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Chapter 10: Jesus
told us that we are not to be Troubled by Wars and
Threats of War because Wars must Happen until the End of Time – until the End
of Time Nation will Rise up Against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom – Matthew 24:4-14 Matthew 24:4-8 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone
mislead you, 5 for many will come
in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of
wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t
follow immediately. 7 Nation will
go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines
and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But
all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. NLT What! There will always be war until the end of
time! Do we dare say to God – surely not when Scripture
tells us it is according to God’s will.
History bears witness to the Spiritual Truths of Matthew 24:4-8. The United States of America and the
International Community are always initiating wars or threats of war for a
multitude of reasons, just pick one, which is ironic because these same
countries want us to believe that they are advocates of world peace. That too is ironic because the advice that
the United States of America and International Community are giving Israel as
to what they should do to attain peace in the Middle East is opposed to God’s
Will for Israel. If Israel gives in to
the pressures of the International Community and gives Jerusalem to Gaza, it
only leads to “more wars” and unrest in the Middle East. Judges 3:1-4 is only one
Scripture that Reveals that there will always be a War between Israel and
Lebanon and Israel and Gaza:
Gaza doesn’t just want Jerusalem for their Capital – like Iran, “Gaza
(Hamas) and Lebanon (Hezbollah)” both proxies of Iran like Iran, want the
“Destruction of Israel” – all three entities vow to wipe the Nation of Israel
off the face of the earth. Judges 3:1-4 1 These
are the nations that the LORD left in the land to test those Israelites who
had not experienced the wars of Canaan. 2 He
did this to teach warfare to
generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle. 3 These are the nations: the Philistines (those living under the
five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the mountains of Lebanon
from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. 4 These
people were left to test the Israelites—to see whether they would obey the
commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses. NLT The “Historic Maritime Agreement” signed on
October 11, 2022 averted a temporary escalation of war, but
did not bring peace between Lebanon and Israel as predicted by the
International Community The
“Historic Maritime Agreement:
The International Community, including the United States of America,
was convinced that when Lebanon and Israel signed the “Historic Maritime
Agreement” on October 11, 2022 that Lebanon’s cross-border attacks on Metulla
and the Border towns of the Galilee would cease and that Israel and Lebanon
would finally be able to come to an agreement over the land borders as well
even though Lebanon stated that the Maritime Agreement had no affect on the
status of their land borders and that Lebanon remained at war with Israel. Once
again, history proved America and the International Community wrong! As of 2024 – Lebanon and Israel are on the
threshold of going to war: When Gaza
attacked Israel on October 7, 2023 Lebanon came to their aid and for the past
six months and counting Lebanon has been terrorizing Metulla and the Galilee
with cross-border attacks. Lebanon is
threatening to continue their cross-border attacks against Israel and even
cross over the land border they share on three sides with Israel and go to
war if Israel doesn’t cease their counter attacks to Gaza’s aggression. In response, Israel has forewarned Lebanon
and the International Community that when the war with Gaza comes to an end
that Israel will invade Lebanon and once and for all stop Lebanon’s constant
cross-border attacks and threats of invading Israel to bring about the
destruction of Hezbollah. Once again, when Gaza attacked Israel on October 7, 2023,
America and the International Community was proven wrong! I was in Metulla on October 7, 2023 when a
convoy of Hezbollah soldiers on motorcycles attempted to breach Metulla’s
borders; however, when fired upon by the IDF, the convoy of Hezbollah
soldiers on motorcycles turned back. The “Historic Maritime Agreement: Lebanon
did not sign the “Historic Maritime Agreement” with Israel for the hope of
finding peace – Lebanon’s Goal was to Restore their Former Glory as the
“Gateway to the Sea.” (Ezekiel 26) Ezekiel 26:1-3 1 On
February 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this
message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son
of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the
fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha!
