FULFILLED PROPHECIES

I have always wanted to visit the Holy Lands.  Like most preachers, I want to walk where 
Jesus walked; I want to see where Jesus taught; I want to experience the land that I have 
studied for most of my life.  God-willing, one day I will visit Palestine.  However, NOT 
RIGHT NOW!

Every evening the violence of the Middle East makes the headlines.  One evening a 
Palestinian suicide bomber kills himself and a dozen Israelis with him.  Another evening 
the Israeli military kills a leading Palestinian militant and the cycle then repeats itself all 
over again.  Two wars, numerous smaller conflicts, yearly assassinations and daily 
heartaches mar the land of promise.  The land upon which the Prince of Peace walked is a 
land of constant strife and violence.

However, during the next lull in violence, I hope to visit Israel.  Now you may be 
wondering and asking yourself, "What if they finally make peace between Israel and the 
Palestinians?  Don't you think that's possible?"

Honestly?  NO!  I don't think there will ever be peace in the land where the "city of peace" 
(Jerusalem) is found.  The Bible speaks to this reality of violence between the Jews—the 
descendants of Abraham through Isaac—and the Palestinians—the descendants of 
Abraham through Ishmael.

Now you may be thinking, "These people are cousins?"  Yes, it is true.  Jews and 
Palestinians are cousins, descendants of Abraham, the great man of faith.  God, however, 
foresaw that these cousins would always live in violence with each other.

Thousands of years ago, this prophecy was made about Ishmael and his descendants, "He 
will be a wild donkey of a man; his hand will be against everyone and everyone's hand 
against him, and he will live in hostility toward all his brothers" (Gen 16:12).  Sad, but 
true, God foresaw the violence that so fills the airways on our evening news.  We see it as 
a world event.  God sees it as fulfilled prophecy.

Yes, God-willing, one day I will visit the land of my spiritual heritage, the land of fulfilled 
prophesies.  In the meantime, let us all pray that those of the Middle East will listen to the 
only one with a true message of peace, Jesus Christ—the Prince of Peace!

							God Bless,
							Leslie Chapman