Is President Trump bringing peace and safety to the Middle East?
Isn’t there a warning in the Bible about claims of Peace and Safety?
Yes, there is a warning.
Should we be concerned whenever we hear about claims of a peace deal in the Middle East?
If you don’t know Christ, yes, you should be concerned. Anyone who doesn’t know Christ should be concerned, but that’s true no matter what happens in the Middle East. Peace deal or no peace deal. If an individual is delaying their decision to trust in Christ, the time to make such a choice is drawing dangerously closer to an end. That day, at the time I write this post, is still many years away. But decision time for many millions of people is long overdue. Choose wisely what you will do with the time that God has granted you.
Eternity is a very long time.
See recent articles that point to what the Bible describes as “peace and safety.”
Sudan-Israel normalization announcement likely this weekend
US, Bahrain sign historic agreement on fighting antisemitism
Saudi Journalist Calls To Internationalize Jerusalem Holy Sites
Israel ‘ normalization’: Is Saudi Arabia softening its stance?
The PLO should accept Trump’s Peace Plan
The Apostle Paul’s Peace and Safety warning
1 Thessalonians 5:13 For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape.
The Apostle Paul warned the early church in Thessalonica regarding the Day of the Lord. He said the return of Christ would come quickly and unexpectedly. It wasn’t a guess on his part. As always, he studied the Old Testament and pointed to the words of the ancient prophets when making his claims about the last days.
Many Bible prophecy students are aware of Paul’s warning about a peace deal. And because of that, for years, teachers have warned political figures about making any sort of peace deal in the Middle East. To ignore those warnings, many have taught, is to lead the world into certain chaos. Whoever dares to bring about a peace deal between Israel and the Arabs will welcome the curse of God upon them. Many Bible teachers have claimed that a European leader will initiate such a deal. While others have pointed to U.S. presidents who have tried and failed to bring lasting peace between Israel and their Arab neighbors.
Donald Trump is the latest U.S. president to make an attempt at bringing peace to the region. Well, my opinion and five dollars will get you a cup of strong coffee at Starbucks. (Careful you don’t get burned, the coffee is hot!) But, it’s my opinion, that the Trump administration will succeed where others have failed. I believe that some sort of peace deal will unfold in the next few years.
Bible experts comment on Peace and Safety
Do you study your Bible? I hope you do. Don’t just read it, study it. It’s life-changing.
A sound principle of Bible study is seeing what many scholars say about a particular passage of scripture. Let’s consider the opinions of some biblical scholars regarding Paul’s warning in 1 Thessalonians.
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) They.—Quite vague and general, like the French on. The plural is so used frequently in St. Luke (Luke 12:11, Luke 12:20, margin, Luke 16:9, probably, Luke 23:29-31). Of course, however, no Christian could say so, for they are ever on the watch, so that “they” will mean “the world.” The word “for” at the beginning of the verse should (according to the best MSS.) be struck out—the abruptness helps to enforce the lesson.
Peace and safety.—Carrying on the thought suggested by the word “night; they are taking their repose in security, without dreaming of any interruption to their slumbers. Is it possible that there may here be a faint recollection of the parable related in Matthew 25:1-13?
Destruction cometh upon them.—Literally, stands over them; or takes its stand over them; presents itself. The present tense is used for the sake of a more vivid effect. The extreme similarity of this passage to Luke 21:34 (with other indications) inclines Bishop Wordsworth to think that the Thessalonians had the Gospel of St. Luke to refer to.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 3. – For; the best manuscripts omit this conjunction; the description is continuous. When they shall say, namely, the unbelieving world. Peace and safety, peace denoting internal rest, and safety external security. Sudden destruction cometh upon them. When they thought themselves most secure, they were then in the greatest danger; when they were most off their guard, then the crisis came. As travail upon a woman with child. The primary point of resemblance is certainly the suddenness and unexpectedness of the event; as labor comes upon a woman suddenly, so sudden destruction cometh upon the ungodly world. Still, however, the unavoidableness of the judgment may also be here intimated; there is no possibility of escape: this is implied in the last clause, and they shall not escape.
Matthew Poole’s Commentary
For when they shall say, Peace and safety: by these words the apostle proves that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, by the security that will be then found in the world. They say it in their hearts and practice, if not with their tongues. And he useth two words the better to express the greatness of this security, present peace, and no danger of sliding, as the import of the words. And as the effect of Christ’s coming will be
destroyed to such, which will be salvation to others, Hebrews 9:28, so through their security, it will be
sudden destruction, which he describes under the similitude of travail upon a woman with child, which doth for the most part come of a sudden, and is the most exquisite pains in nature, and is often made use of in Scripture to set forth extremity of misery, Isaiah 13:8 Jeremiah 13:21. And these pains come upon her unavoidably; so saith the apostle of these men’s destruction,
and they shall not escape, or in no wise escape, expressed in the Greek by two negatives, which do strongly affirm.
Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
For when they shall say,… Or men shall say, that is, wicked and ungodly men, persons in a state of unregeneracy:
peace and safety; when they shall sing a requiem, to themselves, promise themselves much ease and peace for years to come, and imagine their persons and property to be very secure from enemies and oppressors, and shall flatter themselves with much and long temporal happiness:
then sudden destruction cometh upon them; as on the men of the old world in the times of Noah, and on the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Lot; for as these, will be the days of the Son of man, as at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, so at the last day; see Luke 17:26 and as was the destruction of literal Babylon, so of Babylon in a mystical sense, or antichrist and his followers…
An uncertain “Peace and Safety.”
It is certain that a fragile peace deal will take place in the Middle East. Bible scholars, from Paul’s day until now, have pointed to that fact. Eventually, the deal of the century will get written, signed, and announced.
What happens after the deal is signed is also certain.
“Sudden destruction.”
Well, that doesn’t sound good.
Those who have put off their decision to trust in Christ are running out of time.
Report: Trump’s Mideast Peace Plan is Almost Finished
Israel and Arab peace deal presented in 2019?
A Prince will Confirm a Covenant with many for one week — A peace deal?
White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I have served as children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It has been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to follow Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He is a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both on a spiritual journey. They find they cannot escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth that might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We are all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they will not go to church, maybe they will read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them.
Praying for the youth, and a great awakening.
Pastor Doug
Let me know what you think.