She who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken,
and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become
wealthy!’ 3 “Therefore, this is
what the Sovereign LORD says: I am
your enemy, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the
waves of the sea crashing against your shoreline. NLT Present-day
Lebanon Would Rejoice at the Fall of Israel because they Seek to Restore
their Former Glory during Biblical Times:
One of the major reasons that Lebanon and Hezbollah wants Israel to be
wiped off the face of the earth is that the fall of Israel would allow
Present-day Tyre and Lebanon the “Commercial Prosperity” and International
Trade they crave. The fall of Israel
would mean that Lebanon would not have to share the Gateway to the sea with
Israel – there would be no need for the “Historic Maritime Agreement” Lebanon
signed with Israel on October 11, 2022.
Ezekiel 26:1-3, Isaiah 23:1-10 The
Honor of the “Fatima Gate” would be Restored, at least for a time: Another reason Lebanon would rejoice at the
Fall of Israel is because of the antagonism between Islam and Judaism. The “Fatima Gate” which was once the
official border crossing between Lebanon and Israel would no longer be
thought of as a “Good Gate” by the Israelis or Christians. The glory of the “Fatima Gate” that honored
the daughter of Mohammad – Islam’s Prophet, was restored in May 2000 when the
IDF withdrew from Lebanon and the Fatima Gate was locked. However, it’s only a matter of time before
the honor of the Fatima Gate will once again be destroyed. Isaiah 23:1-10 1 This message came to me concerning Tyre:
Weep, O ships of Tarshish, for the harbor and houses of Tyre are gone! The
rumors you heard in Cyprus are all true. 2 Mourn
in silence, you people of the coast and you merchants of Sidon. Your traders
crossed the sea, 3 sailing
over deep waters. They brought you grain from Egypt and harvests from along
the Nile. You were the marketplace of
the world. 4 But now you are
put to shame, city of Sidon, for Tyre,
the fortress of the sea, says, “Now I am childless; I have no sons or
daughters.” 5 When Egypt hears
the news about Tyre, there will be great sorrow. 6 Send word now to Tarshish! Wail, you people who live in
distant lands! 7 Is this silent
ruin all that is left of your once joyous city? What a long history was
yours! Think of all the colonists you sent to distant places. 8 Who has brought this disaster on Tyre, that great creator of
kingdoms? Her traders were all princes, her merchants were nobles. 9 The LORD of Heaven’s Armies has
done it to destroy your pride and bring low all earth’s nobility. 10 Come, people of Tarshish, sweep over the
land like the flooding Nile, for Tyre is defenseless. ….. 15 For seventy years, the length of a king’s
life, Tyre will be forgotten. But then the city will come back to life as in
the song about the prostitute: 16 Take
a harp and walk the streets, you forgotten harlot. Make sweet melody and sing
your songs so you will be remembered again. 17
Yes, after seventy years
the LORD will revive Tyre. But she will be no different than she was before.
She will again be a prostitute to all kingdoms around the world. 18 But in the end her profits will be given
to the LORD. Her wealth will not be hoarded but will provide good food and
fine clothing for the LORD’s priests. NLT Even though Lebanon and Israel Signed the “Historic Maritime
Agreement” in October 2022, Lebanon Maintains that they Remain Technically at War with
Israel, as they have for Decades Even after signing the “Historic Maritime Agreement” in
October 2022 Hezbollah continues to Breathe out Threats: that it is only a
matter of time before they Rise up Against Israel, And Cross over from Lebanon into Israel’s Borders, Armed and
Prepared for War Nation will rise up against Nation and Kingdom against Kingdom
until the End of Time: Even though
Lebanon signed the “Historic Maritime Agreement” with Israel, Lebanon
Maintains that they are still “Technically at War” with Israel as they have
been for decades. Like their Tyrian
Forefathers who lusted after Israel’s resources and rejoiced at the fall of
Jerusalem, the Lebanese Government who signed the “Historic Maritime
Agreement” lust after Israel’s offshore gas fields and they too would Rejoice
at the thoughts of the Demise of Israel who they believe has no right to even
exist. Ezekiel 26 Colonial England and France Coveted Land in the
Middle East that was not theirs: Nations,
of their own free will, choose to rise up against another nation because of
their evil desires and insatiable appetite for what belongs to other
nations. History bears witness that
Colonial England and France were two such nations. They wanted what they didn’t have so they
schemed and killed to get what was not theirs; so they fought and waged war
to take it away from others, including land that God gave to Israel and those
living in the Middle East. (Matthew
24, James 4) Matthew
24:4-14 4 Jesus
told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for
many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive
many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the
end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and
kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many
parts of the world. 8 But all
this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted,
and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers.
