by John Price
Though many participants were in Williamsburg for the peace talks, everyone who had followed the lead up to the event knew that it would come down to what the three leaders would agree to sign. The Palestinians had privately assured the White House, in advance, that, unlike past peace efforts, they would agree to any reasonable proposal that the President could work out with Israel. They knew from his past pronouncements that the President would obtain the best agreement that they would likely ever obtain through negotiations. They knew that no other US President would do more for their cause than the current occupant of the Oval Office.
With what amounted to a blank check from the Palestinians, the President walked into his private conference with Israel’s Prime Minister assured that he was about to make peace and world headlines. The two person meeting was held in the ornate Governor’s Office in Williamsburg’s Governor’s Palace, rebuilt in 1934 after it burned in 1781. The paneled walls featured crossed muskets and swords from America’s early history.
The President greeted his guest, “Mr. Prime Minister, this has been a long time coming, for both of us, for both of our countries.”
The Prime Minister was ready for almost anything that would come out of the President’s mouth, so he wasted no time in getting to the core issues facing Israel, “Mr. President, thank you for hosting. Let’s just get to it. I’m way over the ‘Sandwich Snub’, as your media called it. I concluded that you were….”
“Let me just say, Mr. Prime Minister, that we have a lot more important things to talk about than who ate lunch at the White House, or didn’t, as the case may be....much more important issues to discuss.”
With this response and the notable lack of even a hint of an apology, the Prime Minister immediately knew that the public cancellation of his meeting with the President, just like the prior dinner cancellation, had been calculated to embarrass and denigrate him. Not a good sign for today’s negotiations he quickly concluded. “Agreed, Mr. President. So let’s get on with it. How are you going to assure Israel that if we give up part of our land we’ll be secure in what remains? We haven’t witnessed good results in the past after we made peace. Take Gaza, for example. We reluctantly gave up Gaza and we’ve had nothing but grief, and missiles and bombs, ever since. We give up land and we get bombs in return.”
“Well, I’m not unmindful of your argument on this point….We can….”
“With all due respect, Mr. President, it’s not an argument, it’s a fact. Why should we sign, why should I sign, any document unless we know, with assurance, that we can live in peace and security? We all want peace, but you’ll have to admit that the past behavior of our adversaries is not comforting on this critical issue for Israel.”
“Mr. Prime Minister, I hear similar arguments from your adversaries, as you call them. They say that Israel just keeps building housing settlements, and expanding your presence in the land. So, both sides have….”.
“Now, let’s not try and compare killing innocent civilians with building apartments, on land that we own, I might add. You can’t….”
“Own? Own, Mr. Prime Minister? Or land that you occupy?”
“I wouldn’t go there, Mr. President. How much of the land America owns did it ‘occupy’ from Native Americans? Do you really….”
“We’ve had this argument before. We’re not getting anywhere….Let me just cut to the chase….America is prepared to recommend to the parties the following. In exchange for Israel surrendering control of the designated and agreed land areas in the West Bank and Jerusalem, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas will agree that Israel has the right to exist, and that they will act to prevent any persons under their control from taking any action, of any nature, to harm any resident of Israel….that’s what you’ve been asking for. I think we can get it done.”
“Well….unh….you’re sure the Palestinians will agree that Israel has the right to exist? That’s not been their position in the past….In fact, they have specifically….”
“Just trust me on this. They don’t want to make that concession, but I can make it happen.”
“That capitulation would be, as you know, Mr. President, a significant breakthrough. But, of course, it’s one thing to recognize that a nation can exist, and quite another to agree not to ever attack it or try and annihilate it in the future. What assurances, what teeth in the agreement can we expect to….”
“Let me work on that. I’m not concerned that we can make it happen. I am concerned though, that Israel may stumble over the details of the land swap we’re going to put on the table later today.”
As excited as the Prime Minister had felt upon hearing, for the first time, that Israel’s right to exist and assurances of its security would be offered, his stomach took an instant turn upon the President raising problems Israel would likely have over what land it would have to give up. If the President suspected that Israel would have issues with the land swap proposal, the Prime Minister knew Israel certainly would object.
