Chris Perver

Right Honourable Tony Blair
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA

Right Honourable Tony Blair,

I have in the past sent emails through the Downing Street website regarding numerous topics - including the one I am writing to you about today, but I have decided to write to you by letter this time, in the hope that your chances of reading it will be increased - for the topic I have chosen to write about is a most important one.

I greatly appreciate the Prime Minister's efforts in the Middle East peace process. As the Prime Minister has stated in the past, events on the streets of Palestine and Israel do affect the streets of Britain, and that is why Britain should be actively involved in seeking a resolution to this conflict. That link has sadly been made apparent for all to see, by the recent bombings in London that claimed around 60 lives. As the Prime Minister may recall, these bombings were carried out by Islamic militants who expressed their hatred for Britain's policy of supporting Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East. Living in Northern Ireland, I understand the frustration Palestinians and Israelis must feel with the ongoing trouble in that region, and the failure by Politicians to resolve the problems.

As the Prime Minister knows, the status of Jerusalem has been hotly contested by both Israelis and Palestinians. Jerusalem has been Israel's capital for over 3000 years of history. Two Jewish Temples once stood on the Temple Mount, long before any Islamic Mosque. Jerusalem is also mentioned over 700 times in the Bible, yet it finds no mention in the Qur'an. So clearly the Jewish nation is unlikely to agree to any peace deal that involves handing over some of Israel's holiest sites into the hands of their "enemies". The ancient burial place of Rachel (Jacob's wife in the Old Testament) was handed over to the Palestinians a few years ago. Within a week, the tomb was destroyed by a Palestinian mob. Already the Muslim Waqf that administers the Temple Mount area has destroyed many ancient Jewish artefacts that date back to Temple times. The Muslim Waqf have dumped hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubble outside the city, taken from the Temple Mount during the construction of their underground Mosque, in their effort to wipe out any remaining Jewish connection. Currently Israel permits people of all religions to access the Temple Mount, but before the war of 1967 when the Jordanians controlled the city, no Jew was permitted to access the area.

The reason why I am writing to you is because I am concerned regarding today's announcement by British politicians on the status of Jerusalem. A document being prepared by our own Politicians will be presented before European Foreign Ministers next week, stating their beliefs that Israel is attempting to "annex" East Jerusalem before any final peace settlement can be finalized. According to the Prime Minister's official spokesman, this paper reflects not just British sentiment, but "the collective views of the heads of missions in East Jerusalem".

As the Prime Minister knows, Israel has a right to defend its citizens, and it has proven that the peace wall being built has been successful in reducing the amount of suicide bombings being carried out by Palestinian terror groups. Israel also has an historical interest in East Jerusalem, as I have pointed out. That is why I believe this "British development" is especially worrying, for it is a one-sided statement. It refuses to acknowledge Israel's need for security, it refuses to acknowledge Israel's historical link with East Jerusalem, and it refuses to acknowledge how Israel came to be in possession of East Jerusalem in the first place, because of the Arab-initiated 6 day war.

But this is not the only reason why I have chosen to write this letter. If you will permit me to speak candidly, the Prime Minister also claims to be a Christian. The Bible tells us in the book of Zechariah chapter 12 that in the last days, just before Jesus Christ would return to set up His Kingdom on earth, that the status of Jerusalem would become such a world wide issue, that nations would pain to see it resolved.

Zechariah 12:2-3 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.

I believe this is the situation we are seeing today in the world. But the Bible goes further than this. The Bible states that the Antichrist, a world leader from the European Union - according to Daniel, will broker a peace deal in the Middle East that is to last for seven years. This deal will see the land of Israel divided up, between the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Daniel 11:39 Thus shall he (Antichrist) do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land (Israel) for (his own) gain.

With recent developments in the Middle East - especially the recent Gaza disengagement, we are already seeing the land being "divided". The reason why God is against the division of the land is because it belongs to Him. The Bible states that the Jews were never to sell the land, for it was God's and they were strangers in it (Leviticus 25:23). The Bible also states that Jerusalem is special to God, because it is the place where He chose to put His name (1st Kings 11:36). So you can see how the Lord might be angry at the nations that divide His land, and divide His holy city, Jerusalem.

The Bible states that this seven-year agreement between the EU and Israel will be broken after only three and a half years, and the Antichrist will then turn against Israel to destroy it. Part of this reason for the broken agreement may be the Israeli refusal to "hand over" East Jerusalem. The Bible says all nations of the world will turn against Israel, and East Jerusalem will be taken by force.

Zechariah 14:1-3 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

As you can see, the nation that sides with the dividing of the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem will find itself fighting against God. That is what concerns me so much about these recent developments, because they show us how close we are to the return of Christ, and they spell out the destruction of our own nation if we continue in the way we are going.

Things are going exactly the way the Bible said they would. The Lord Jesus could return to take the Christians to heaven at any moment. Please can the Prime Minister consider these things, not only for the nation's benefit but also for his own. I am sure that the Prime Minister already knows his need of salvation. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to die on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins, in order that we might be in heaven. He did this for us out of His great love for sinners. If we accept we are sinners in God's eyes, and ask Him to forgive us and save us from our sins, then He has promised to give us everlasting life in heaven.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Thank you for your time.

Yours truly,

Chris Perver