10 And many will turn away from
me and betray and hate each other. 11 And
many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the
love of many will grow cold. 13 But
the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14
And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout
the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will
come. NLT James
4:1-3 1 What
is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil
desires at war within you? 2 You
want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous
of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take
it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God
for it. 3 And even when you ask,
you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will
give you pleasure. NLT Because
of the Sykes-Picot Agreement, Lebanon Maintains they are still “Technically”
at War with Israel The Sykes-Picot Agreement bears Witness that England and France
are two such nations that Jesus warned us of:
England and France were two
nations who lusted after the resources and land of many nations, including
land that God gave to the nations in the Middle East. They lusted to take control of and exert
their power over the ancient lands that God had given to the Israelites
(Genesis 15:18-19, 17:7-8, 28:13, 48:3-4, the Book of Joshua) and other land
God gave to the Arab nations (Deuteronomy 2).
Because
of their lust, many wars have been fought and even though their mandates have
long since ended in the Middle East, the damage they left behind is still
being felt. One of the root causes of
today’s ongoing conflicts between Lebanon and Israel over boundaries can be
attributed to Mark Sykes and Francis Georges-Picot, representatives of
England and France respectively, who were the co-authors of the Sykes-Picot
Agreement, who redrew ancient boundary lines to benefit their nations to the
hurt of the people living in the Middle East, including Lebanon and Israel. The fall
of the Ottoman Empire near the end of World War I was the Perfect Opportunity
for England and France, European Colonial Powers at the time, to Redraw
Boundaries and Wield their Power and Influence over Land in the Middle East
that did not belong to them: In May of 1916, without even
consulting those living in the Middle East – Sykes and Picot secretly reached
an accord, known as the Sykes-Picot Agreement, dividing most of the lands
under the Ottoman Empire between their two nations, thus placing them under
the British and French spheres of influence.
This wreaked havoc that is still felt in the Middle East to this day. The new border between northern Israel and
south Lebanon, drawn up by Sykes and Picot that is counter to Biblical
borders, is just one example, and is contested by both nations to this day. On May
14, 1948, the same day Britain was forced to end their “Colonial Mandate,”
the Provisional Government of Israel proclaimed the new State of Israel, an
act that Infuriated Britain: The British mandate ended on May 14, 1948
and the temporary Government of Israel proclaimed a new State of Israel. By all accounts, when the Jewish people
declared their independence and the creation of the new “State of Israel,”
the British were enraged! England Supports a Two-state Solution: To this day, England,
as well as France, do not acknowledge that Jerusalem is the Capital of the
State of Israel. England’s position is
that Jerusalem should be the capital of both Israel and a Palestinian
nation. Given that England and France
are among the nations that do not recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of
Israel, it’s no surprise that Hezbollah promises to liberate
Jerusalem from the Jewish people. As a
note, even though there are other nations that view Israel in a negative
light, my focus is on England and France because they are the ones who
altered God’s boundaries for Israel and Lebanon in the Galilee. Again, given England’s attitude towards
Israel, we should not be surprised as to why Lebanon views Israel as their
enemy, and to this day, remains officially at war with Israel and denies
Israel’s right to even exist. Even
after signing the “Historic Maritime Agreement” with Israel – Lebanon
Maintains that they are still “Technically at War” with Israel as they have
been for decades and Denies Israel’s right to even exist: To this day the United Nations and the
