The Book of Daniel talks about a seven-year period in the earthโs future, often called โthe tribulation.โ It tells us that this terrible time will begin when the Antichrist confirms a covenant (or treaty) with Israel. You may wonder why the people of Israel would ever do such a thing. The answer is that they will be deceived.
2 Thessalonians 2:9 says, โThe coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders.โ
A lie works best on those who most need the lie to be true. Desperation is deceptionโs great ally. So it will be with Israel. In fact, we have already seen it. Israelis long for peace. No group on earth is more fed up with violence, conflict, and war than the people of Israel. In their desperation for peace, they have already been deceived many times, only later to regret their repeated concessions.
Right now, Israel must fight for peace. Prime Minister Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas. But no one believes that smashing Hamas will end the terrorist threat against Israel. In fact, every Israeli [airstrike]ย โ no matter how necessary and justifiedย โ incites more rage against Jews.
The fires of antisemitism run hot and go deep, and the winds of war blow its embers everywhere. As rage against Israel grows throughout the world, Israel becomes ever more desperate for peace. And that is setting them up for the deceptions of the Antichrist.
We must understand that a final peace for Israel will not be reached until the return of the Prince of Peace. This fact does not mean Christians should stop working for peace. Jesus gave a special blessing to peacemakers. He is the Prince of Peace. Real steps toward peace alleviate real suffering. Neither the present US administration, nor any future one, should stop working for peace. Also, as individuals, we must be peacemakers.
Even while searching for a path to peace, Israel, like any nation, has the right and obligation to defend itself. When attacked or threatened, it must destroy the threat. But the very actions they have now been forced to take in their own defense, creates new and unprecedented levels of hatred against them.
Israelโs greatest international support has traditionally come from the United States. For decades, the Gallup organization has been asking Americans, โIn the Middle East situation, are your sympathies more with Israel or the Palestinians?โ Despite the horrors of October 7, 2023, the most recent poll showed that 33% of Americans now favor the Palestinians. Thatโs more than at any time in history. Among Democrats, only 21% now favor Israel โ down from 62% during the Gulf War in the early 1990s. 59% of Democrats back the Palestinians. That means Israel no longer has full bipartisan support in the United States. For Israel, thatโs a disaster.
When a rising European political star one day manages to convince the world that he can bring a just and fair peace to the Middle East, for many in Israel, it will seem like a no-brainer. This man will have charisma like no politician ever before. The Bible says his powers of deception will flow directly from Satan. He will use Israelโs desperation โ a desperation growing right now before our eyes โ to deceive them. Yet again, Bible prophecy perfectly fits our times.
