Once upon a time in a land far, far away, there were two kingdoms coexisting side by side in unity and harmony. Once bitter enemies, the kings of these lands were now friends, cooperating together to bring peace and stability to a land historically plagued with violence and evil deeds. These kingdoms had reconciled their differences with the help of another powerful ruler who had relentlessly sent ambassadors to negotiate peace. The fruit of these talks was a land where the subjects lived happily ever after. This is the fairy tale of the Israeli/Palestinian peace process.

However, in light of recent failures, the most recent mediator for the quest for peace, United States Secretary of State John Kerry, has lost hope in this dreamlike tale. On April 4, weary from constant battles in boardrooms across the Middle East, Kerry gravely called for a “reality check.” The peace process, burdened by reality, has brought Washington’s dreamscape of the Mideast crashing down to Earth.

Kerry has been traveling back and forth between Ramallah and Jerusalem in an effort to create a lasting dialogue between the two sides. The ultimate goal is to have an independent Palestinian state that can operate alongside Israel in relative peace. But now, after more than nine months and little to show for it, Kerry’s dream for the Mideast looks like a nightmare.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Kerry said he has been forced to re-evaluate the peace process and the U.S.’s role in it, as Israelis and Palestinians struggle at an impasse. All in all, Washington seems fed up. “There are limits to the amount of time and effort that the U.S. can spend if the parties themselves are unwilling to take constructive steps,” Kerry said.

These are not trivial words. The peace process has been a major aspect of U.S. President Barack Obama’s Middle East policy. To be the president who finally reconciled the Israelis and Arabs would be a medal on Obama’s chest as he finished his term in office. To give up on such a prize is no whimsical decision. With this in mind, the futility of the peace process fairytale must be dawning on the president and his staff.

So what caused Kerry to journey from a land far, far away back to the realities of the Middle East? Over the past week, both Israel and the Palestinians have taken mutually aggravating steps that have distanced themselves from one another and any hope of a peaceful resolution.

Israel was set to release its fourth and final batch of Palestinian prisoners on March 29, but balked at the last moment after the Palestinian Authority reneged on promises not to pursue statehood at the United Nations. The release of the 26 prisoners—some of whom were convicted of murdering Israeli civilians—had also generated an outcry from Israeli politicians and citizens alike who were not convinced that releasing the detainees was worth the mere possibility of continued peace talks. Seventy-eight prisoners had already been released in three successive waves.

The prisoner releases were merely to keep the Palestinians at the negotiating table and to prevent them from pursuing more international recognition. The Palestinian Authority has been waiting for an opportunity to pursue the United Nations route to statehood.

Right now, the Palestinians have a large support base in the UN, and they undoubtedly see the institution/support as a much faster path to statehood than through the stagnant peace talks with Israel. The Palestinian Authority sent 15 letters to various UN organizations requesting membership in the groups. This was a direct step toward achieving statehood—something the Palestinians had promised not to do.

Now both sides are spouting talk of unilateral action, boycotts and sanctions. Over the din, one might have heard that Kerry offered to release Israeli Jonathan Pollard—a convicted spy and traitor—if Israel just cooperated with the Arabs. The gesture did nothing to strengthen the negotiations that now teeter on the brink of collapse.

This is not the first time the Mideast fairy-tale ending has gone up in flames on the pyre of negotiations. In 1993, then-Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and the leader of the Palestinians, Yasser Arafat, signed the “Oslo Accords,” by which the Palestinians would recognize the State of Israel. Israeli citizens were forcefully removed from the Gaza Strip in 2005 as a part of the deal to grant total control to the Arabs. Since that time, Gaza has been transformed into a terrorist stronghold from which rockets have repeatedly rained down on Israeli cities and towns. And the Palestinians still don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist.

So what will it take to bring about a lasting peace in the region?

Bible prophecy shows us in Zechariah 14:1-2 that half of Jerusalem will fall in war. This tragic prophecy is set to be fulfilled in your lifetime.

Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry wrote in the booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy: “The peace talks will lead directly to the fall of East Jerusalem. This battle will trigger events that lead to a nuclear World War iii! This will be the crowning result of man’s best efforts to bring the world peace!”

That sounds incredibly discouraging, but read on. Following closely on the heels of this tragic time, Jesus Christ will return, descending upon the Mount of Olives. He promises to fight the nations that rebel against Him at His return. Then notice verse 9 of Zechariah 14. Christ is set to reign over the entire world! As Mr. Flurry wrote, “Only Jesus Christ can and will settle the Jerusalem issue!”

Christ will rule over a kingdom of peace and unity that you could never find in any fairytale. It will be a world of blessings and abundance to those who will submit and live under God’s rulership. Man tries repeatedly to bring lasting peace, but ultimately, it will take the power of God to solve man’s problems, and steer all nations in a direction that leads to peace and happiness forever.

If you want to read more about the upcoming clash in Jerusalem read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s article “Jerusalem: About to Explode.” This powerful article is taken from chapter three of our booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy which you can also order free upon request. Both of these pieces will give you insight into the incredible future that lies just ahead for the Middle East and the world.