The Abraham Accords: September 15, 2020/Updated
Could the historic peace agreement known as the "Abraham Accords" point to the prophetic treaty in the Book of Daniel 9:27? Perhaps. It is an agreement that can be expanded, and its signers envisioned that more nations would be participate. This is the verse in three Bible translations:
Daniel 9:27: (AMP) - "And he will enter into a binding and irrevocable covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until the complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes the horror.”
Daniel 9:27 (NIV) - "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Daniel 9:27 (ESV) - "And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Bible scholars agree that the 'one week' or 'one seven' is to be interpreted as seven years rather than as a seven-day week. So, the agreement is entered into or confirmed or enforced by the antichrist - those are the possibilities - and that the halfway point (3.5 years), he (antichrist) betrays the agreement and commits unpardonable sacrilege in the rebuilt temple. The prophet Daniel also tells us that the antichrist will be destroyed when God pours out His wrath on him and his followers.
Considering the times we live in (the End Times), it is worth taking note of this agreement, which can be viewed as a step toward achieving a semblance of peace in the Middle East, of normalizing relations between historically antagonistic nations. There are significant economic incentives for the oil-rich region to settle on working with each other for the benefit of everyone. If that happened, then the region would become an economic powerhouse, unhindered by violence rooted in extremist ideologies. That's the idea anyway.
According to Daniel, the peace, though highly desired, won't last. Paul the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, wrote of a "peace" in the End Times that will be interrupted: "For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape."
The "Abraham Accords Declaration" states "We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity." View the accord documents at White House posts
The three "Abrahamic religions" the documents refers to are Christianity, Judaism and Islam. All three share a common bond in Abraham the patriarch (Genesis, chapters 12-25). Abraham has descendants (family) that include members of the three major monotheistic faiths. Their ties are like a form of sibling rivalry on a global scale. The apostle Paul reminds in several New Testament scriptures that born-again believers become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham, and God Himself "adopts" those who are not Jews.
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| Image captured from U.S. State Department video. |
Daniel 9:27: (AMP) - "And he will enter into a binding and irrevocable covenant with the many for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week he will stop the sacrifice and grain offering [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until the complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who causes the horror.”
Daniel 9:27 (NIV) - "He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”
Daniel 9:27 (ESV) - "And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator.”
Bible scholars agree that the 'one week' or 'one seven' is to be interpreted as seven years rather than as a seven-day week. So, the agreement is entered into or confirmed or enforced by the antichrist - those are the possibilities - and that the halfway point (3.5 years), he (antichrist) betrays the agreement and commits unpardonable sacrilege in the rebuilt temple. The prophet Daniel also tells us that the antichrist will be destroyed when God pours out His wrath on him and his followers.
Considering the times we live in (the End Times), it is worth taking note of this agreement, which can be viewed as a step toward achieving a semblance of peace in the Middle East, of normalizing relations between historically antagonistic nations. There are significant economic incentives for the oil-rich region to settle on working with each other for the benefit of everyone. If that happened, then the region would become an economic powerhouse, unhindered by violence rooted in extremist ideologies. That's the idea anyway.
According to Daniel, the peace, though highly desired, won't last. Paul the apostle in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3, wrote of a "peace" in the End Times that will be interrupted: "For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape."
The "Abraham Accords Declaration" states "We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity." View the accord documents at White House posts
The three "Abrahamic religions" the documents refers to are Christianity, Judaism and Islam. All three share a common bond in Abraham the patriarch (Genesis, chapters 12-25). Abraham has descendants (family) that include members of the three major monotheistic faiths. Their ties are like a form of sibling rivalry on a global scale. The apostle Paul reminds in several New Testament scriptures that born-again believers become spiritual sons and daughters of Abraham, and God Himself "adopts" those who are not Jews.
Ephesians 3:6 (NLT) - (6) "And
this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News
share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part
of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they
belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News."
Romans 12:15-17 (NLT) - (15) "So you have not received a
spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s
Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And
since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with
Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we
must also share his suffering."
These are encouraging verses about our standing with God once we receive salvation through Jesus Christ. Read Ephesians 2:11-22 to learn more about how the Gentiles (all non-Jews) are grafted into Abraham's family spiritual to receive the blessings the Lord promised to him and his descendants.
Bible prophecy compels us to keep an eye on events in Israel, particularly on its foreign relations, conflicts with other nations and the Third Temple project. These are better indicators of where we are prophetically than calamities we might experience or witness before the "end end," when Jesus Christ returns to the earth with His followers to defeat the antichrist and his evil army.
Revelation 19:19-20 (NLT) - "Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
White House signing ceremony for the Peace agreement
People in the image from U.S. State Department video are:
U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, Foreign Minister Al Nahyan of the UAE and Foreign Minister Al Zayani of Bahrain sign the Abraham Accords. Image from U.S. State Department video/Sept. 15, 2020.
Shalom!
Diana Washington-Valdez/Faith Today Christian Ministries
Exalting the Name of Jesus!
Bible prophecy compels us to keep an eye on events in Israel, particularly on its foreign relations, conflicts with other nations and the Third Temple project. These are better indicators of where we are prophetically than calamities we might experience or witness before the "end end," when Jesus Christ returns to the earth with His followers to defeat the antichrist and his evil army.
Revelation 19:19-20 (NLT) - "Then I saw the beast and the kings of the world and their armies gathered together to fight against the one sitting on the horse and his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who did mighty miracles on behalf of the beast—miracles that deceived all who had accepted the mark of the beast and who worshiped his statue. Both the beast and his false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."
White House signing ceremony for the Peace agreement
People in the image from U.S. State Department video are:
U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel, Foreign Minister Al Nahyan of the UAE and Foreign Minister Al Zayani of Bahrain sign the Abraham Accords. Image from U.S. State Department video/Sept. 15, 2020.
Shalom!
Diana Washington-Valdez/Faith Today Christian Ministries
Exalting the Name of Jesus!
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