfilment of Bible prophecy shown in the Gulf Nations signing peace deals with Israel.
The American administration is highly confident that many more Arab nations, in due course will follow suit. President Trump said: “Trump said that five, six and “seven or eight or nine” Arab countries were queuing up to join. “Including the big ones,” he told reporters as he returned to the South Lawn later in the day to depart for an evening trip to Philadelphia. Asked about Saudi Arabia, he said that he had been in frequent contact with King Salman and that “at the right time, I think they will come in.” (Washington Post, 15/09/20)
For all Bible students these events are of huge significance in their fulfillment of Bible prophecy.
The prophet Ezekiel in chapter 38 makes clear that at the time of the end the gulf nations, the UK and the young lions – ie the Common Wealth nations would not join a group of nations led by Russia, confederate with Iran, Libya, Ethiopia and much of Europe against Israel.
Christadelphians have therefore long believed that we would see the gulf nations be more friendly towards Israel. John Thomas, a Christadelphian, writing in the mid 1800s wrote: “Tarshish [Britain], Sheba and Seba [Gulf nations], are subservient to the angelic mission for the protection and regeneration of Israel.” (John Thomas, 1861, Eureka, page 648)
For over 150 years, Christadelphians have been expecting the events of the last week to take place. How wonderful that we can witness the unfolding of prophecy before our eyes.
When we examine Ezekiel 38 a little further we discover that there is a key element required before Russia drops into the land. That element is a form of peace. The land that Russia and her confederates will sweep through is a land of ‘unwalled villages’. Ezekiel 38:11, prophecies of the thoughts of the Russian invader:
“I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.”
The picture painted is one of a land believing they are safe. A land in belief that they are secure and without threat – ‘without walls’. This prophecy can only take place when Israel is ‘at peace’ with their neighbours. This underlines the significance of what we have witnessed this last week.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica in the first century he was inspired to prophecy of the time when Jesus would come back. He wrote:
“The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (ESV, 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3)
The accords that were signed by the leaders of the respective nations state clearly: “We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world.”
This is the picture of the Middle East that is now beginning to emerge. The very picture we expected to see before Russia will drop down into Israel and before the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth. Some of the final pieces of the jigsaw are being put into place.
We may miss from these accords one additional key detail. They are titled ‘The Abraham Accords’. They have been given this name after Abraham the great patriarch of these nations. 4000 years ago Abraham lived in the Middle East. He is marked out in scripture for his incredible faith. When called by God to leave his home in Iraq he set off without knowing where he was going and yet without questioning he listened to God and left in faith. As a result of his faith God blessed him and made promises to him.
“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:5,6)
Those promises are the original Abraham accords! The original covenant between God and a faithful man. A man who at the time had no children and was beyond the normal age for being able to, was given this great promise that he would have descendants as the stars in the heavens. How amazing that 4000 years on from this promise millions of his descendants from Israel, the UAE, Bahrain and seemingly millions more from other Arab nations are entering into an accord that bears his name.
The Lord Jesus Christ said that “Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8:56) Although he lived 2000 years before Jesus was even born, in faith he could see that in Jesus all the promises would be fulfilled and he would have the hope of the resurrection and be able to inherit the land God promised to him. Through the work of Jesus he would rise to see the seed like the stars of the heaven that God assured him of.
When we look at the remarkable events of the world today, it surely takes less faith than it took Abraham to set off without really knowing where he was going. He simply trusted in God. We can see the most amazing prophecies being fulfilled. We can see the hand of God in organising the nations to bring about the promises he made to Abraham.
So for us, as we witness these great events, let’s continue to do so with Bible in hand, in faith, knowing that if we follow the commandments of God set out for us in the scriptures of truth then we also can share the blessings God promised Abraham. “The scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the nations through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” (Galatians 3:8,9) and “If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:29)
Are we Christ’s? Are we rejoicing to see the day of the Lord? The day when he will roll out the original Abraham accord and bring blessings to all nations and people who in faith have tried to follow him. Let’s ensure we are counted amongst the stars of Abraham’s seed that we can fellow heirs of the promises God made to him.