In the wake of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, signed just over a week ago, the world watches with a mix of hope and skepticism. Hailed as a “historic opportunity” by President Donald Trump, the agreement has seen the release of hostages, the exchange of prisoners, and a tentative halt to over two years of brutal conflict in Gaza. But for those who view current events through the lens of biblical prophecy, a pressing question arises: Is this a genuine peace, or could it be the deceptive calm that sets the stage for the invasion described in Ezekiel 38? As Christians committed to a literal interpretation of Scripture, we must discern the signs of the times without claiming certainty—after all, no one knows the day or hour (Matthew 24:36). Yet, the alignment of this deal with prophetic patterns is striking, suggesting it could foster the conditions for Israel’s “secure dwelling” to be shattered by a northern coalition. In this article, we’ll examine the details of the ceasefire, its potential fragility, and how it echoes God’s unchanging Word, bolstered by insights from respected prophecy teachers. We’ll also explore Scripture’s stern warnings against dividing the land of Israel—a theme resurfacing in discussions of a two-state solution tied to this truce.
The Gaza Ceasefire: A Fragile Truce in a Volatile Region
The agreement, part of Trump’s 20-point plan unveiled earlier this month, marks the first phase of what could become a broader Middle East peace framework. Initiated amid mounting international pressure and domestic exhaustion on both sides, the deal began rolling out on October 8-10, 2025. Key components include:
- Hostage and Prisoner Exchanges: Hamas has released the remaining living hostages—initial reports indicate around 20 to 48 individuals, including Israelis and foreigners abducted during the October 7, 2023, attacks. In exchange, Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 arrested post-October 7. The bodies of deceased hostages have also been returned, though disputes over this aspect prompted Trump to warn that Israeli operations could resume if compliance falters.
- Military Withdrawal and Security Measures: Israeli troops have partially withdrawn from Gaza, pulling back from areas like Khan Younis while retaining control over Rafah, northern Gaza, and border buffer zones. A multinational Arab-led force, overseen by the U.S. but without American ground troops, is monitoring the ceasefire. Humanitarian aid is now unrestricted, with the Rafah crossing reopened to facilitate reconstruction.
- Governance and Future Phases: Gaza’s immediate administration falls to a transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats, supervised by an international “Board of Peace” chaired by Trump. Hamas has ostensibly stepped back from direct rule, but the deal requires their disarmament in later stages. A peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on October 13 wrapped up initial details, with full Israeli withdrawal and permanent ceasefire contingent on subsequent phases.
On paper, this truce offers respite: Families are reuniting, aid is flowing, and the guns have fallen silent—for now. Leaders like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump have emphasized its potential to “end the cycle of violence.” Yet, critics argue it’s uneven, lacking true equity or resolution to core issues like Palestinian statehood or the ongoing occupation. Hamas’s influence lingers, and Iran’s shadow looms large as a backer of proxies across the region. This isn’t the eternal peace promised in Isaiah 9:6-7, where the Prince of Peace establishes an everlasting kingdom. Instead, it resembles the “peace and safety” that Scripture warns precedes sudden destruction (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Moreover, the plan’s broader implications revive talks of a two-state solution, which some see as resurrecting bipartisan U.S. policy on dividing the land—a move Scripture explicitly condemns.
Biblical Warnings of False Peace in the End Times
Scripture is clear: True peace comes only through Messiah, not man’s treaties. In a dispensational framework, we understand the Church Age as a parenthesis in God’s plan, with prophecy’s focus returning to Israel after the pre-tribulation Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Until then, deals like this may mimic the Antichrist’s seven-year covenant (Daniel 9:27), which starts with stability but breaks midway, unleashing tribulation.
The Bible repeatedly cautions against deceptive calm. Jeremiah 6:14 decries prophets who say, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. Ezekiel 13:10-16 condemns those who whitewash walls, promising security amid fragility:
“Because they lead my people astray, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash… There will be torrential rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind will break out.” (Ezekiel 13:10-11, NIV)
This Gaza deal, with its phased rollout and international oversight, could foster a false sense of security for Israel. As one prophetic analyst notes, such agreements create a “vacuum” where Israel recovers from war, only to face greater threats. The current conflict’s roots in Gaza align with prophecies of its abandonment or destruction (Zephaniah 2:4), potentially paving the way for broader end-time events. Respected teacher Pastor Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship echoes this, warning:
Scripture predicts that in the last days, a great coalition from the north—including Persia (modern-day Iran)—will rise up against Israel (see Ezekiel 38–39). While what we are seeing today is not the full fulfillment of that prophecy, it is certainly a foreshadowing.
