Middle East Peace

Twenty Israeli hostages to be returned, alive. The bodies of those who were killed or died in captivity to be released to families. Hamas to be barred from governing Palestine. Israel to release Gazan prisoners. Fighting to cease. The Right Honourable Sir Tony Blair to be on a Board of Governors overseeing the disputed territories. Doubtless, there will be a treaty; doubtless religious leaders led by His Holiness the Pope will fly into Jerusalem to celebrate and bless the new accords.

Meanwhile, at home, a government which knows it cannot get any less popular is determined to push through Digital ID Cards; from one single place, our banking, NHS appointments and even supermarket loyalty points can all be stored and managed from one convenient location. It will stop the flow of illegal migrants we are told (unlike passports) and prevent them from working (unlike National Insurance Numbers).

Those of an apocalyptic and eschatological bent (i.e. the end of time and imminent return of Christ) currently have much to occupy them. Are the ancient prophecies being fulfilled, the seers’ promises unfolding before our every eyes? I am not a cynic, but I have heard it before, and little came of it. So do not spend your waking hours searching for the Mark of the Beast like a young ornithologist who’s heard that a juvenile bittern has just flown in from abroad. Neither see every example of international diplomacy as 'the' peace treaty between the Beast and a naïve Jewish state. Neither waste too much time assessing Sir Tony’s excellent candidature for the job of final world antichrist (remember the Tories’ 1997 election campaign, ‘New Labour, New Danger’, with young Labour Leader given demon eyes?). It is not evil we should be seeking and anticipating, but the return of the Lord Jesus Himself. So look for Him; look to Him.

…looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

-Titus 2:13