Abrahamic Accords Expanded?

Tikkun Global

Jerusalem, Israel

Is there likely to be an expanded Abrahamic Accords for peaceful relationships with Israel and its Arab neighboring countries? No one can say for sure, but here is my perspective. 

No political solution can bring full peace. Long-lasting peace can only happen when people's hearts are changed. You can't just sign an agreement on paper when people still hate one another on the inside. That will fall apart or explode, sooner or later. 

The only one who taught to "love your enemies" is Yeshua in Matthew 5:44. It is only through his moral instruction that humans can be re-educated to overcome prejudice, racism, and revenge. 

But even Yeshua's teachings are not enough. The very core of our hearts needs to be changed. Yeshua said to Rabbi Nikodemus in John 3:3-7, "You must be born again." That is the radical change that can enable people to live in peace forever; and it can only come through the death and resurrection of Messiah. 

Any current peace is temporary and will ultimately fail. The Bible tells us in many prophecies that in the end times "all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem to battle," - one of the clearest found in Zechariah 14:2. 

Then will come the Messianic kingdom of peace, promised in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 in which "nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more." That peace comes after the great war and the coming of Yeshua in glory and power.

However, that does not mean that it is not God's will for us to live in peace now, for whatever measure possible. I believe there will be a temporary period of peace here in the Middle East. How full that peace is and how long it will last depends on many factors. Here are a few:

1. Defeating Jihadism – the more that the forces of Jihad, Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah, Houthis, Ayatollahs, etc. can be weakened or destroyed, the longer the peace will last. If those groups are left to regather strength, the peace will come to an end more quickly.

2. Reversing Propaganda – much of the problem has been the false narrative presented against Israel in academia, media, news, and Islamicist education. The anti-Israel, anti-Semitic propaganda must be stopped in order for normalization to be established.

3. Gospel – a sweep of true evangelism across the Middle East is the best way to change hearts to bring peace.

4. Unity between Jews and Christians – relationships of unity in faith, particularly with Arab Christians and Messianic Jews, will be a spiritual influence for peace that will be reflected outwardly in the culture around us.

5. Prayer – the more we pray, the more the political and military situation can be changed for the better.

While there is no full peace before the coming Messianic kingdom, there can be a partial normalization of diplomatic relationships. I do believe an expanded Abrahamic Accord can happen. 

How long will the present conflict last? There is a profound mystery here. Jerusalem is the capital of Messiah's kingdom on earth. The capital represents the authority of the government. To the degree that human society is in rebellion against God, there will always be a sub-conscious hatred of Israel and Zionism (Psalm 2:1-6). 

Will that antagonism finally come to an end when Yeshua returns? The answer is difficult. Sinful rebellion is so deep that it will remain under the surface even during the Messianic kingdom; then erupt again briefly at the end of the Millennium. 

When the thousand years are expired, Satan will be loosed out of his prison and go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle… Revelation 20:7-8.

This is the second Gog and Magog war. The first occurs right before the coming of Messiah in glory (Ezekiel 38-39). At that time Satan is imprisoned for the entire 1000-year millennial period. Then Satan must be loosed briefly. 

Why? Because people on the earth will still be tempted to rebel; that will bring yet another global war against the holy land. That deception is satanic in nature; the openness to that deception is sinful; both are based in rebellion.    

After that final rebellion comes the eternal judgment of God: the horrible lake of fire and the global garden of Eden. Evil will be driven out in all its forms. Peace and love will prevail. But it will take a long time to prepare humanity to cooperate with God's beautiful plan for perfect paradise.

In the meantime, we can be encouraged to work toward perfect peace by building bridges, speaking the truth, and acting in righteousness.