UPDATE FROM NEW YORK
By Michael Evans
Rumors are racing through the streets of New York City regarding what the Palestinians will do this week. The latest reports are that they will go ahead and seek full statehood, daring the United States to veto the resolution. The Arab League nations are pushing hardusing their billions of oil dollars to bribe and threaten other nations to support full statehood. Russia and China have already announced that they will support the plan, and it remains to be seen if the US would uphold the pledge to use a Security Council veto to block it.
The bottom line is thiswhile a Security Council veto would deny the Palestinians official member status, they appear to be fully committed to that demand. If the vote in the Security Council fails due to a US veto they can then seek upgraded observer status at the General Assembly as a non-member state.
This could be interpreted as implicit UN recognition of Palestinian statehood because the assembly would be acknowledging that the Palestinians control an actual state. The advantage of this option is that it would require only a simple majority of the General Assembly. Since around 120 countries have already recognized the state of Palestine to date, it would likely win such a vote overwhelmingly.
If the Palestinians were to be recognized as a non-member state, they would be able to sign certain international treaties, such as the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, which they cannot currently sign. This will mean thousands of lawsuits against Israel and isolation and demonization of the State of Israel.
This is a season to watch and pray about the beginning of the covenant which starts a 7 year clock.
Dan 9:27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.
Dan 11:28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own
Dan 11:30 For ships from Cyprus shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved, and return in rage against the holy covenant, and do damage. So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation.
This is from Reggie Kelly
I believe we can be sure that the true ecclesia of God will come awake in time to fulfill all His purpose, as God will be bringing special constraints and inducements through the signal events of the first half of the week. This will "take us where we would not have gone," so to speak.
I see a kind of midnight call that will become loud and clear when the covenant of Dan 9:27 and Dan 11:28, 30 is confirmed. Since this is the event that starts the seven years, it is important that we define how it can be clearly distinguished from any other peace plan or arrangement.
The covenant, or peace arrangement that we are looking for will be soon enough put beyond question, because it will provide for Jewish return of access to the temple mount. This is not the place to make the case, but there are a number of definite foretold events that distinguish and define the covenant that starts the final seven years.
Not only will a clear and correct view of the covenant be a sign that will set definite chronological limits, but according to Dan 11:23-30, the league with the Antichrist begins a chronological sequence of foretold events that will mark the progress of the first half of the week, leading up to the point that the abomination is placed in the holy place at Jerusalem (Dan 11:31; Mt 24:15-16). This will be a powerful incentive and strength for urgent foresight and preparation. It is calculated to move the church into a depth and fullness that will defy the spirit of the age and greatly glorify the Lord, as they love not their lives unto the death.
Many other signs that can be equally recognized will follow "after the league made with him (Antichrist; Dan 11:23). When the covenant is confirmed, it will be accompanied by the public declaration of "peace and safety," not only by the Israelis, but the nations (not all nations) also will breath a 'collective sigh of relief', as they 'presume' that a 'lasting peace' has finally come to the troubled, and world troubling, Middle East.
The church that doesn't rouse and waken at the sight of these things (when the time comes), is, by that time, already beginning to manifest itself as the false church of the great apostasy This is why the Devil so hates, fears, and resists the truth of these things. He knows God's plan to use the more sure word of prophecy to perfect the church and bring Israel back.
That's why every square inch of ground concerning prophecy is so hard fought and hard won. Satan dreads the time of his final displacement by Michael in the middle of the week, and that heavenly event is not unrelated to a travail that is taking place on earth through a people that know the time. Just as Daniel, knowing that the end of the 70 years was at hand, fasted and prayed, so that Michael was sent to dislodge the opposing Prince of Persia. In the same way, Satan will be dislodged by Michael through the travail of a church that has been crowded and straightened to a place of earnest urgency and ultimate self emptying.
The casting down of Satan that occurs at the beginning of the tribulation (Satan's 'short time') permits the resurrection of the Antichrist, which fulfills the mystery of iniquity (the full incarnation of Satan in the flesh), which, according to 2Thes 2:3, 7-8 and Rev 12:10-12, must take place in order for Christ to return. So the very return of Christ awaits these events that will transfigure the church and accomplish the final witness to Israel.
When I use the analogy of the Lord's words to Peter, "when you're of full age, another will gird you, and take you where you would not have gone," I am speaking of this final straightening of the true ecclesia that will come about through a divinely ordained sequence of events that will clearly signal the time. The final sanctification and fullness of the church will not be left to 'normal circumstances'.
I am sure that the signal events of the first 3 1/2 years, as also the clear approach of this time, will have a transforming impact on the true church of God, such as never before seen on such a world scale. It will be the final preparation for the last martyr witness of the church to Israel and the nations. Hence, the rapture of the church is not an anti-climatic event to a 'Laodicean' church age, as taught by dispensationalism. Rather, the rapture comes as the end of a sanctifying process when the church of this age and time has completed its task of witness, as Christ returns and Israel is born in a day. We need to see that the church's travail, Satan's eviction, and Israel's return are profoundly related in the Spirit.
That, in my view, is the future hope of the church becoming all it was meant to be in terms of maturity, witness, and testimony before men and angels, such as to fulfill all that is behind in God's full intention to move the Jew to jealousy, because of the manifest power of Christ that will rest on a corporate 'servant', who will significantly fulfill an anointed ministry of 3 1/2 years, in like pattern to its risen Lord.
Your brother in His precious service, Reggie
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