It’s beginning to look a lot like . . . Shar’ia, all around the . . . Middle East!  One of the developments that should be catching our eye is the number of countries who are part of the Arab Spring who are now turning into Islamist states.  This should not be too shocking to us since the dominant religious view in all these states is Islam.  But what should get our attention is how these countries are adopting Islamic Shar’ia law as the law of the land. 

We’ve watched as countries like Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia have all had revolutions of sorts.  These were hailed by our current president and even by some conservative commentators as the “Arab Spring.”  This name was given to this movement (which also touched many other countries in the Middle East) because they were wrongly interpreted as a yearning for freedom, liberty, and western democracy.  Yet what we are watching in the wake of this Arab Spring is a concerted movement toward Islamic states who are trading their opportunity for western style democracy for states ruled by Shar’ia Islamic Law. 

Anyone who has read anything about Shar’ia Law knows that it does not even slightly look like western democracy.  If you want a look at what these states may become in the future, do not look to the United States – look to Iran.  Iran is an Islamic state that functions under Shar’ia Law.  Rather than being a movement that stimulates freedom of thought – these states will now enforce Islam as its mandatory religion.  What we have seen in Islamic states is a repression of freedom of religion, a repression of freedom of thought, and a repression of freedom of expression.  When Muslims convert to Christianity, they are given a death sentence.  When woman are deemed to be out of line morally by their family – outrageous acts are allowed, even “honor killing.”  Rather than a refreshing breath of spring – this is more like a chilling blast of winter when it comes to freedom and liberty.

But probably the most disturbing thing that is coming due to the so-called Arab Spring is the destabilization of the region and its march toward war.  Demonstrations in both Libya and Egypt have turned dangerously violent when it comes toward the nation of Israel.  In recent months we’ve even watched as riotous crowds have invaded the Israeli Embassy in Cairo.  They stormed the compound and tore down the flag of Israel in defiance.  These problems are only going to increase because an Islamic state that is ruled by Shar’ia Law tends to be a state that is also antagonistic toward Israel’s presence in the Middle East.  They have a very serious problem with Israel being in Jerusalem – which Islam holds as its third most holy place.  In the past year we’ve watched the attitude of Turkey, which was previously a moderate Muslim nation, turn very sour toward Israel.  Turkey even helped to sponsor groups that are trying to break through the blockade that Israel has put around the Palestinian territories to keep advanced military arms from being shipped to their ports.  The weapons that get through in various ways are then used on Israel in rocket attacks and other incursions.  It all adds up to a growing number of Arab “Spring-ed” countries that are turning more radical in their Islamic views. 

What are we to do about these things?  First of all, we need to realize that our current administration really does not have a clue when it comes to what is going on in the Islamic world.  They think that western style democracy is taking hold – when in reality – these states are going to be little more than another Iran in the region.  We need to pray and ask God to give discernment to those in our government – in the State Department as well as the White House.  They need to see what is happening and be willing to say that Islamic states that turn to Shar’ia Law are going to be states that desire the destruction of Israel.  It might also behoove them to see that those who call Israel the little Satan – also refer to the United States as the “great Satan.”  Call it a hunch – but I think that is not a positive designation – nor a friendly one. 

For those of us who understand the Bible, we need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  We also need to be aware that there is a possibility that this current trend may be an alignment for a future prophetic event called the Gog-Magog invasion.  This is a group of nations who will surround Israel – and will seek to destroy her.  When they do this (you can read about it in Ezekiel 37-38) God delivers Israel by a miracle.  In that miraculous deliverance, God destroys the armies – and the nations themselves with an intervention from heaven.  Just for your information, the nations who are presently turning towards a more radical version of Islam and Shar’ia Law are like a who’s who of the nations listed in Ezekiel.  The only nation not moving toward Islam in this group is Russia.  That problem is solved quite easily as Russia has a mutual defense and military pact with several of these nations.  Thus, seeing Russia led into this invasion is not a difficult thing to consider. 

We live in interesting and perilous times.  The world is experiencing upheavals that could be the birth pangs mentioned in Scripture – that are a precursor to the seven year tribulation period and the second coming of Christ.  We may not be able to stop the political forces that are at work, but we can allow their presence and their growing menace to be a reminder to us.  Jesus said that we should work the works of God while it is still day – because the night is coming when no man can work.  Don’t take your freedoms for granted.  Use them to communicate the gospel – and to make disciples of Jesus Christ every day you can.  It may soon be night – when it will be far more difficult to do those works.

Recently, we’ve seen a rise of movements in Egypt, Libya, and several other countries in the Middle East where moderate Muslim governments are being overthrown by public protests.  It is interesting to me that whereas our government supported the overthrow of these moderate Muslim leaders – they have said little or nothing about protesters who are seeking to deal with oppression from radical Muslim leaders like Ahmadinajad in Iran or Assad in Syria.  This is because this is not about freedom.  It is about a movement to destabilize the governments of the world – and hopefully bring about revolutions that will put even more radical leaders into power. 

In Egypt and Libya, countries where their revolutionaries are worthy of full support, we are watching as far more radical governments are coming into power.  Even though these two countries were governed by little more than thugs – they were at least the devil we knew.  What is rising up in both of these countries now is the Muslim Brotherhood – a group dedicated to the destruction of Israel.  They also desire Shar’ia law to be put into place – and – desire a worldwide Muslim Caliphate – where a radical Muslim cleric will rise to power.  This will not result in freedom in these countries.  It will result in an even more oppressive regime who will use radical Muslim religious views to bring their people under control.  We will not see women have greater freedom, but rather greater repression and violence used against them if they will not submit to the Shar’ia law that is put into place as the law of the land.  Yet we are seeing all this called, “The Arab Spring” by those in our government who are foolish enough to be taken in by poor understanding (we hope) of what is going on in the Middle East.

