Does Antichrist initiate an agreement with Israel… Or does he confirm one already in existence?
RESOURCES: The End of the Age as well as The Train of Signs Before the End Times Launch
The conclusion that it is all nations who originate, initiate, or make the agreement runs counter to a tradition that holds it is Antichrist who initiates a Peace agreement Israel. However, when numerous Scriptures are read literally and within context it is clear that it is all nations who initiate the agreement and then Antichrist whom is the one that will confirm it sometime later. This is why in referring to the initial agreement the prophet Daniel (Daniel 9:27) literally tells us Antichrist will confirm it and not initiate it. Then he alludes to it being the agreement initiated by all nations by describing the one Antichrist will confirm as the covenant with many. By alerting us that many nations will be involved in the initial agreement Daniel is establishing the context of how we should read an array of other Scriptures relating to whom it is that initiates the agreement. With that context in mind consider the following Scriptures indicating it is all nations who initiate this agreement.
For additional context of the events that transpire at the time all nations initiate the agreement first consider.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 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.
This Scripture tells us what happens just before the launch of the day of the Lord. There is an agreement made which produces grand proclamations of Peace. The war that ensues thereafter comes with great suddenness and with surprise comparable to the appearance of a thief in the night. This destruction is then referred to as “birth pangs” by the phrase as travail upon a woman with child which places it at the beginning phase of the day of the Lord. (end times)
CRITICAL CONCLUSION: A PEACE AGREEMENT COMES BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY OF THE LORD.
The Prophet Joel Says it’s all nations
Although 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 tells us that a Peace agreement takes place just before the launch of the day of the Lord, it does not tell us who it is that initiates the agreement. To begin answering that question it is necessary to consider the flow of events in the Book of Joel 2:31-32.
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
Joel 2:31
In this verse we are told that before the day of the Lord begins that the sun and moon will give a sign. But for our purposes this verse is establishing that Joel is referring to the beginning of the day of the Lord. After establishing that Joel is relaying events related to the day of the Lord the next verse recommends that people return to the Lord. Thereafter the flow of events continues in Joel 3:1-2 where we are told the general time frame when the day of the Lord begins and the reason why it happens.
For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
Joel 3:1
Immediately after describing the beginning of the day of the Lord two verses earlier in Joel 2:31, here in Joel 3:1 the prophet references back to those events by beginning this verse 3:1 with the words: For, behold, in those days, and in that time… So Joel 3:1 is establishing that the launch of the day of the Lord described in Joel 2:31 will take place after the Jews are returned to Judah and Jerusalem. This gives us the reference dates of 1948 when they returned as a nation, and 1967 when the eastern half of Jerusalem was restored to Israeli control giving them control over the entire city for the first time in almost 2000 years. How do we know Joel 3:1 is referring to the Jews returning to the land instead of being taken captive again as the wording in the verse implies? It is because Jeremiah 30:3 resolves that question by using virtually the same wording saying, … I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and will cause them to return to the land that I gave their fathers… So the day of the Lord happens sometime after the Jews are returned to the land and regain control over Judah and the city of Jerusalem.
Now the prophet is ready to provide the specifics of why sometime after 1967 the day of the Lord takes place. And it is the answer to that question that gives us another detail of the Peace agreement mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 which that verse tells us happens just before the great-war that launches the day of the Lord. It also begins to identify Daniel’s covenant with many that Antichrist will eventually confirm.
All nations parted my land
When reading the next verse notice there is no mention of warfare against Israel within it. Also continue to keep in mind as you read this verse in Joel that Daniel 9:27 described the agreement Antichrist would eventually confirm as the covenant with many. So we are looking for that initial covenant with many that Antichrist will later confirm. That observation is the key to placing the events being described in Joel 3:2 within the proper context.
So after just having told us in the previous verse the general time frame of when the day of the Lord will take place, the next verse is proceeded with the words: I will also… indicating a continuation of the previous thought.
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
Joel 3:2
In this verse we are told the valley of Jehoshaphat is being used as the theatre of God’s judgment against all nations. We are being told who is being punished at the beginning of the day of the Lord and it is all nations. Now consider what is meant by the valley of Jehoshaphat. Strong’s Concordance defines Jehoshaphat used in this context as “Jehovah has judged.” It is highly unlikely that this is a literal valley located somewhere near Israel. In fact, Strong’s adds the comment that its usage here is a “symbolical name of a valley near Jerusalem.” So the nations are not gathered into a literal valley for punishment but into the valley of the Lord’s judgment. Notice, this is not all nations coming into a valley called Jehoshaphat to take land from Israel. It was already parted as opposed to conquered. Instead we are told that Jehovah is judging them in the valley of Jehoshaphat for having parted my land.