International community have not done away with the man-made borders that
were drawn up by Sykes and Picot and drawn new borders that both Israel and
Lebanon can agree to. As a result,
tensions remain between Israel and Lebanon, who does not recognize the
legitimacy of Israel as a nation, thus denying Israel’s right to exist. Like
England and France, Lebanon also Lusts after Land Belonging to Israel Like
their Ancient Forefathers – Modern-day Lebanese would Rejoice in the Destruction
of Israel: The
Sin of Lebanon’s Forefathers was that the Ancient Tyrians Rejoiced in the
Destruction of Jerusalem, which was the Gateway to the rich trade routes to
the east. And so it is with the
present-day Lebanese. (Ezekiel 26:1-3)
Like their forebears before them, the modern-day Tyrians believe that
the demise of Israel would be to their advantage. Like their forefathers, they also believe
they would once again become a world leader in maritime trade and would
possess the “Gateway to the Rich trade routes to other nations.” (Ezekiel
27:1-4) Ezekiel
26:1-3 1 And
it came to pass in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that
the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 "Son
of man, because Tyre has said against
Jerusalem, 'Aha! She is broken who was the gateway of the peoples; now
she is turned over to me; I shall be filled; she is laid waste.' Ezekiel
26:1-2 1 On
February 3, during the twelfth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, this
message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, Tyre has rejoiced over the
fall of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Ha! She
who was the gateway to the rich trade routes to the east has been broken,
and I am the heir! Because she has been made desolate, I will become
wealthy!’ NLT Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 tells us that our past is prologue to our
future. Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 9 History
merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is
truly new. 10 Sometimes people say, “Here is something
new!” But actually it is old; nothing is ever truly new. NLT Like their Biblical Forefathers, Hezbollah and the Lebanese
people would rejoice if Israel ceased to exist. Like their forefathers before them, they
too would shout aloud “Aha, Israel’s offshore gas fields in the Mediterranean
Sea are now ours” – that once again Tyre would be known as the Gateway to the
Sea! (Ezekiel 27) Their attitude is
that if Israel is no more – those who came to Israel to do business would
then come to them, thus the belief that the prosperity of Lebanon would rise
out of the ruins of Israel. (Ezekiel 26) Lebanon’s Goal is to Restore
their Former Glory as the “Gateway to the Sea” After
the fall of Biblical Jerusalem, Ancient Tyre became Heir to the “Gateway to
the Rich Trade Routes to the World” – they were the “Gateway to the Sea”: Ancient Tyre, the “Gateway to the Rich
Trade Routes” and the “Gateway to the Sea,” the Might of the World’s
Commerce, rejoiced in her riches and her Maritime Prosperity. (Ezekiel 26:1-2; Ezekiel 27:1-4) Not
only does Lebanon lust for Israel’s Gas Fields in the Mediterranean Sea, but
they also lust for the Demise of Israel:
If Israel ceased to be a Nation, then Lebanon would own the entire gas
field in the Mediterranean Sea and, like their forefathers, become
wealthy. They would once again be the
“Gateway to the Sea” – the Gateway to the gas Fields. Like England and France, Ancient
Lebanon Redrew Boundaries – they also
Extended their Boundaries into the Sea – Ezekiel 27:1-4 According to Ezekiel 27:1-4, like England
and France, ancient Tyre (Lebanon) took it upon themselves to extend their
boundaries. Ezekiel 27:1-4 reveals
that ancient Tyre “extended their boundaries out into the sea, which is
significant. When negotiations were
ongoing between Israel and Lebanon regarding the maritime boundaries in the
Mediterranean Sea, Lebanon wanted the maritime boundary lines drawn from the
“existing” land boundaries (even though there were no agreed upon land
boundaries), while Israel wanted the maritime boundaries drawn from their
buoy already in the Mediterranean Sea. The
existing maritime boundaries were drawn from the shoreline;
however, Lebanon kept extending the maritime boundaries until they were
literally encroaching upon Israel’s maritime boundaries, thus claiming
hundreds of miles that belonged to Israel.