“What….details….are….we….talking….about? Can I just see the maps now? No surprises, Mr. President?”
“No. I’ve decided against either side seeing the maps early. You all get to see them at the same time. It’s only fair that….”
“Whoa! Hold on, sir. If our roles were reversed and I were telling you that I wouldn’t show you a map of what I was taking away from your country, say part of California or New York, wouldn’t you demand the right to at least see the maps before you’re asked to agree to the land being taken away?”
“Let’s get this straight. America isn’t up for grabs. Israel is. We’re all going to agree to take away some of the land that you occupied in 1987 when Israel was invaded. What land? Why should you care, really? Land is land. You give up some dirt and you get everyone’s promises that you can live in peace on the dirt you don’t give up. Simple as that.”
“Simple as that, huh? Mr. President, it’s not simple. And it’s not just dirt, its people’s lives. People who have lived for decades on the land and now you want to just rip them out of their homes. We could never agree….”
“Never agree? I told you that I would cut to the chase, so here it is. Plain and simple. Iran has nukes. Your Mossad confirmed that last year. You can’t take them out, the whole world has warned you not to even think about it. We won’t allow it and you’re not going to do it. Your only defense against those nukes now is that America let it be known what we will do if Iran ever uses its nukes. Israel is now as the US and the old USSR used to be, MAD, Mutual Assured Destruction, since you now both have nukes. So, Mr. Prime Minister, Israel will sign the Path to Peace Agreement. You get the right to exist, you give up the land we’ve decided you have to give up to make this deal work and you get guarantees of security. No more bombs, no more missiles and no more suicide bombers. Peace. Peace in our times. Finally.”
In his heart the Prime Minister wasn’t really surprised by what he had just heard. He knew it would come to this when he first heard ABC call the election for the President early in the morning following the closing of the polls. The best he could hope for was to salvage something in the peace agreement which was being forced down Israel’s throat that would assure Israel that it could truly live in peace.
“Let me go to the bottom line, also, with all due respect, Mr. President. Maybe we’re not in a good position to argue about specific areas of the land that we’re being forced to give up….to abandon…., but I will never sign a document that leaves us at risk of further attacks, more killings, more blood.”
“You’re wrong, Mr. Prime Minister. You will sign the agreement. The reason you will sign is that if you don’t sign, the following three bad things for Israel will soon follow your refusal to sign. First, the UN will admit the newly created State of Palestine as a full member, with the rights that follow. Second, our new budget bill will not include any, that’s any, US foreign aid for Israel. That’s over three billion dollars this year, and every year thereafter. Third, I’ll p
ublically announce that the Jimmy Carter Memorandum of Agreement that was signed with the Camp David Peace Accords in March, 1979 is null and void.”
“What? Null and void? America promised Israel in writing in that document that you would come to our military assistance if we are attacked. I thought this issue might come up, so I brought along a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement. In paragraph 3 your country guaranteed Israel that if there is ‘an armed attack against Israel, the United States will be prepared to consider, on an urgent basis, such measures as the strengthening of the United States presence in the area, the providing of emergency supplies to Israel, and the exercise of maritime rights in order to put an end to the violation’. So, how does the United States just walk away from this guarantee to protect what the document calls the security interests of Israel? Are America’s promises, in writing, worth nothing?”
“Mr. Prime Minister, please….please….please. We’re neither one virgins in these international treaty matters. If America decides it won’t support what a prior President put in writing, then we can come up with dozens of reasons why it’s no longer operative, as they say in diplomatic language. I’m simply saying that if you don’t sign this Path to Peace agreement, this week, then there’ll be a new UN created nation on your doorsteps, you’ll be cut off from US foreign assistance and we will specifically disavow the Carter Agreed Memorandum.”
“You realize, of course, Mr. President, that should you….what was your word….disavow….the US commitment to militarily defend Israel, that….that would be equivalent to an invitation to the Palestinians and the jihadists of the region to invade us, to try and push us into the sea, as they have promised to do. We’d be under attack within hours of such an announcement, undoubtedly nuked by Iran. Unbelievable.”
