The recent peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain brokered by President Trump has raised numerous questions related to Bible prophecy. Some are asking: Is this the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel (Daniel 9:27)? Others are asking: How does this agreement fit with the Gog and Magog prophecy (Ezekiel 38-39)? Still others want to know: Does this have anything at all to do with Bible prophecy?

I believe the Bible gives us some very specific clues to help us answer those questions.

1.      This is definitely not the peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel! The Antichrist will not be revealed until after the Restrainer is removed at the Rapture (2 Thess. 2:3-10). Also, this new agreement with two Arab states does not in itself guarantee Israel’s safety.

2.      It is much more likely that the peace agreement with UAE and Bahrain continues to set the stage for the Gog and Magog invasion described in Ezekiel 38-39. That prophecy depicts a massive invasion of Israel in the last days (38:16) from every direction involving Magog (Russia), Persia (Iran) Cush (Sudan) and Put (Libya). Since this prophecy has never been fulfilled, it must come to pass at some future time. By today’s observation this appears to be a Russian-backed Islamic invasion of Israel in the last days.

In relation to the current situation 3 things stand out. Three entities will protest the invasion but will not act in Israel’s defense: Sheba and Dedan represent Arabia and Tarshish represents Western Europe (38:13). Unnamed in this prophecy are Egypt and Jordan, both of which already have peace treaties with Israel. In other words, there could not be a more clear scenario than we have now. Russia and Iran will head the attack with support from other Muslim states. Western Europe (EU) will object but refuse to intervene. The same will be true of the Arab states (the Saudis, the Emirates and Bahrain) as well as Egypt and Jordan. What part the USA will play remains to be seen. Will they stay out of the conflict like Europe? Time will tell. If the future political leaders of the US are anti-Israel this could well be the case.

3.      The current peace agreements certainly seen to be setting the prophetic stage for the final fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy. If we understand the prophecy correctly this recent move should not surprise us. It should get our attention! We appear to be one step closer to the final fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. In the meantime should we pray for peace, work for peace and hope for peace in the immediate future? Yes! But at the same time, we need to be aware that there will be no lasting peace until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns. In the meantime, the prophetic clock is ticking. Keep looking up (Luke 21:28).