Unleashing the Beast

188 / U NLEASHING THE B EAST

Now, compare these Islamic traditions with the revelation in the Scriptures: 1. The coming dictator signs a peace treaty for seven years (Daniel 9:27). 2. The treaty will be signed after some major wars in the Middle East. 3. The man who signs the treaty will be destroyed at the end o f seven years. Muslims have not taken their traditions from the Bible, but their expectations of the Mahdi are very akin to the predictions found in the prophetic books of the Scriptures. The common question is, how will surrounding Arab Muslim nations make peace with Israel, when there is such hatred between these two brothers? T HE T IMING OF A F ALSE P EACE At the present time, most Islamic nations are uninterested in peace with Israel. The majority is supporting the internal uprising between the Palestinians and Israelis, and others are calling for an all out holy war (jihad) against Jews living in "Palestine." If Israel were to defeat surrounding nations in a major war, the international community would demand a peace settlement. Such a war is coming, as mentioned in chapter eight. During the Gog and Magog conflict, all but a sixth of the enemy armies will be killed. It will be the greatest war victory in Israel's history. Some scholars speculate this would be the time when Syria will be utterly destroyed.