“It’s very believable, Mr. Prime Minister. I don’t want to have to revoke the Memorandum….but….I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do. My advisers, my State Department, are all in agreement, having studied you for years, that if I don’t make it clear, shall we say, what we will do if you don’t sign, that you will never sign. It’s time to sign, Mr. Prime Minister, it’s time to sign.”
The Williamsburg peace negotiations went on for most of the week, but by noon on Friday, the media were alerted to breaking news. A peace agreement had been reached with details to be announced shortly by the President. The history-making agreement was to be signed the following week on the lawn of the White House, the same site as the Camp David Peace Accords in 1979. A Middle East Peace Agreement had been agreed to by ancient enemies. Peace. Peace in our times.
52
Small Group Bible Study, Home of Hannah & Gary
Birmingham, Alabama
The small group had returned to Hannah and Gary’s house. The couple was still dealing though with the loss of Hannah’s favorite uncle, what Hannah called a ‘government assassination’. Tonight all members were present. Tom knew Hannah was feeling better as she had baked his favorite toffee bars. Everyone was on edge after hearing for weeks the mainstream media regularly calling Christians “car bombers” and “gun fighters”. Tonight’s lesson would prove to be timed well in light of these recent events.
Scott started the night’s discussion, “Alright, guys, you know that tonight’s subject is as serious as what happened to Hannah’s uncle. The prophecies we’ve been studying tell us that a rich, powerful and influential end times nation will betray Israel, leading to the shedding of blood in Israel and inviting destruction of the betrayer. Tonight we’re going to look at the verses that give us clues as to how the Daughter of Babylon is destroyed and by whom. First, though, how long will the actual destruction of this nation take, according to the Word?”
Marty, known in the group as the feisty member, had been unusually calm and collected to this point in the book study of The End of America. She answered Scott’s question. “Scott. Of all of the prophecies that we’ve studied on this America is Babylon thing, this timing prophecy really grabbed me.”
“How so, Marty?”
“Well, when you read the two hundred thirty verses, or whatever the number is, you have to be struck by how the clues to the identity of Mystery Babylon fit America like a hand in a glove….which I am very sorry to say, by the way. I love my country as much as anyone, but I’ve had my eyes opened to look at America from God’s viewpoint. We used to be a golden cup in His hand, but in the last few decades we’ve gone sour. Mother of abominations? Great prostitute? How can we in good conscience deny that these titles fit?”
“Marty….I agree. You started by saying that the timing prophecy grabbed you?”
“OK, yeah. Back on track. These prophecies say that once Babylon betrays Israel that it’s destroyed in one day. That’s at Revelation….let’s see….18:8. Also, in one hour….that’s at….Revelation 18:10. And in one moment….Isaiah….it’s at chapter 47….verse 9. We all know that there’s no possible way to destroy an entire country in one day, let alone one hour or in one moment. Wow! So, Scott, what got me was that there’s only one possible way to do that and it’s to use nuclear weapons. Before the 1940’s there were no such weapons, so these verses prophesying such swift destruction could not have been fulfilled before that time.”
Max followed Marty’s comments, “Marty, I’m glad you brought the timing up because when I was studying our lesson the timing prophecies caused me to research two verses. Isaiah in 13:19 prophesies that ‘Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonian’s pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah’. Jeremiah, in a similar disclosure, says, ‘As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighboring towns, declares the Lord, so no one will live there; no man will dwell in it’. That’s in 50:40. For those who think these prophecies were already fulfilled in ancient Babylon, history records that Babylon had no sudden fall, it’s mentioned even in the New Testament and was around as a city until a thousand years AD.”
Beau asked, “Are you saying, Max, that since ancient Babylon didn’t fall in one day, one hour, one moment, but instead over many centuries, that these prophecies clearly apply to the future end times Daughter of Babylon?”
