The Abraham Accords and Netflix: Two More Signs of the Times

Yesterday was an historic day as a signing ceremony occurred at the White House signifying the peace accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. Not since 1994, when Israel and Jordan signatured a peace accord between their two nations, has any Arab State entered into a peace agreement with Israel. And President Trump indicated that as many as five other Arab States would soon enter into similar peace accords with Israel. This signing ceremony was largely ignored by the main-stream media as it did not fit in with their asperations of a two-state solution. Yet I believe that these accords between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain might be the initial step toward such a solution. And, if five other Arab States enter into similar accords, then some Arab-world pressure will be placed upon the Palestinian leadership to come to the peace-table with good faith. For, up to now, the Palestinian leadership has believed that the Arab world stood in solidarity with their cause. The cause for peace in the Middle East has not changed, but the strategy to achieving that peace is changing. It is no longer focused exclusively upon Israel and the Palestinians, but upon Israel and the greater Middle East region. And what is driving this change is the imminent threat of a soon-to-be nuclear Iran. I do believe that there are strong biblical implications in what is happening in the Middle East right now. Every peace accord signed - and those between Israel and Egypt (1979) and Jordan (1994) - has held even in the midst of turbulent times. And every signed accord lessens the thresat upon Israel national security. Will Israel ever be at peace with its neighbors? The Bible affirms that it will. We read in Ezekiel 38 that Israel will live in a land of unwalled villages. To the 6th century BC prophet this could only mean an unprecedented peace as cities in that day protected themselves with a wall. We are working cloaser to that time. Keep looking at the Middle East - it is one of the keys to understanding our times. Netflix created quite an uproar once again with its showing of the French film titled, "Cuties." From the trailer I viewed and from the reviews I have read, this film graphically depicted the exploitation of minors in a sexual way. These young girls were pre-adolescent, yet were portrayed as being and acting like adults. Senator Ted Cruz called for the Department of Justice to investigate Netfix as to whether the distribution of the film violated laws against child pornography. Even the liberal Democratic Representative from Hawaii, Tulsi Gabbard, remarked, "The movie will certainly whet the appetite of pedophiles & help fuel the child sex trafficking trade." The exploitation of children was further exasperated when the State of California passed legislation reducing the penalties for gay adults sexually abusing children. No longer is a gay person automatically registered as a sex-offender with they have gay sex with minors ages 14-17 if the offender is less than ten years older than the victim. What is going on here? It is another giant step toward the destruction of the nuclear family and morality based upon that foundation. This is the stated goal of many of the radical groups seeking America's destruction. I highly recommend an article written by Wesley J. Smith that will open your eyes to this evil. You can find it at: www.theepochtimes.com/cuties-just-the-tip-of-the-child-exploitation-iceberg_3499262html. Our nation is nearly paralyzed by fear. Fear of the COVID virus and its implications. Fear of the upcoming flu season. Fear of just walking down a street without being assaulted. Fear of having a pleasant meal in a restaurant without being taunted because of your race. Fear of the consequences of the upcoming election. Because of fear, suicide rates have sky-rocketed. Because of fear, loneliness and depression have grown exponentially. Yet, for the believer, God has not given us a spirit of fear because we know that we are in His hands. Fear is replaced with confidence and hope and assurance. We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us. Friends, if you know Jesus, cling to that promise.

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