THE POPE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

The Middle East is a powder keg. Everyone knows this. However, there may be a solution for peace ahead. The pope is working on a peace plan with Jews and Muslims. Will it happen? Will there be peace? The Bible has the answer. Stay tuned?

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Can you imagine our world at peace? Everyday, the news is riddled with reports of war, terrorism, ethnic unrest. Why can’t people just get along?

Of course, the Bible has an explanation. Since the fall of man, Satan has had a plan. He hates mankind. He wants humans to destroy themselves. The Bible also indicates this struggle will continue until the Lord returns. While humans may try to resolve this problem and come up with a peace plan, according to the Bible, it won’t work.

However, if you have been watching the news, you will know that Pope Benedict XVI has been working on a peace plan for the Middle East. In November of 2005, he met with Israeli leaders who visited Rome. This is what one article stated:

In a meeting with Israeli President Moshe Katsay earlier today, Pope Benedict stressed his continued desire for the peaceful co-existence and collaboration of Israel and Palestine, two independent states within the violence-wracked Holy Land… Moving on to the tense situation in the Holy Land, the Pope reiterated the Holy See's position favoring of the existence of and collaboration between the Israeli and Palestinian States. [1]

Now, of course, the Pope, in an effort to find a solution for peace in the Middle East, would also have to meet with Palestinian representation. Another source that I read indicated this is exactly what happened. Quoting from an article posted a few days later titled “Pope, Abbas, Discuss Mideast Peace Process,” we read:

Pope Benedict discussed the Middle East peace process Saturday with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, who invited the pontiff to visit the Holy Land. "You will be very welcome in Jerusalem and all the holy places," Abbas, speaking English, told the pope after their private 20-minute meeting in Benedict's library. "Thank you very much," the pope replied. [2]

Just a few days after the Palestinian leader met with the pope in Rome, another news item titled “Pope Becomes First Citizen of Bethlehem” caught my attention. This is what I read:

Pope Benedict XVI has become the first new citizen of Bethlehem after the town of Jesus' birth was declared an 'open city'. The Pope accepted a Bethlehem passport from the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the weekend.

So, these three news items over a one month period provide a scenario that I find very interesting. In the first two articles we see how Jews, Muslims and the pope have been dialoging to try and find a solution for peace in the Middle East.  In the third article, we see that Palestinian leader Abbas appointed Pope Benedict as “the first new citizen” of Bethlehem.

Now, let me speculate. What if the pope was made the “first citizen of Jerusalem” – in order to mediate a solution for peace in the Old City of Jerusalem – where the Dome of the Rock is situated – on the Temple Mount – where the Jewish Temple once stood.

I think this would be very significant in light of Bible prophecy. Will it happen? I am going to watch and wait.

I am Roger Oakland. This has been a biblical perspective to help understand the times.

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