In the end, to avert Hezbollah’s threat of war, Israel conceded to
give Lebanon hundreds of miles that were within Israel’s maritime boundaries
that rightly belonged to Israel. Like
their forefathers, the Israelites failed to drive the enemy out of their
boundaries. (Judges 2-3) Scripture reveals that the King of Tyre
(Lebanon), who was a friend of King David, helped Solomon build the
Temple. Scripture also tells us that
at times, the ancient Lebanese people would rise up against Israel – Ezekiel
26–27 reveals that at one time Tyre (Lebanon) was that “Mighty Gateway to the
Sea,” the trading center of the world, that “Extended their Boundaries into
the Sea.” Ezekiel
27:1-4 1 Then
this message came to me from the LORD: 2 “Son of man, sing a funeral song for
Tyre, 3 that
mighty gateway to the sea, the trading center of the
world. Give Tyre this message from the Sovereign LORD: “You boasted, O Tyre,
‘My beauty is perfect!’ 4 You
extended your boundaries into the sea. Your builders made your beauty
perfect. NLT The point I want to make is that at times
even Lebanon altered their nation’s boundaries. We know from Ezekiel 26 and Ezekiel 27 that
the Tyrians (ancient Lebanese) lusted after Israel’s land and resources and
extended their maritime boundaries out into the sea centuries before England
and France altered the boundary lines between Lebanon and Israel after the
fall of the Ottoman Empire. Israel and Lebanon relied on differing
demarcation methods to map out their respective economic zones and
boundaries. Israel wanted the maritime boundaries to be drawn at a 90-degree
angle from the coastline. On the other hand, even though they disputed the
land borders, Lebanon wanted the maritime boundaries drawn based on the
continuation of the land borders agreed to by Great Britain and France in the
Paulet-Newcombe Agreement of 1923.
This would have meant that Israel’s Karish gas field would belong to
Lebanon. In the end, the maritime
boundaries were drawn from the coastline and the Karish gas field remained
within Israel’s maritime boundaries and under the control of Israel. It’s understandable why Israel did not
want to link the maritime boundaries with the disputed land borders. More to the Point: Israel and Lebanon’s maritime dispute is a manifestation of
deep rooted “territorial disputes” relating to the ownership of both land and
sea that was a manifestation both of the Sykes-Picot Agreement and the
Paulet-Newcombe Agreement. The 1923
Paulet-Newcombe Agreement marked out the land boundary between the British
and French Mandates in the post-Ottoman era.
However, it contained inconsistencies that consequently carried over
into relations between Israel and Lebanon.
Neither the Sykes-Picot Agreement nor the Paulet-Newcombe
Agreement addressed the territorial waters or maritime boundaries between
Israel and Lebanon. The question of
maritime boundaries only became an issue after Israel discovered gas in the
Mediterranean Sea. Following is another example of the
Boundaries between Lebanon and Israel that were altered almost two millennia
before England and France altered the boundaries: As Unthinkable as it is, King Solomon gave King Hiram of Tyre Twenty
Cities of the Promised Land in the Galilee that God had given to Israel: In essence, King Solomon was giving King
Hiram additional territory for his kingdom that would have allowed King Hiram
to extend his boundaries to include parts of the Galilee that is located
within Israel’s modern-day borders. Given
that Metulla is located on the border between Israel and Lebanon, there can
be no doubt that Metulla would have been located in the vicinity of one of
those 20 cities. When King Solomon gave 20 Galilean cities
to King Hiram, he had no right to give them away because they were cities
that were part of the Promised Land that God gave to Israel. Even though King Hiram was a good friend to
both David and Solomon, the land Solomon gave to Hiram was the land given to
Israel by divine decree. Just like King
Solomon shouldn’t have given away Israelite towns, Israel’s modern leaders
shouldn’t have given up any of the gas field to Lebanon in 2022.