Adding to these concerns is God’s explicit warning against dividing the land He covenanted to Israel. In Joel 3:2, the Lord declares: “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.” This judgment on nations for partitioning Israel’s inheritance is an end-times reality, often linked to the Antichrist’s deceptive covenant that involves land concessions (Daniel 9:27; 11:39). The Gaza ceasefire, while not explicitly mandating a two-state solution, is part of Trump’s plan that experts say resurrects the idea as a potential path forward. Trump remains noncommittal on full endorsement, but critics warn it could lead to precisely the division Scripture condemns, inviting divine judgment as the Tribulation unfolds.
Could This Ceasefire Set the Stage for Ezekiel 38?
Ezekiel 38-39 describes a future invasion of Israel by a coalition led by “Gog of the land of Magog” (often identified as a Russian-led alliance), including Persia (Iran), Cush (Sudan/Ethiopia), Put (Libya), Gomer, and Togarmah (Turkey/Anatolia). This isn’t Armageddon—the final battle where all nations gather against Jerusalem (Revelation 16:16; Zechariah 14)—but a distinct, earlier conflict involving a limited group of nations. Armageddon encompasses the entire world under the Antichrist, culminating in Christ’s return. Ezekiel 38, by contrast, features God’s supernatural intervention (earthquakes, hailstones, fire) to defend Israel, magnifying His name (Ezekiel 38:23).
The prophecy’s timing hinges on Israel “dwelling securely” without walls, bars, or gates (Ezekiel 38:11). This ceasefire could cultivate that very condition: Partial withdrawals reduce immediate threats, multinational forces provide a buffer, and reconstruction aid draws global investment. Israel, regathered from dispersion (Ezekiel 38:8), might feel at ease, especially if Hamas disarms and proxies quiet. Yet, this “secure dwelling” is the lure for invaders seeking spoil (Ezekiel 38:12-13). If the deal evolves into land division via a two-state framework, it could further isolate Israel, fulfilling the prophetic setup where nations encroach on God’s eternal covenant land (Genesis 15:18; Romans 11:29).
Current alignments are telling. Iran’s hostility persists, viewing the deal as a setback for its influence. Russia’s ties with Iran and Turkey grow amid global tensions. Amir Tsarfati, founder of Behold Israel, observes in the context of post-ceasefire dynamics:
This Sabbath’s prophetic reading couldn’t be more timely. Across Israel and around the world, Jews will gather in synagogues to read Ezekiel 38—the prophecy of the war of Gog from the land of Magog. The Word of God makes it unmistakably clear: Israel will stand alone against a massive invading coalition. And when that moment comes, America—Israel’s greatest ally—will either be unable or unwilling to come to her aid.
Tsarfati further connects recent security shifts to prophecy:
Ezekiel 38 speaks of a time with no walls and no fences. Today, as we watch barriers protecting Israel being removed, prophecy comes into sharper focus. The Bible is unfolding before our eyes.
Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills similarly links emerging peace to the setup:
All of this will bring about what a mere I think what we’re speculating about is that this uh peace is coming in Israel which will be the setup for the Ezekiel 38.
In a discussion on recent conflicts, he adds:
Could it be Amir that you guys are so successful regarding Hezbollah now this morning last night… do you possibly see this being a peace for Israel that sets up the Ezekiel 38 description of a land who dwells in peace that Rosh Meshech and Tubal will see them dwelling in peace and they could come to Iran’s Aid do you see any significance to this perhaps sooncoming peace.
Greg Laurie reinforces this view, noting the prophetic milestone of Israel’s regathering:
In light of everything happening right now—the rising tensions between Iran and Israel—a question I’ve been hearing more and more is this: When does the battle of Magog, spoken of in Ezekiel 38, actually take place? Now, Ezekiel 37 speaks of Israel being regathered to their homeland—and that’s already happened in our lifetime. That’s a big prophetic milestone. Then Ezekiel 38 talks about a massive coalition of nations—led by Gog of Magog—coming against Israel. And yes, many Bible scholars believe Iran is part of that coalition. So could we be getting close to that moment? Possibly.
