Israel is facing a severe test as she proceeds with the "Peace Accords". Palestinian autonomy will undoubtedly lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state. This is the stated intention of the PLO. Such a state will endanger the lives of Jewish people living in Judea and Samaria and most likely those living anywhere else in the state of Israel. Israelis are becoming increasingly aware of this threat. The settlers are demonstrating against the accords. Polls indicate at this time that a majority of Israelis oppose the transfer of control of the heartland to the PLO. In spite of this, the Barak government is pressing ahead. One possible outcome is that Israel could cease being a democratic state.

In our society we have generally accepted the premise that the democratic process is inherently "good". Our government is based on democratic values. Since the end of the "cold-war", we have been busy attempting to encourage democratic reforms in nations around the world. The question that we must ask is: Is the democratic process good?

The beginning of the "empowerment of the common people" is described in Genesis chapter 3.

The word democracy is based on two Greek words: demos meaning: common people; and krateo meaning: strength or power. Therefore, democracy means: the empowerment of the common people.

The beginning of the "empowerment of the common people" is described in Genesis chapter 3. Man was dissatisfied in his position under God's authority; therefore, he rebelled in order to establish his own authority. Still the concept of God's absolute authority remained imprinted in man's mind. For millennia he tended to establish governments which reflected this absolute authority.

A major advance toward democracy was accomplished by the Greeks in the 5th and 6th centuries BC. Due to the terrain of Greece, individual cities developed relatively independent of one another. The Greeks were boldly individualistic. As the political process developed, the Greeks eventually introduced democratic practices in their cities. This has served as a guiding beacon for human governments in every place where there has been Greek influence since that time.

The Magna Carta (1215 AD) marked the beginning of the limitation of the authority of the monarchy in England. This paved the way for the government of Cromwell (1649-1660). The king was deposed as the demos assumed authority. After this experiment with parliamentary government, the king was reinstated.

In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed and a new phase of democratic government was initiated in America. The resulting constitutional republic has proven to be the most enduring and influential in history. In the words of Abraham Lincoln: the American government is of the people, by the people and for the people. The American experience has proven to be the ultimate in human government in empowering the common people.

Following the American model, virtually every government in the world today is a popular government. We have come to expect nothing else in enlightened people. Even the state of Israel adopted a popular government when it came into being in 1948.

Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, described a process which he called the apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). He said that the mystery of lawlessness was already at work in his day. He predicted that lawlessness would eventually be the prevailing characteristic of the human community. From the standpoint of government, he was speaking of the "democratic process". That dimension of lawlessness has now encompassed the entire world as manifested in popular governments.

The difficulty with the democratic process is that the masses are easily swayed by ungodly leaders. This is especially true today when the media provides the possibility of cultivating an image that in no way reflects the true character and views of the individual in question. Unscrupulous leaders make unrealistic and ungodly promises to gain public support and power. This results in the observed trend toward evil in the nations.

As we review the record of God's revelation, we find that God never used the democratic process.

As we review the record of God's revelation, we find that God never used the democratic process. God always chooses and anoints a leader that will implement His will. Since the leader is functioning under His authority and reflects His Name, God requires that the leader live according to a stricter standard. This insures that the leader stands firmly in reality. The masses of people do not appear to be concerned with reality. God's anointed leaders have always had the task of struggling against the will of the masses to establish the will of God.

Now in Israel, democratically chosen leaders, enticed by hope of acceptance by the nations, and desperate for a measure of peace and tranquility in their daily lives have chosen a path that directly endangers thousands of Israeli settlers and, perhaps, the entire population. This is happening directly contrary to the revealed purpose of God who promised to bring back the "Sons of Israel" to the mountains of Israel and prosper them there. No one knows what the end of this "peace accord" will be but it is certainly possible that Israel could easily degenerate into chaos and civil war. If this occurs, a new Israeli government could be established which would not be democratic in nature. A military government suited to meet the rising military emergency is most likely. In Israel, a theocracy controlled by the leading Rabbis is also possible. In either case, Israel will have departed from the democratic process.

If this should develop, than Israel will certainly be soundly condemned by the US for forsaking the democratic process. The UN would undoubtedly pass numerous resolutions condemning the Israeli action. The major media would join the condemnation and portray Israel in the most negative terms possible. Yet, if Israel is to fulfill her Biblical destiny, she will most likely have to forego the "democratic process". The masses will probably never embrace the vision to possess the whole land as long as there is an opposition voice promising "peace in our time".

What would be your response to a military-led government in Israel? How would you see a government led by fundamentalist settlers? Are you so conditioned to believe that the "democratic process" is good that you would not be able to see the hand of God operating under these circumstances? You may be put to the test in the very near future. Pray for discernment. Israel needs your fervent prayer and encouragement.