Try as it might the U.S. efforts to get the Arab nations to hold peace talks with Israel are falling on deaf ears. Recently, the United States Middle East Envoy, George Mitchell, was met with resistance by Saudi Arabia when he tried to persuade the Saudi King to take meaningful steps toward opening up peace talks. The Associated Press quotes Saudi Foreign minister, Osama Nugali as saying, "It is Israel that has to move seriously towards the peace process," implying that Israel must make concessions first before Saudi Arabia will begin negotiations. Nagali goes on to lay the blame on Israel's continued "defiance" in building and expanding settlements in the region. Saudi Arabia is not the only Arab nation not heeding the U.S.'s call for peace talks. On Monday the League of Arab States told Mitchell that they would not consider peace talks until there was a freeze on Israeli settlement activity. The Palestinians have also refused to continue negotiations until Israel stops construction in the West Bank. Although Saudi Arabia has rejected the United States' attempts at peace in the region, Nugali did propose implementing the 2002 Arab peace initiative which would require Israel to give back the lands they had acquired from the Six-Day War in 1967, in exchange for the Arab states' promise that they will live in peace with Israel. Unfortunately, the situation between Israel and her neighbors appears that it will get worse before it gets better. Moreover, the tension felt in that region appears to be inevitably leading to what Bible Prophecy scholars refer to as the Psalm 83 War.
Psalm 83 speaks of an alliance of what are now modern day Arab countries, who conspire with each other to wipe out Israel.
With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. "Come," they say, "let us destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel be remembered no more." With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you-the tents of Edom [modern day Jordan] and the Ishmaelites [modern day Arabs] , of Moab [modern day Jordan] and the Hagrites [modern day Egyptians/North Africans], Gebal [modern day Lebanon], Ammon [modern day Jordan] and Amalek [modern day term that Jewish people use for their enemies], Philistia [modern day Palestinians], with the people of Tyre [modern day Lebanon]. Even Assyria [modern day countries of Iraq, Iran, Syria] has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot. Selah." Psalm 83:3-8
As these nations come against Israel, the Psalmist cries out to God for His deliverance:
"Make them like tumbleweed, O my God, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm. Cover their faces with shame so that men will seek your name, O LORD. May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth." Psalm 83:13-18
For many Israelis today, this Psalm may strike a nerve because not only is Israel surrounded by nations that hate them but even their allies have turned against them, namely the United States through President Obama's policy with regard to settlement activity. Truly, it is reaching a point where one day soon, the nation of Israel will have no one to turn to but the LORD.
As developments continue in this region it won't be long before a war could break out among Israel and her Arab neighbors; the war in which Bible prophecy experts believe could prepare the stage to be set for the Gog-Magog War of Ezekiel 38 to be fulfilled. There is no mistaking that these are the "Last Days". Are you ready?
For more information on the Psalm 83 War, check out Bill Salus' website Prophecy Depot.com and his book Isralestine.
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