1
Kings 9:10-14 10 It
took Solomon twenty years to build the LORD’s Temple and his own royal
palace. At the end of that time, 11 he gave twenty towns in the land of
Galilee to King Hiram of Tyre. (Hiram had previously provided all the
cedar and cypress timber and gold that Solomon had requested.) 12 But when Hiram came from Tyre to see the
towns Solomon had given him, he was not at all pleased with them. Thankfully, King Hiram of Tyre gave the
20 Galilean cities back to Solomon because he felt the cities were worthless,
good for nothing. To King Hiram the 20
cities that King Solomon gave him was an insult. 2
Chronicles 8:1-2 1 And
it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the
house of the LORD, and his own house, 2 That
the cities which Huram had restored to
Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell
there. KJV Ezekiel 26–27 gives us insight into the
mindset of the Lebanese people whose Biblical ancestors took it upon
themselves to “extend their boundaries into the sea.” Both Hezbollah and the
leaders of Lebanon were actually able to accomplish this when negotiating
with Israel by claiming that Lebanon’s maritime boundaries extended further
into the sea than Israel would admit to – which was not true. Again, the point I want to make is that
Lebanon redrew their own boundaries long before England and France redrew
their boundaries and before the United Nations drew a demarcation line
between Lebanon and Israel in 2000 that exists to this day and long before
Hezbollah set up a stronghold inside Lebanon. The Prophet Ezekiel Prophesied that
“Tyre’s Glory as the ‘Mighty Gateway to the Sea’, the Trading Center of the
World, was coming to an end.” To this day, Hezbollah
and Lebanon maintain that Israel has not fully withdrawn from Lebanese
soil when they withdrew from south Lebanon in May of 2000. Which begs the question, Is there any
possibility that a Resolution is possible with Hezbollah in Control? Based on history, a conflict with
Hezbollah-controlled Lebanon could
erupt at any given moment. And that brings
me back to the “Sykes-Picot Agreement,” which was and remains at the Heart of
the Conflict between Israel, the PLO and Hezbollah at Israel’s northern
border they share with south Lebanon in the Galilee of the Gentiles. The
modern-day roots of the explosive border and territorial
disagreements in the region date back to the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement and
colonial England and France’s vision of the region. The borders were drawn to serve the
strategic interests of the British and French mandates, but left a catastrophic
legacy of border disputes long after the colonial powers had departed from
the Middle East. And, it is not just
the land borders that are still in dispute – it also involves the maritime
borders which have never been resolved and continues to wreak havoc between
Israel and Lebanon at the present time.
The
Ancient Biblical Roots:
Ultimately, the question to resolve in this dispute is where does the
border of Israel end and the border of Lebanon begin both on land and in the
water. However, given Iran's ancient
hatred for Israel and as long as Iran, through their vassal Hezbollah,
continues to dominate the politics in Lebanon, the international community is
unlikely to see any resolution to the boundary dispute. Psychological
Warfare: Several years back
Hezbollah erected a huge sign across the Israeli border in Metulla, which
read in both Hebrew and Arabic “We are Coming.” More recently, on August 22, 2023, Iran’s
Defense Ministry unveiled a new armed drone bearing resemblance to America’s
MQ-9 Reaper, with state media claiming it has the operational range to reach
their archenemy Israel. And, the list
goes on and on. Even though the roots of the conflict with Lebanon, Iran and
Hezbollah date all the way back to Biblical times, it’s obvious how Satan and
the Prince and King of Persia (Daniel 10) used the Sykes-Picot Agreement to
further the Kingdom of Darkness’s agenda according to Scripture. The
Sykes-Picot Agreement was based Solely on the Self-Interest of England and
France:
As mentioned previously, the Sykes-Picot agreement redrew the
boundaries of the Middle East without regard to the needs of the people
living in the Middle East – their social, religious or tribal history that
went back generations – and they certainly weren’t interested in any
boundaries according to the Old Testament Scriptures. As
two of the World Powers at the time (with the approval of Russia), Sykes and
Picot negotiated by only protecting their country’s interests in the Middle East, which
included taking the rich resources that belonged to the people of the Middle
East, as well as the land routes that were desirable for European trade. Interestingly, it was clear from the text
of the Agreement that England wanted to protect their interests from France
and France wanted to protect their interests from England. Instead, the Agreement should have been
made to protect the interests of the people in the Middle East and ensure
that each Arab nation stayed within the limits of their ancient boundaries. The
Agreement was never about protecting the interests of the people living in
the Middle East. The Agreement was
