Arab Revolution

After a bit of a hiatus, I feel compelled to again start commenting on the news...

First Egypt... if there is any doubt how all this will work out, all one needs do is give a good read to Psalm 83. Egypt is mentioned there as the Hagrites who will conspire with the other Arab nations immediately surrounding Israel to "cut off Israel from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more" (Psalm 83:4). The most likely way for this to happen is if the Muslim Brotherhood or a confederation of various Islamic factions take control of Egypt. If we are close to the time that Jesus returns, such a political development has to take place. I wonder if there is anyone giving odds on this in Las Vegas?

Another Arab revolt that bears watching is in Libya. Ezekiel 38:5 names Libya as one of the nations that join with Gog to attack Israel. I believe that this war occurs during the Tribulation since the only other reference to Gog in the Bible is in Revelation 20:8 where it refers to a world leader that opposes Christ; thus Gog is another term for the Antichrist. The Ezekiel 38 war also makes it clear that Israel is at peace as a "land of unwalled villages" (Ezekiel 38:11). This has to be after the Antichrist confirms a peace treaty with Israel (Daniel 9:27) because Israel certainly is not enjoying peace now; they know a war could break out at any time and they have a serious network of walls for security. I think it likely that the Psalm 83 war happens prior to the Tribulation and indeed sets the stage for the false peace that is necessary for the Ezekiel 38 war to happen.

But back to Libya... God used this Powerline post about Libya to inspire me to resume my blog. Everyone seems to be stymied about what all this chaos in the Arab world means, even the stalwart conservative commentators. This is where a biblical worldview helps. The trend will be for Arab countries to throw-off their monarchies that are interested in maintaining the status quo and demand democracy. We tend to think that would be a good thing but democracy in the Arab world brings an Islamic government everywhere it is tried. I am reminded of an excellent book by Arno Froese, "How Democracy will Elect the Antichrist."

The Arab peoples seem willing to give an Islamic government a try because they will think it has to be better than what they have had. The Islamic governments that come into power have to give their people something to focus their discontentment and anger upon to distract them from their own failings ...and that would be Israel, the Apple of God's Eye (Zechariah 2:8).

The Powerline commentator, John Hinderaker wonders if the resulting government of Libya that is opposed to Giddafi will be friendly to the U.S. because we have never supported his regime. This would be in contrast to the situation in Egypt where the U.S. has supported the Mubarak regime and the people who overthrew him are now opposed to the U.S. Commentators without a sound understanding of Bible prophecy just don't get it. It is really very simple and comes down to where a person or a nation stands in regard to God's people. It doesn't matter whether the U.S. supports Giddafi or not, it is whether we support Israel or not. The Islamists who replace Giddafi in Libya will be opposed to the U.S. because we are allied with Israel.

Unfortunately, I think the day will come when the U.S. throws Israel under the bus in order to be loved by the Islamists that are growing in power in the world. That is what you would expect from unprincipled pragmatists and indeed our current president has been lauded for being a pragmatist. The Bible in fact says all nations will be opposed to Israel because the time will come when "all the world marveled and followed the beast" (Revelation 13:3); and the beast, or Antichrist, will seek to destroy Israel. The Antichrist also seeks to kill followers of Jesus (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 6:9) so the time will come when the U.S. will throw Bible-believing Christians under the bus as well in order to appease the Islamic power-base from which the Antichrist will emerge. We can hope and pray that this doesn't happen until the Tribulation but it certainly could happen earlier if America falls far enough from God.

These are interesting times to be alive... and a great time to discuss what the net result of various current events will be. Such discussions might just inspire someone to seriously consider the biblical perspective.