Prophetic Pulpit: Two State Solution: Prelude to Armageddon?

                                             The Two State Solution

Joel 3: 1, 2 For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I bring back the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land.

Through the prophet Joel, God says "In the last days I will bring my people, the Jews, out of their places of exile and restore them back to their land." This began May 14, 1948. This is the day Israel miraculously became a nation again. Since that moment the Jews have been returning to their homeland from all over the world.

Then in verse 2 the Lord continues to say, "After I have restored my people back to their homeland, I will gather all the nations of the earth and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat." The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the valley between the Mount of Olives and the temple mount. We know this to be the Battle of Armageddon.

The Battle of Armageddon is the final battle. It will take place at the end of the Great Tribulation. It is where God will judge the nations of the earth once-and-for-all before setting up His Millennial Kingdom. 

Why is the Lord judging the nations? There is a list of reasons that the bible gives, but lets take our answer from the book of Joel.

First of all, because of the way the nations of the world treated the Jews throughout history.

Joel 3:2 There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people, Israel.

Tragically, throughout history the nations commonly used the Jews as a scapegoat. The Jews were singled out and received unmerited blame for tragic events they had nothing to do with. "How did this happen?! It is the Jews fault! Let's punish the Jews!" However, the Lord declares in Zechariah 2:8 "he who touches you touches the apple of my eye."

Secondly, Joel tells us God is going to judge the nations for dividing up His land. 

Joel 3:2 "...because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." 

Dividing up the land of Israel is a very serious thing in the eyes of God. 

The land of Israel is God's land. Jerusalem is the only city in the earth where God has put His name. Throughout the scriptures God declares, "Jerusalem is the city of God and belongs to me" (Psalm 132:13, 14; Psalm 135:21). To divide the land of Israel and split the city of Jerusalem is to divvy up God's land.

Since Israel's existence in 1948 the nations of the world have been trying to divide up the land of Israel. For example, "Land For Peace" was implemented in August 2005. In order to make peace with the Palestinians, Israel agreed to give up the Gaza Strip. 8,000 Jewish settlers from 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip had to be relocated. Today Palestinian terrorists use the Gaza Strip to launch rockets at Israel.

So what am I saying? According to Joel 3:2 much of Armageddon is about the nations dividing the land of Israel. We see this continuing today as the United Nations are pressuring Israel into a Two-state solution. 

On its UN.org website, the UN states is official position regarding Israel:

"The position of the United Nation's is defined by resolutions of the security council and general assembly as well as international law and bilateral agreement. The Two-state solution remains the only path to assuring the Palestinians and Israelis can both realize their legitimate aspirations living side by side in peace and security from the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as the capital of both states."

So what exactly is the "Two-state solution?"

Israel must return to its pre-1967 borders. This means 200,000 Jews lose their homes in East Jerusalem because East Jerusalem goes back to the Palestinians. 400,000 more will lose their homes in the West Bank. The Golan Heights go back to Syria. The city of Jerusalem will be divided in half, the west going to the Jews, the east going to the Palestinians. 

Israel will never go for this. She declares, "Jerusalem is our undivided capital!" 

Regarding Israelis having to leave their homes to accommodate the Two-state solution, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu declared that there will be "no withdrawals" and "no concussions." 

Let's just "cut to the chase" by saying that we know where this is all going to end: in the Battle of Armageddon. God Himself declares, "I will draw all the nations to the Valley of Jehoshaphat to judge them for dividing up my land." To judge the nations for divvying up His land, God will use the Antichrist to bring the nations of the world to Jerusalem's doorstep, gathered for one common purpose, to annihilate Israel from the face of the earth. There, the Lord will execute His judgment. 

For the people of God, this will be a glorious time! Evil has been eradicated from the world. Jesus has set up His Millennial Kingdom in the earth, ruling in righteousness from His throne in Jerusalem. For a thousand years it will literally be heaven on earth. There will be such peace that the bible says the lion will lay down with the lamb. It is the end of all hostility and harm as the world lives in complete harmony under the Lordship of Christ.