After The Vanishing is a fictional account by ministry friend Dave White that outlines biblical events of a Pre Tribulation Rapture. Written in 2000. The story of the Middle East conflict goes back 4000 years to the first book of the bible, Genesis chapter 25. Abraham was given two sons, Ishmael- under somewhat illegitimate circumstances, and Isaac- who was the “Son of the promise.” It is recorded, even then, that Ishmael “settled in defiance of his relatives”. The animosity that developed between Ishmael and his father Abraham and his brother Isaac has never been resolved. Israel has descended from Isaac, while the Arab peoples have descended from Ishmael. The hatred between these two close cousins is instinctual and ancient. Israel will hail whoever can solve this age-old conflict as Messiah!

Chapter 11 The False Peace Treaty

By Dave White

How do you bring peace to a people, cousins even, who simply hate each other? When it comes to the Middle East, that is the question of the centuries. It confronts the dilemma of the human heart and the dynamic of pride, forgiveness and reconciliation; how can the three interact without love?

And the world will follow.

(Remember: Israel is looking for a political messiah, not a divine messiah, which is usually inferred with the phraze).

Anti-Christ will be revealed as a man of peace, yet supported with immense power.

Let’s go back to Revelation chapter 13:

And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads… (Revelation 13: 1)

The Dragon here is identified as that old serpent, Satan in Revelation 12:9. You’ll recall earlier we identified the beast coming out of the sea as the revival of the political system of the old Roman Empire that will be taken over by anti-christ (Revelation 17, Daniel 9) So the scene is pretty amazing; Satan is standing watch over this system as it is being put into place. Remember the dragon or Satan is not yet the anti-christ, although anti-christ derives his power from him:

…And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority.

I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast… (Revelation 13: 2,3)

There is some disagreement relative to whether the one who receives the mortal head wound is the person of the Anti-Christ, described as a beast, or that the political/religious system of the old Roman Empire is the beast who receives the wound, the wound is healed by the revival of the system itself.

Whether Anti-Christ receives the head wound or not, he will emerge from the former “Holy” Roman Empire.

Here we see a major political event on the horizon. The coming European system will be divided into 10 nations or federations. From the ten one leader will emerge, having received supernatural power and authority from the dragon. Apparently, he will receive a fatal head wound, yet he will miraculously recover. This event will be the catalyst that vaults this one man in a leadership position. Now look what happens:

they worshipped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshipped the beast, saying “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him? (Revelation 13: 4)

Boy is this verse loaded with information and innuendo. Here we see that deadly mixture again; politics and religion. Satan is identified as the god or force behind this new religion, which is being promoted by the recently enthroned beast or Anti-Christ. His empire is obviously part political based on the statement “who is able to wage war with him.”

There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for 42 months was given to him. (Revelation 13: 5)

This verse reminds us who the real boss is. 42 months (3 1/2 years) is all he’ll get.

Satan knows his time is limited. 42 months is the time period of the Tribulation, characterized by peace, deception and the building of the so-called New World Order.

Consider another description of Anti-Christ in Daniel 7:25:

He will speak out against the most high and wear down the saints of the highest one…they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and a half a time. (3 ½ years)

Remember the 42 months of the tribulation begins right after the rapture. One of Anti-Christ’s first orders of business is international peace. That means somehow solving the Arab/Israeli conflict. Seemingly, yet only for a time, he will succeed:

…and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary…And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week,

(7 years) but in the middle of the week (3 ½ years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who make desolate, even until a complete destruction. (Daniel 9:26,27)

“A firm covenant with the many” indicates an international peace treaty involving Israel. Everyone knows this issue is the key to peace.

Anti-Christ will devise a plan acceptable to each party and somehow under the auspices of the international community.

We know Israel will be permitted to rebuild the temple and institute the sacrifices and grain offerings because the scripture clearly states he breaks that promise after 3 ½ years. This solidifies anti-christ as someone special and gifted in international affairs.

Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war against him? (Revelation 13: 4)

And so, we see anti-christ slowly, yet consistently gaining in stature and prominence as we move into the Tribulation. Don’t forget our “Power Elite” hasn’t just disappeared. They are fully in favor of anti-christ’s plans. Together, they will control world-wide communications, banking and the governments of the west. anti-christ will not be lacking in surrogates.

Why did we think the time was near? Consider the headlines from the summer and fall of the year 2000.

Jerusalem as an international city

JERUSALEM – Reuters – Proposals that Israel and the Palestinians make Jerusalem an international city or declare God sovereign over its holy sites drew ridicule yesterday from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shimon Perez…

Perez was responding to remarks made by Palestinian Legislative Council speaker Ahmed Korei at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France…

(Boston Globe, Thursday, September 7, 2000)

The Vatican supports “international city”

“Do not overlook the importance of the spiritual dimension of the city of Jerusalem,” the Pope said in an address to the leaders last month.

“The Holy See continues to maintain that only a special statue, internationally guaranteed, can effectively preserve the most sacred areas of the Holy City.”

(The Boston Globe, August 20, 2000)

The U.S. Asks Israel to Share Jerusalem

NEW YORK (AP) – Amid a desperate drive by the Clinton administration to forge a Mideast peace agreement, the U.S. ambassador to Israel is calling on the Israeli’s and the Palestinian’s to share the holy city of Jerusalem.

(Friday, September 15, 2000)

No Deal On Jerusalem

Responding to media reports that Washington would propose “international sovereignty” over Islamic holy places in Jerusalem, Palestinian spokesmen Ami Shaath said the Palestinians could accept nothing less than full sovereignty over all of Arab East Jerusalem…

Israel regards all of Jerusalem as its “eternal and undivided” capital and rejects Palestinian sovereignty over the Temple Mount, where the two biblical temples once stood.

(Reuters- September 21, 2000)

Clashes in Mideast on ‘Day of Rage’

Fresh violence broke out today as Palestinians held a “Day of Rage,’ and another 8 people were killed bringing the death toll in the past week to 77…

Demonstrators across the Middle East responded to Palestinian calls for solidarity.

ABC News, October 6, 2000

Mideast Holy Shrine Contested

(AP) October 11, 2000

One Israeli Soldier Killed, 3 held

(AP) October 12, 2000

Israel Rockets Palestinian Compound

(AP) October 12, 2000

Last Pillars of Peace Unravels

(AP) October 13, 2000

Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes trembling to the Nations… I will make Jerusalem A heavy stone for all the peoples. (Zechariah 12: 2,3)