based purely on the politics of both England and France. History
bears witness that to think they could divide up the land however they saw
fit just because they were two of the world powers at the time proved to be a
dangerously flawed idea that still affects the region today. Spiritually, speaking, it was not just a
flawed idea – it was an evil idea. The
Middle East will continue to be unstable until the boundaries are redrawn
according to the boundaries preordained by God. England
and France not only ignored the human and civil rights of the Arabs, whose
ancient territories they were doing away with because they had the power to
do so, but they also failed to take into account how the people in the Middle
East would respond. Convinced that the
Arabs were not ready to govern themselves, the colonial powers also were
convinced that they would remain passive.
England and France could not have been more wrong. The Arabs had no intention of remaining
passive and allowing Britain and France to create a post-Ottoman Levant as
they saw fit – hence, the Israeli-Palestinian conflicts that still affect the
Middle East today. It’s ironic that Sykes and Picot, who
thought of themselves as aristocrats, exhibited such ignorance. As aristocrats, Sykes and Picot believed
they were superior to the people of the Middle East. Their belief was that their influence over
the economies and politics of the Middle East was warranted as they felt
England and France were superior to any government that could be formed by
the people living in the Middle East.
Therefore, they were convinced that they and they alone were the best
qualified to make the economic and political decisions for the people living
in the Middle East. As aristocrats Sykes and Picot also
believed that their respective countries, England and France, were superior
to the people of the Middle East. However, history bears witness that their
desire to influence the economies and politics of the Middle East was Undue,
Unwarranted, Unnecessary, Unjustified, Uncalled-for, and extremely
Destructive. Oh, the futility of England and France’s
vanity – two nations who flatter themselves – they have ceased to be
wise. (Psalm 36) The
Sykes-Picot Agreement is at
the Heart of the Conflicts between
Israel and the Palestinians and is what led to the Establisment of the
Security Zone inside Lebanon’s borders: The
conflict between Israel and the Palestinians that led to the SLA and the
IDF’s need to create the “Security Zone” just inside Lebanon’s southern
border is only one example of how the Arab nations responded to the
Sykes-Picot Agreement when the boundaries of Lebanon and Israel had been
redrawn. To this day, Arabs across the
Middle East believe that the Sykes-Picot Agreement is at the heart of the
conflicts between Israel and the Palestinians. During World War I, England and France were constantly scheming,
as to how to take control of the land lost by the Ottoman Empire once they
surrendered. Both countries made
promises to the Arab nations that they had no intention of keeping. They promised the Arab nations that if
they helped England and France to overthrow the Ottoman Empire, they would
give those lands to the Arab nations to establish an Independent Arab Nation
with Jerusalem as its capital. Of
course, it was all a lie. In reality,
the Arab nations unknowingly helped England and France overthrow the Ottoman Empire
so England and France could take possession of the very lands they promised
to the Arab nations and rule over them. After all, England and France were convinced, and convinced
other nations such as the United States, that the Arabs were not ready to
govern themselves let alone create an Independent Arab Nation. The colonial powers had also convinced
themselves and others, including the United States, that the Arab nations
would welcome their presence in the area and remain passive, which was the
farthest thing from the truth – hence the ongoing Israeli-Palestine Conflict. At
the End of World War I when England and France Changed Ancient Boundaries and
took for themselves land that belonged to the People in the Middle East, It
was the Manifestation of England and France’s Insatiable Greed and
Covetousness at its Worst. The Sykes-Picot Agreement between England and France was the
product of Greed at its worst and it was made at the expense of the Arab
nations that trusted Sykes and Picot to follow through on their promises,
albeit promises that opposed God’s plans for the Arabs and Israel, especially
concerning Jerusalem. Many people believe, and rightly so, that England and France’s
lust for land in the Middle East at the end of World War I is at the heart of
the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Jerusalem is the Capital of Israel – yet to this day the Palestinians
claim that Jerusalem belongs to them and they will not rest until they make
Jerusalem the Capital of an Independent Arab nation. Even today, England, as well as the United
Nations, does not recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel. Based in part on the promise England and France made to the Arab
Nations, the Palestinians claim they will not rest until Jerusalem is the
Capital of an Independent Arab Nation.
