QUESTION Do you think that the current efforts being made to bring peace in the Middle East will result in lasting peace?

ANSWER No, I do not. There can be no real peace until the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, comes to judge the world in righteousness and set up His earthly kingdom. Then "the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever' (Isaiah 32:17).

Before that time comes there will be a false peace as described in 1 Thessalonians 5:3: "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 false peace will be negotiated by the "prince that shall come" (Daniel 9:26). It will be a seven-year treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27). A careful study of Daniel and Revelation reveals that this prince that shall come will be the head of a ten nation confederacy. This confederacy of ten nations will be a revival of the old Roman empire in a unique form. It is referred to in Daniel 7:23,24 as the fourth beast with ten horns and in Revelation 13:1-10 as the beast out of the sea, again with ten horns.

As we look at current events, one cannot but feel that the European Community (EC) could very well be the forerunner of that revived Roman empire. It is interesting to notice that most of the nations which make up the EC today were once part of the old Roman Empire. Actually the original economic treaty was signed in Rome by six nations in 1957.

In light of the above it was not too surprising to read recently that Israel suggested that the EC be an observer to the hoped-for talks with the pro-Arab nations. Luxembourg's Prime Minister Jacques Santer was quoted as saying that "The EC can be very useful to set off the peace process."

So the present efforts for peace in the Middle East could very well prepare Israel for signing a seven-year treaty with the EC. This false peace will be followed by the awful judgments of the tribulation period ending with the battle of Armageddon. Then the Prince of Peace will come and bring peace to the world for a thousand years (Revelation 20:3-6). What a day that will be!

It is good to remember that before that treaty will be signed by Israel, the Lord Jesus will come for His people (Rev. 3:10,11). "The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thess. 4:16,17). Is my reader ready for that event?

—John D. McNeil