At the close of 2017 Mister Trump set things off for the following, year with the announcement that he had told the United States diplomatic staff in Israel to move the embassy to Jerusalem. He also more to the point decided to recognise Jerusalem as the capital city of Israel. This did not go down well with the Arab nations or the Palestinians. The Israeli Prime Minister however had plenty to say. In a television broadcast he said: “This is an historic day. Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish people for 3000 years, it’s been the capital of Israel for nearly 70. It was here that our Temple stood, our kings ruled, our prophets preached. Jerusalem has been the focus of our hopes and dreams and prayers for 3 millennia. From every corner of the earth our people yearn to return to Jerusalem, to touch its cobbled stone and walk its hallowed streets. So it’s good to speak of new general milestones in the glorious history of this city, today’s pronouncement by President Trump is such an occasion. We are profoundly grateful to the President for his courageous and just decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to prepare for his opening of the US embassy here. His decision reflects the President’s commitment to an ancient but enduring truth and fulfilling his promises and as and advancement towards peace, for there is no peace that does not include the inclusion of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I call on all countries that seek peace to join the United States in recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and to move their embassy’s here. I share President Trump’s commitment to advancing peace between all of our neighbours, including the Palestinians. This has been our goal from Israel’s first day, and we will continue forwards with the President and all of his team to make that dream of peace come true. I want to make it clear that there will be no change in the status quo of the holy sites.” He went on to say that there would be freedom for the Jews, Muslims and Christians to worship at their holy sites without change.
Mahmoud Abbas the Palestinian leader was not quite so concessionary, saying that because of the United States recognition of Jerusalem, this was a flagrant breach of International law, and they were no longer eligible as a mediator in the peace process. He sought support from other Muslim leaders.
One feels that there will be no peace until either the Lord returns, or there is an answer to the prayer of Psalm 83. Psalm 83 is an interesting Psalm as it refers to the surrounding nations of Israel at the time and they appear to be the same nations which are giving similar problems today. Some Bible scholars think this is in fact a prophecy and somewhere in the last days Psalm 83 will come to pass as a fulfillment of prophecy. Studying the prophecies of the battles of the end times, several people think that the end time battle of Armageddon is in fact a series of battles which end in the big final conflagration where the Antichrist, the Western army, the army of the Eastern nations, the King of the North [Magog] and Israel have a final battle where the Armies of God intervene ending the Tribulation period and instigating the setting up by our Lord of His 1000 year reign of peace, where Jesus reign’s from Jerusalem over the entire world.
Europe is in a period of change. There is a move by the member nations to combine their armies and police forces to create a combined force for keeping law and order and promoting cooperation Europe wide. Originally the EU was set up following it seemed squabbles and wars between the nations of Western Europe and eventually become a United States of Europe. By combining the police and armies they are moving on to the next step of becoming one nation of associated peoples. Described in the Bible as being part iron and part clay, which although they are bound together, are quite fragile and could quite easily be broken apart and really it is quite a weak association.[Dan 2:33-45]. At the moment however the finance will be next to be sorted out as to have one currency and 28 different economies is not working. They are looking at a central banking system all using the Euro and one finance minister of Europe not of the member states. Where the people of Catalonia are seeking independence from Spain, there might not be in a few years even a Spain. As regards Europe I feel Britain’s separation from Europe might save them from total integration into this conglomeration of nations which is about to be made into a nation. This new United States of Europe would have one seat of government and parliament and the member states would be simple regional vassals doing what they are told to do, by the supreme European parliament.
Elsewhere we hear that North Korea and Iran are in cooperation in nuclear matters. Although Iran is being restricted by sanctions, one gets the impression that North Korea are far more advanced, and although they also have restricting sanctions they still seem to obtain all the materials they need. It would also explain how North Korea, a relatively poor country is managing to find the money to continue rocket and nuclear development. What does the Bible say? Nothing other than an enormous army will advance across Asia and India and kill much of mankind on the way. At the moment they are working with Iran, may be later we will see more about the connection.
In view of all this news it sounds as though it will be an interesting year and anything could happen. Even so come Lord Jesus.
Brian D. Papworth
Representative for the Prophetic Movement International in the South Seas