What? England and France
thought they could give Jerusalem – the Land that God Promised to Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob and their Descendants – to the Arab Nations? 2
Chronicles 6:1-7 1 Then
said Solomon, The LORD hath said that He would dwell in the thick
darkness. 2 But I have
built an house of habitation for thee, and a place for thy dwelling for
ever. 3 And the king
turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the
congregation of Israel stood. 4 And
he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands
fulfilled that which he spake with His mouth to my father David,
saying, 5 Since the day that I brought forth My people out of the
land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an
house in, that My name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler
over My people Israel: 6 But
I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name might be there; and have chosen David
to be over my people Israel. 7 Now
it was in the heart of David my father to build an house for the name of the
LORD God of Israel. KJV Over the years many people have died because of the Sykes-Picot
Agreement, including those who died within Lebanon’s Security Zone. Their lust for power and land that belonged
to the nations of the Middle East fueled the border conflict between Israel
and the PLO attacking Israel from within the borders of south Lebanon and
continues to affect the region today, even though the IDF withdrew from the
Security Zone decades ago. Arabs
throughout the Middle East are correct in their belief that the Sykes-Picot
Agreement made between England and France is the root cause behind the
ongoing Israeli-Palestinian Conflict that continues to plague the Middle East
today – not to mention other problems that arose as a direct result of the
Sykes-Picot Agreement. And, to make
matters worse the United Nations would base their boundary line in large part
on the Sykes-Picot Agreement. England and France stole land that belonged to
other nations and they moved the Ancient
Landmarks of Biblical Boundaries.
Scripture reveals that cursed is the one who moves his neighbor’s
boundary Stone. (Deuteronomy 27:17) And, that
brings me to the evils of the numerous agreements that were added to the
vanities and falsehoods of the Sykes-Picot Agreement. The Sykes-Picot Agreement was the first of
what would lead to a series of many other agreements and treaties in an
attempt to resolve the conflicts created by the Sykes-Picot Agreement – all
to no avail. The problems created by
the Sykes-Picot Agreement still have a bearing on the Middle East. Their perseverance in adding one agreement
to another agreement only complicated matters as they only added sin upon
sin. They are like the rebellious
children in Isaiah 30:1 and Isaiah 5:18 who ratified one agreement to cover
up the sins of the previous agreement until there were so many agreements
that the sins of one agreement, when added to the sins of another agreement,
if woven together could have made a rope strong enough to pull a cartload of
sins. Isaiah
30:1 1 Woe
to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me;
and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin
to sin: KJV Isaiah
5:18 18 Woe
unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a
cart rope: KJV They draw iniquity with cords of falsehood and vanity as it were
with a cart rope. What sorrow for
those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag
wickedness behind them like a cart. And, that brings me to Chapter 11 and the Poisonous Vines of the
Sykes-Picot Agreement that the Prophet Jeremiah spoke of that spread their
poison from one nation to another. |