We are literally being told here why the day of the Lord launches and it is because all nations… parted the land of Israel without any indication it was conquered by an army. Since there is no mention of warfare against Israel and the term parted is used instead of conquered it could only be parted by a settlement or an agreement of some kind. The word used for parted in the verse is the Hebrew verb “chalac” which means “to divide, apportion, assign, distribute, impart or share” all of which indicate non-conflict was used to divide the land. This conclusion is the result of a literal read of the verse without adding anything to it.
There are only two ways a nation can lose land. The first is through warfare where the vanquished lose tracts of land to another army. The only other way for a nation to lose land is for the land to be removed by an agreement. By reading this verse with a literal eye we see nowhere the mention of armed conflict as being the reason for the land being parted. Believing that the Lord spoke it with Divine precision to His prophet we must accept that it could only be parted or divided by an agreement. And currently on the event horizon there is an omen of this coming because the goal of the United Nations (all nations) is to remove some of the land from Israel in the name of Peace. And it is the United Nations that represents all nations just as the verse tells us to look for.
Note that since the parting of the land already took place it happens before the day of the Lord begins and is accomplished without warfare. This confirms what we just read in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 where sudden destruction launching the day of the Lord comes only after they say Peace. And all efforts at Peace in the Middle East conflict since the year 1990 revolve around the notion that it will result only by removing land from Israel. The Scriptures are telling us it is the removal of land from Israel by all nations that is the reason for the start of great-war that begins the day of the Lord. That Peace agreement by all nations represents the final warning. Now consider the Jeremiah 30 in the context of who does what that launches the day of the Lord.
Jeremiah confirms our perspective on Joel
Consider Jeremiah’s words carefully in relation to how he confirms what Joel said. Also keep in mind the words of Daniel 9:27 wherein we are told that Antichrist will confirm and not initiate an agreement that is referred to as the covenant with many. Daniel’s description of that agreement offers its notable characteristic (multitude of nations) that helps us to place Joel, and now Jeremiah into proper perspective. With that perspective in mind we have the proper context to read Jeremiah 30.
For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Jeremiah 30:3
What time frame is Jeremiah talking about? It is when the Jews are returned to the land that I (the Lord) gave to their fathers. This began unfolding in 1948 when parts of Israel were restored and again in 1967 when all of Jerusalem came back under Israeli control. Consider when reading this verse that Joel 3:1 uses almost the same phrase indicating the events being discussed in both Joel and Jeremiah are referring to the same time frame. This establishes the first sign of harmony between the two prophets. Remember in Joel 3:1 after establishing this time frame we were told in the next verse, Joel 3:2, that great punishment for all nations takes place because they parted my land. And with no sign of warfare anywhere within the verse to accomplish the parting it could only have been done by an agreement of some kind. Keep in mind that perspective of Joel and also Daniel’s description of the initial agreement as the covenant with many when you read these Scriptures in Jeremiah 30.
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7Alas! For that day is great, so none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. JEREMIAH 30:6-7
The events being described in this Scripture are the time of Jacobs trouble, another way of saying the day of the Lord. We know these Scriptures are identifying the beginning phase of the day of the Lord because the words woman in travail is a birth pangs phrase. The word used to denote it is “yalad,” Hebrew for “of child birth,” “to be born,” “to beget a child.” Since a birth pangs term was used here we should see Jeremiah 30 come into harmony with what 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, and Joel 3:1-2 have been saying relative to a great-war launching the day of the Lord after all nations remove land from Israel in a Peace agreement of some kind.
For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
Jeremiah 30:11
Once again we see that all nations are being punished by the Lord. This is the same all nations mentioned in Joel 3:2. In fact, Jeremiah observes a severe punishment as indicated that the Lord will make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee. The reference whither I have scattered thee refers to the multitude of nations across the earth where the Jews had previously been scattered during the Diaspora. So both Jeremiah and Joel mention all nations being punished. And both Scriptures indicate these events take place in the beginning of the day of the Lord because they either possess a birth pangs reference or tell us they happen at its beginning.
But strangely we are told by Jeremiah that thee is also being punished but in measure. Who are thee? It is Israel. Why is Israel receiving punishment along with all nations? Notice that the punishment all nations receive is extremely severe with the Lord promising to make a full end of them. Israel, on the other hand, is only punished in measure. The answer to that question comes out in verse 16.
Therefore, they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for prey.
Jeremiah 30:16
The reason for the full end of all nations comes out in verse 16 and it is because they devour Israel. The only way to devour Israel is to remove some of her land. We know all of the land was not removed because God is punishing Israel after all nations devour her. Just as in Joel 3:2 here too there is no indication in this verse, or this entire chapter of Jeremiah, that warfare is used against Israel to devour her land. In other words, this removal of the land did not happen through force-of-arms. Israel was not conquered.
