Tenuous Peace Treaties
On March 26, 1979, millions watched their TVs in fascination as Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty in Washington, D.C.
Considering the history of the two nations, this first official attempt at Jewish-Arab peace was a shocking but welcome development, the hope being that Israel’s immediate neighbors would follow. Not-withstanding Jordan in 1994 – and the recent Abraham (peace) Accords initiated by former President Trump with some of the Gulf states and African nations – they haven’t. And though both peace agreements have held, they are tenuous as the Bible is clear that at the end of the age Israel will be abandoned (Jeremiah 12:7-9; Micah 5:3; Zechariah 14:2; Luke 13:34-35).
In the minds of peace-seekers, such political goodwill between Israel, Egypt, and Jordan conjures visions of permanent reconciliation in the Middle East. But is true peace in the Middle East possible? The answer is, “Yes,” but it will never occur in this era of human history.
On March 26, 1979, millions watched their TVs in fascination as Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signed the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty in Washington, D.C.
Considering the history of the two nations, this first official attempt at Jewish-Arab peace was a shocking but welcome development, the hope being that Israel’s immediate neighbors would follow. Not-withstanding Jordan in 1994 – and the recent Abraham (peace) Accords initiated by former President Trump with some of the Gulf states and African nations – they haven’t. And though both peace agreements have held, they are tenuous as the Bible is clear that at the end of the age Israel will be abandoned (Jeremiah 12:7-9; Micah 5:3; Zechariah 14:2; Luke 13:34-35).
In the minds of peace-seekers, such political goodwill between Israel, Egypt, and Jordan conjures visions of permanent reconciliation in the Middle East. But is true peace in the Middle East possible? The answer is, “Yes,” but it will never occur in this era of human history.
Egypt: A Primary Player in God’s Peace Plan
In determining when peace will permeate the Middle East, we must look at two particular books of the Bible. The first is Exodus. It is stunning that modern-day Egypt was the first to make peace with modern-day Israel considering the ancient hostility between them. As you recall from Exodus, Israel dwelt and was enslaved in Egypt for 430 years before God freed the Hebrews. When Israel was “reborn” in 1948, Egypt was her fiercest enemy, making the eventual peace treaty that much more astonishing.
Perhaps this is the reason Egypt is promised such a shining future in the Millennial Kingdom – the 1,000-year reign of Christ which will be established on Earth following this era of human history and preceding the establishment of the eternal state. Regarding Egypt’s place in the Kingdom, we must look at the second book, Isaiah:
In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord … And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it (Isaiah 19:19, 21).
The term “In that day” is the key to the time frame in question. “In that day” generally refers to one of two things: God’s judgment at the end of this age, or the period of time just following that judgment, the Millennial Kingdom. In other words, though the majority of blissful promises made in the Old Testament concern Israel, there are many others intended for other nations, and Egypt is one of them.
A Worshiping Nation
According to the passage, true worship of God will exist in Egypt, as indicated by the words “an altar to the Lord” (Isaiah 19:19). Reason dictates that if there is an altar, there must be a sacrificial system to go with it. There will be such a system in Israel during the Millennial Kingdom (Ezekiel 40-43). That system will extend to Egypt. What will be the reason for this sacrificial system in Egypt? “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day” (Isaiah 19:21).
Egypt’s conversion, however, will come at a price:
In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it (Isaiah 19:16).
As a result, Egypt will cry out to the one true God for deliverance, and He will deliver:
And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them (Isaiah 19:22).
In determining when peace will permeate the Middle East, we must look at two particular books of the Bible. The first is Exodus. It is stunning that modern-day Egypt was the first to make peace with modern-day Israel considering the ancient hostility between them. As you recall from Exodus, Israel dwelt and was enslaved in Egypt for 430 years before God freed the Hebrews. When Israel was “reborn” in 1948, Egypt was her fiercest enemy, making the eventual peace treaty that much more astonishing.
