In observing the current events in the Middle East, The Daily Jot is offering a three-part series on the March of Prophecy that connects the dots of agreements, leaders, and Scripture.
The headlines out of Washington recently have been astonishing: A US president sitting down with a Syrian leader whose past includes fighting alongside militant factions tied to the deaths of American service members. Ahmed al-Sharaa rose to power through movements once designated as terrorists by the United States, yet he walked through the White House doors as a negotiating partner. Sanctions were eased. Cooperation was promised. The world was told this was a step toward peace. It leaves many of us staring at the scene, wrestling with the tension between a noble pursuit and the painful memory of Americans who never came home. Plus, al-Sharaa’s people are still killing Christians in Syria.
At relatively the same time, another meeting unfolded with Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, whose countrymen formed the majority of the 9/11 hijackers and have been tied to several other attacks targeting Americans. Saudi Arabia remains a rising economic force and a central diplomatic player, but those realities don’t erase the history. Two back-to-back meetings with two men linked—directly or through their nations—to violence against Americans raise hard questions. Is this peace by strength, or peace by hope? Is it strategic brilliance, or a gamble in a region where gambles rarely pay off without consequence? Moreover, what is the impact of these meetings on Biblical prophecy?
Peacemaking in Scripture is never about pretending away the truth. It’s not sentimental diplomacy or friendly photo ops. It requires righteous judgment, humility, and courage. Jesus said in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God,” but He never said peace comes from ignoring danger. God has used unlikely leaders before—Cyrus, Darius, even Nebuchadnezzar—to shape world events. They weren’t saints, but God bent their decisions for His purposes. That backdrop reminds us that unusual partnerships aren’t automatically wrong. But it also demands discernment. Peace built on illusions collapses. Peace built on truth has a fighting chance.
As Christians, we should watch these developments with clear eyes. We don’t want to assume everything is corruption or conspiracy, but we also shouldn’t unplug our discernment. When American leaders meet with men tied to terrorism or ideological extremism, the church is called to pray with awareness and wisdom. We want peace, safety, and stability. We want justice. And we want our leaders to see beyond the short-term promises of political theater. These meetings may open doors to real progress—or they may be the early stages of decisions that reshape the Middle East in ways that accelerate the march of prophecy. In the days of Barack Obama, a true Islamist sympathizer, these meetings would have set off alarm bells. No different today. Let us remember that we cannot stop the march of prophecy, but we can determine our place in it.
Sources
Axios — Trump designates Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally
https://www.axios.com/2025/11/19/trump-crown-prince-saudi-arabia-mbs-military-nato
AP News — Takeaways from Trump’s meeting with Saudi crown prince
https://apnews.com/article/trump-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-mohammad-takeaways-38951aebe5ed6b3bb83530a94382ed82
The Guardian — U.S. declares partial suspension of sanctions on Syria
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/10/us-declares-partial-suspension-of-sanctions-on-syria-after-historic-meeting
CBS News — Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-syria-president-al-sharaa-us-terrorist-designation-lifted-sanctions/
ABC News — U.S. lifts sanctions on Syrian leader ahead of meeting
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-lifts-sanctions-syrian-leader-ahead-meeting-trump/story?id=127314383
The Defense Post — U.S. designates Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally
https://thedefensepost.com/2025/11/21/us-saudi-non-nato-ally/