Without war the removal of land from a nation can only happen through an agreement of some kind. The only kind of agreement that would result in Israel giving up land is an agreement in the name of Peace which is exactly what the United Nations (all nations) has been seeking to do. The word used here for devour is the Hebrew verb “akal” meaning “to devour or eat.” This verb is used throughout the Scriptures but never in association with military conquest. The word for spoil is the Hebrew verb “sha’ac” which means to “plunder” or be “robbed.” The word for prey is the Hebrew verb “bazaz” which means to “prey upon or seize.” So the context of the explanation as to why all nations are being punished at the beginning of the day of the Lord in this chapter is related to “seizing” the land but not conquering it.
Understanding that only a Peace agreement can devour the land of Israel in Jeremiah 30 explains why Israel is also being punished. For such a Peace agreement to be made Israel will have to agree to it. This is because an agreement is just that, an agreement between the parties even if they are pressed into it. Why would Israel agree to such a thing? It is because all nations are aligned against her. This explains why all nations receive horrific punishment but Israel only receives punishment in measure because it is all nations that carry the greater guilt.
So do not look for the Antichrist to initiate an agreement removing land from Israel. He will confirm one already in place. Look for all nations, the United Nations, to initiate that agreement.
If Israel resisted the effort of all nations to devour her land there would be no punishment coming her way as we clearly see next in Zechariah 14. Consider the difference in how God treats Israel in Zechariah 14 verses how He just treated her in Jeremiah 30. This comparison further supports the conclusion that all nations in Jeremiah 30 could not devour the land through warfare unless God is double-minded.
Jeremiah 30 Vs Zechariah 14
In addition to there being no mention of armies going against Israel to devour, “plunder” or “seize” the land in Jeremiah 30 we can also support the perspective it can only be from a Peace agreement by comparing the events in Jeremiah 30 to those in Zechariah 14. Consider the contrast between the two. In Zechariah 14 it is clear that all nations attempt to remove the land from Israel by force-of-arms in an event that happens much deeper in the day of the Lord. In it we are told: For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle… which is clearly an attacking army because they seek a battle. In Zechariah 14 the Lord fights against all nations whose armies are surrounding and attacking Jerusalem because we are told: Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. This event is part of the day of the Lord because in verse 1 we are told: Behold, the day of the Lord cometh… We know it is deep into the day of the Lord because it says of Jesus: And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives…
Because it is NOT in the beginning but near the end of the day of the Lord that Jesus stands on the Mount of Olives there is no mention of birth pangs anywhere within Zechariah 14. In Zechariah 14 there not only is no punishment against Israel, but the Lord comes against the armies that assaulted her. However, remember we just saw in Jeremiah 30 that all nations devour Israel and yet the Lord also punished Israel but in measure. Since God is not double minded there is a good reason for the difference in His responses to the events in Jeremiah 30 vs. Zechariah 14. The difference is that in Jeremiah 30 it is not armies that go against the land of Israel. That leaves only one other way for the land to be devoured which is a Peace agreement that Israel signs on to. Because such an agreement would require Israel to agree to its terms of transferring the land in the name of Peace it brings punishment upon her as well but only in measure. Why in measure? Because arrayed against Israel on the other side was all nations and God considers what she was up against and gives mercy by only punishing her in measure. Therefore, only a Peace agreement can devour the land in Jeremiah 30.
CRITICAL CONCLUSION: JEREMIAH 30 CONFIRMS IT IS ALL NATIONS THAT REMOVE LAND FROM ISRAEL WITHOUT WARFARE AND THIS LAUNCHES THE DAY OF THE LORD
Scriptural Harmony: 1 Thessalonians, Joel, and Jeremiah
Remember in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 we are told proclamations of Peace come before the sudden destruction that starts the day of the Lord. In Joel 3:2 we are told all nations are gathered together by the Lord for punishment because they parted my land and this is the reason for the launch of the day of the Lord. Because there is no sign that warfare was used to part the land it leaves a covenant or agreement of some kind as the only other method of accomplishing it. And now Jeremiah 30 is telling us that in the beginning moments of the day of the Lord the Lord makes a full end of all nations because they devour Israel but without any sign of warfare. Here too since warfare is not used to accomplish the devouring of the land it leaves only one other method: a Peace agreement. Adding to the case that in Jeremiah 30 it could only be a Peace agreement of some kind that removes the land from Israel is the fact that the Jewish state also receives punishment but in measure.
Therefore, we see an array of connecting Scriptures that when read literally and within context speak to it being all nations who remove land from Israel in the name of Peace and that this is the reason for the launch of the day of the Lord. Because it is all nations whom initiate the covenant or agreement this is in harmony with the prophet Daniel telling us that the agreement Antichrist eventually will confirm is the covenant with many.
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