Perhaps this is the reason Egypt is promised such a shining future in the Millennial Kingdom – the 1,000-year reign of Christ which will be established on Earth following this era of human history and preceding the establishment of the eternal state. Regarding Egypt’s place in the Kingdom, we must look at the second book, Isaiah:
In that day shall there be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord … And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the Lord, and perform it (Isaiah 19:19, 21).
The term “In that day” is the key to the time frame in question. “In that day” generally refers to one of two things: God’s judgment at the end of this age, or the period of time just following that judgment, the Millennial Kingdom. In other words, though the majority of blissful promises made in the Old Testament concern Israel, there are many others intended for other nations, and Egypt is one of them.
A Worshiping Nation
According to the passage, true worship of God will exist in Egypt, as indicated by the words “an altar to the Lord” (Isaiah 19:19). Reason dictates that if there is an altar, there must be a sacrificial system to go with it. There will be such a system in Israel during the Millennial Kingdom (Ezekiel 40-43). That system will extend to Egypt. What will be the reason for this sacrificial system in Egypt? “And the Lord shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day” (Isaiah 19:21).
Egypt’s conversion, however, will come at a price:
In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which he shaketh over it (Isaiah 19:16).
As a result, Egypt will cry out to the one true God for deliverance, and He will deliver:
And the Lord shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them (Isaiah 19:22).
Assyria: Part of God’s Peace Plan
Wonderfully, Middle East peace in the Millennial Kingdom will not be restricted to Israel and Egypt:
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land (Isaiah 19:23-24).
Yes, Assyria. This is the same Assyria which boasted nefarious Nineveh as its capital, and later spread its tentacles to include barbaric Babylon. And, like Egypt, Assyria has been an ancient enemy of Israel. Assyria still is as it encompasses large land areas of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. And yet, during the Millennial Kingdom, this region – from Egypt to Assyria – will reside in peace, with Israel as “a blessing in the midst of the land.” Amazing!
Considering what is happening in the Middle East today, the Isaiah passage seems but a dream which has no counterpart in reality. However, we must take God at His word. He has promised that a day is coming when Egypt-Israel-Assyria will form a triumvirate of lasting peace, the likes of which the world has never known. Of this “dream team” of peace, the Lord says:
“... Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” (Isaiah 19:25).
Wonderfully, Middle East peace in the Millennial Kingdom will not be restricted to Israel and Egypt:
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land (Isaiah 19:23-24).
Yes, Assyria. This is the same Assyria which boasted nefarious Nineveh as its capital, and later spread its tentacles to include barbaric Babylon. And, like Egypt, Assyria has been an ancient enemy of Israel. Assyria still is as it encompasses large land areas of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. And yet, during the Millennial Kingdom, this region – from Egypt to Assyria – will reside in peace, with Israel as “a blessing in the midst of the land.” Amazing!
Considering what is happening in the Middle East today, the Isaiah passage seems but a dream which has no counterpart in reality. However, we must take God at His word. He has promised that a day is coming when Egypt-Israel-Assyria will form a triumvirate of lasting peace, the likes of which the world has never known. Of this “dream team” of peace, the Lord says:
“... Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” (Isaiah 19:25).
The Day Is Coming
Such words are almost too staggering to believe, but believe we must. As the world continues its freefall to destruction, may all believers be heartened by this almost inconceivable fact: The region of the world which is now humanity’s greatest threat to peace will one day be the fountain from which all blessings flow through our soon-coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Unquestionably, the Bible teaches there is coming a specific time of great adversity and divine judgment upon the earth, but along with it we are given the promise that one day there will be true and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Middle East peace will really happen.
So, believer, fight the good fight in Christ, His glorious day is coming!
Such words are almost too staggering to believe, but believe we must. As the world continues its freefall to destruction, may all believers be heartened by this almost inconceivable fact: The region of the world which is now humanity’s greatest threat to peace will one day be the fountain from which all blessings flow through our soon-coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Unquestionably, the Bible teaches there is coming a specific time of great adversity and divine judgment upon the earth, but along with it we are given the promise that one day there will be true and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Middle East peace will really happen.
So, believer, fight the good fight in Christ, His glorious day is coming!
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