Re-Post: Nearing Midnight for February 6th (Part 1)

The Volatile Middle East Just Got A Little More Volatile

The surprise Hamas electoral victory has created quite a stir in the world of prophecy. The past week, several people have asked me for my take on Israel getting an Islamic terrorist state as its new neighbor.
The establishment of Hamas rule in the West bank and Gaza almost guarantees that the world media will soon be covering a new round of terrorist acts. When Arafat ran the Palestinian Authority, he looked the other way when Hamas carried out homicide bombings in Israel. Unless the leopard decides to change its spots, any future terrorist acts will now have state sponsorship.
The Israel government has been rather quiet the past couple weeks. I'm sure they are assessing the situation. If terrorist acts against the Jewish population can be traced back to the new Palestinian government, it is certain that the Israeli military will take swift action. We need to remember that Ariel Sharon approved several air strikes against several Hamas leaders.
Once Hamas forms a cabinet, it will have to deal with a government riddled with corruption and mismanagement. The Palestinian Authority is running out of money to pay civil servants, the state has an $800 million budget, and unemployment currently stands at 40 percent. These are just a few of the problems.
The troubles are only going to get worse now that several nations have frozen aid money previously earmarked for the Palestinians. Israel will certainly have nothing to do with a Hamas government. The terrorist bombings that Hamas sponsored forced Israel to build the containment wall.
Terry and I have been talking about this situation, and we generally think that Hamas will probably be forced to recognize Israel in some way. Unless a nation like Iran decides to dramatically increase its level of support, Hamas will eventually have little choice but make peace with Israel.
Of course, the Bible predicts there never will be any lasting peace between the Israelis and the Arabs. The Word of God says that a group of nations, led by Russia, will someday seek to destroy Israel. Even when the Antichrist comes to establish a peace agreement, he will betray Israel by committing the abomination of desolation..
"But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains" (Mar. 13:14).
I think what makes the Hamas victory so important to prophecy is the Palestinians' proximity to State of Israel. They both claim the same small patch of ground. Any unrest between the Palestinians and Israelis could be the catalyst that triggers a wider conflict.
The situation in the Middle East is getting very close to resembling the vision described by the prophet Ezekiel. We now have leadership in Russia, Iran and the Palestinian government with agendas that perfectly fit the Ezekiel 38 and 39 scenario. As students of prophecy, we need to be very watchful of any further indications that the prophetic puzzle board is coming together.
"After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them. Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee" (Ezek. 38:8-9).

--Todd