“Obviously, Beau,” Max answered. “But, besides the timing, look at what God tells us through the two Prophets, about the means of the destruction. ‘Like Sodom and Gomorrah’ and. ‘as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah’. Which of course leads us to ask ‘how did God overthrow and destroy those two towns? Genesis chapter 19 gives us most of the details, though not all. In 19:24 it says that the Lord ‘rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire’.
Marty asked, ‘What’s fire and brimstone? Like some of those TV preachers?”
“No, actually,” Max responded, “I wish we had more of that kind of preaching instead of so much feel good about yourself sermons, but I digress. My research of these scriptures tells me that what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah is the same thing that happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
Gary, thinking about a problem at work, only heard the end of what Max claimed. He blurted out, “Whoa, Max. I didn’t get to study the lesson this week….it was a hard week. But, how can you say that the Bible says that atomic bombs would be used in the end times. I didn’t catch everything you said, can you expand some on it?”
“Sure, Gary,” Max relied, “There are several tip-offs as to why what happened at Sodom and Gomorrah was actually the Creator of the atom splitting His created atom. I found four clues. First, we just read that not only these two towns were wiped out, but also neighboring towns, which is exactly what happens with nuclear fallout. God even tells us in Genesis 19:25 that the ‘vegetation in the land’ was also destroyed and in Deuteronomy 29:23 that no vegetation will grow on it. Does Chernobyl come to mind? Secondly, in 19:17 God warns Lot’s family fleeing the area ‘don’t look back’, which is the same warning to avoid looking at a nuclear flash. Thirdly, in Lamentations 4 we learn that the skin of the people killed at Sodom clung to their bones, withered, like sticks. That’s what h
istory tells us the Japanese looked like when we nuked them. Fourthly, an impressive clue. The smoke that came up from the destroyed area looked ‘like smoke from a furnace’. A burning city fills the whole sky with smoke, but a nuked city has a mushroom cloud, which is a column of smoke, like from a chimney on a furnace.”
Gary pondered what he had just heard from Max, then said, “That’s pretty clear, Max, thanks for researching it. When you put what you researched with the one day, one hour, one moment prophecies that Marty mentioned, it’s hard to avoid the conclusion that the Daughter of Babylon will suffer nuclear destruction. That raises the question, though, who would do it? Who would nuke America?”
Scott weighed Gary’s question, looking around the family room, waiting for a response. Hearing none, he said, “I know it’s not very PC to talk about, but the Bible, again, gives us clues. Jeremiah in 51:11 tells us that God will stir up the Kings of the Medes to destroy Babylon, to take vengeance for what it did to Israel. The Medes lived in the area that is today Iran, formerly known as Persia. Then in verse 27 of the same chapter Jeremiah says that God will summon against Babylon nations that are in the area we know today as Russia and the former Soviet Union.”
Max asked, “Scott, what is the relevance of these prophecies when we compare them with the prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39, which say that Persia and Gog of Magog, Russia today, will engage in a land invasion of Israel, when it’s at peace. And, as we’ve studied, the Daughter of Babylon will betray Israel, not come to its aid, and will be destroyed because of it. So, Scott, again….my question is what do you see as the relevance of the fact that Russia and Iran are part of the invading army attacking Israel, and also called up by God to destroy the Daughter of Babylon? There’s got to be something there, right?”
“Max, you have nailed what I also saw when I was prepping this part of the lesson. I’m only guessing, because I didn’t find any verses that tell us specifically, but here’s what I think. Iran and also Libya and the other nations Ezekiel listed and which are now all Muslim, invade Israel. Russia, which has a large number of Muslim residents, joins in the invasion. Israel cries out for military help. Israel asks America, its Camp David Treaty partner, to stand beside it to resist the invading forces. The Daughter of Babylon looks the other way. Some Deputy Secretary of State or Defense, or such, tells the DC assembled media that the United States just will not get involved in the war in the Middle East, giving weak excuses for inaction. What happens next? God says that He will have to come to Israel’s defense, which He will do by wiping out most of the invading armed forces. So many invading soldiers die that the cemetery built in Northern Israel will be called the cemetery of many dead Russians, the Valley of Hamon-gog. It will take seven months just to bury all the dead.”