He also ties historical prophecies to current threats:
But after Israel was regathered, the Lord said she would come under attack. Specifically in Ezekiel 37 and 38, the Bible speaks of the regathering of Israel, and then it speaks of a large force from her north attacking her. That force is identified as Magog… the Bible predicted hundreds of years ago that this large force from the north of Israel would attack her after she was regathered, and one of the allies that would attack Israel with Russia or Magog, whoever it is, would be Iran or Persia.
Biblical scholars link such events to the Tribulation’s onset, where Israel signs a false covenant, feeling secure before invasion.
“You will say, ‘I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars.'” (Ezekiel 38:11, NIV)
Logically, this couldn’t have occurred historically—no past event matches the scale or supernatural elements. With God’s eternal promises to Israel intact (Genesis 12:3; Romans 11:29), He will intervene, turning the invaders against each other (Ezekiel 38:21).
The World Against Israel: Isolation in a Hostile Globe
Adding to the prophetic resonance, Israel stands increasingly alone. Anti-Israel sentiment surges globally, from UN resolutions to protests decrying the occupation. If Ezekiel 38 erupts now, pre-Rapture, who would aid her? The U.S., under Trump, offers verbal support, but the deal’s international board includes nations like Qatar and Turkey—hardly steadfast allies. Europe grapples with internal divisions, while Arab states prioritize self-interest. Scripture foresees this: In Ezekiel 38:13, merchants like Sheba and Dedan (Saudi Arabia/UAE) question the invasion but don’t intervene.
This isolation fulfills Zechariah 12:3, where Jerusalem becomes a “burdensome stone” for all peoples. The world’s bias against Israel—evident in biased media coverage and boycotts—mirrors the end-times setup where nations align against God’s chosen (Psalm 83; Joel 3:2). In Joel 3, God’s judgment falls on those who “parted my land,” a direct rebuke to end-times efforts like a two-state solution that divide Israel’s biblical inheritance. No major power would rush to Israel’s defense amid such a coalition, leaving her reliant on divine protection. As Tsarfati warns:
It’s clear to me that for the Ezekiel 38 war to happen there has to be 3 things: Iran will not attack Israel alone but rather wait for Russia and Turkey. By then America won’t be able or interested to help. Out of the European weakness, division, chaos and despair a new world leader will emerge.
Hibbs adds:
I’m not saying that what we’re watching on the news right now in the Middle East is the Ezekiel 38 battle. But I am saying that the players that are in place have never been in place like they are now, ever in human history.
Discernment in Uncertain Times: Watching for Signs
Prophecy is not for date-setting but for preparation. This ceasefire looks like a sign: A false peace lulling Israel into vulnerability, potentially through land division, priming Ezekiel 38’s invasion by a select coalition, distinct from Armageddon’s global onslaught. As dispensationalists, we see these as precursors to the Tribulation, post-Rapture, when God’s focus returns to Israel for redemption (Romans 11:26).
We can’t know for sure if this deal flares into prophecy tomorrow or fades into history. But the patterns align: Fragile truce, global antagonism, and Israel’s tentative security. As believers, we’re called to watch (Luke 21:36), pray for Jerusalem’s peace (Psalm 122:6), and share the Gospel amid these signs. Tsarfati captures this urgency:
Absolutely I believe that uh what we’re seeing right now is the preparation for a period where Israel will dominate yes the Middle East… we are destroying just in the last four hours Jack we we attacked in Syria in Lebanon in Yemen in and in Gaza… this is now the most unique opportunity for a major change in in the Middle East that will prepare it… for a relatively peaceful time that will be so empowering for Israel that when the Ezekiel War comes it is with us being safe secure and prosperous with unwalled villages and towns because that’s the these are the pre this is what we need to have in order for the Ezekiel War to come to pass.
In these last days, let’s heed 1 Thessalonians 5:6: “Let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.” Whether this is the spark for Ezekiel 38 or not, God’s Word stands eternal—Israel’s promises unbreakable, and Christ’s return imminent.