Let us now turn to the streets of New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.  Since mid-September there has been a movement to protest against Wall Street and the financial institutions of our country.  Due to pitiful news coverage which looks more like promotion of these events – we do not fully grasp the intent of those who are doing this.  The purpose behind all this is not to have peaceful protests – but to hopefully begin what they want to be a radical revolution in our nation.  Whether we accept it or not – this is part of their stated goals – at least if we believe the words that they are saying at these rallys.  They are hoping that these protests grow in size – as well as grow in disturbance to our financial system.  The leaders of these protests subscribe to writings that encourage them to first cause problems and violence – for the purpose of enabling those in power presently to quell them and seize power in an absolutist fashion.  Their hope is that in the end – just like in Cairo – they will see a rise of protest so great that it will overthrow our current FORM of government.  They are hoping in the end to watch President Obama have to respond by seizing power – and preventing the elections next Fall. 

I know that I am writing some very radical things – but I want to relate this to Biblical prophecy – as this blog seeks to do with everything written here.  As a patriot and a red-blooded American – I hate what is happening to my nation.  In many ways we are reaping what we have sown – having pursued a national course of promiscuity, ungodliness, and anti-life policies (by this I mean abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia toward the elderly and infirmed prior to and at birth).  God is allowing what we see today to bring discipline on His church – and hopefully to get us on our knees praying for revival and spiritual awakening in our land.  But there is also another reason this “may” be happening.

My eschatology (theological view of end times) sees a time where God is going to pour out astounding judgments on this world system.  This is called the “Great Tribulation” and according to passages from Daniel and Revelation will last 7 years.  During that period a ruler will rise up who will bring peace to the Middle East between Israel and her Muslim neighbors.  This ruler will also be able to bring about a one-world governmental, financial, and religious system as well.  He will rule over a 10 nation confederation centered in Europe.  He will also eventually bring about a cashless society where a mark will be given whereby people can buy and sell things economically (which lately looks like it may involve a computer chip implanted in either the hand or the forehead).  Lastly, he will also eventually require the world to worship him as god.  Having read this you may think, “How does all this fit with our current situation?” 

The things I mentioned above have come from a study of the book of Revelation.  But in order for them to happen – the world will have to move from states that embrace their own sovereignty – to a world that cries out for a world leader.  The United States has been a very real problem for this development for years.  We are a freedom loving people – or at least used to be.  We are a people that used to know these things – and would oppose anything that looked like a one-world governmental system.  But now, we are watching our own government turn into a socialist experiment.  We are watching our freedoms disappear left and right (far more by the left – but often the right is too complicit – at least at the congressional and party level).  It seems little can be done to stem the tide.  Please realize that I am going to fight these things personally – because I believe freedom is worth fighting for (although not through violent means).  BUT – as God moves all things toward His ultimate purpose and plan – we are going to watch a growing cancer throughout the world.  This cancer is going to take two forms.

The first cancer we will see growing is that of Radical Islam.  This cancer will grow because it is the most fertile ground for those who hate Israel and want to see her wiped off the face of the earth.  The so-called Arab Spring is more like a moderate winter.  The more we watch the “supported” movements rise – the more we will see radicals who hate Israel come to power.  In the end – the Biblical narrative where Israel stands alone against enemies who surround her – will come to pass through this first cancer – Radical Islam. 

The second cancer we will see grow is that of Western Socialism/Collectivism.  Europe is falling apart financially faster than the United States.  The people of Europe are ready to cede power to anyone who can deliver them from their fast-coming destruction.  Sounds like fertile ground for a one-world ruler doesn’t it?  The United States is unfortunately following in Europe’s footsteps with increasing speed.  If there were to be radical protests and violence that required our current president to rise up and declare marshal law – it would play right into the kind of socialist/collectivist worldview he has put forth for the past 2-3 years.  The United States could then easily join a “United States of the World” group and surrender our sovereignty to one who would rise up and be joyfully embraced as the “new” savior of our world!  What I fear though is that the devastation of the United States will be far worse that some think.  Prophecy does not even recognize a super-power like state in the West.  My prediction is that when such events happen – the result will be a severely weakened state that will fall quickly to second or even third world status. 

The rise of this “new” savior of our world – is synonymous with what the Bible describes as the rise of the Antichrist.  He will rule over all of Europe – and will be heralded as a world-saver!  He will also eventually set up a cashless financial system – and require all to worship him and the image he sets up for all to worship. 

What are we to do in such a situation?  Actually, I would ask that you consider listening to a message entitled, “Prophetic Inevitability and Personal Responsibility.”  This message will help you grasp what to do in light of prophecy that WILL be fulfilled – while not just standing around and allowing evil to prevail in the meantime.  God calls us to seek His face – His kingdom and His righteousness no matter what the political situation under which we live.  He calls us to love others – even those who hate us – and to share the gospel so that they might be saved.  God calls us to pray – to stand in the gap and oppose evil by calling out to Him – and for Him to move upon His people.  Too often what Americans want – is a never-ending American state no matter how vile our morals become.  We would like to maintain our comfort and our current lifestyle – even if we are not humbling ourselves, praying, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways.  This is happening SO THAT WE WILL REPENT AND RETURN TO GOD!  This is happening SO THAT WE WILL HUMBLE OURSELVES AND PRAY!  This is happening SO THAT WE WILL REALIZE THAT THIS WORLD IS NOT OUR HOME!  This is happening SO THAT WE WILL JOYEOUSLY AWAIT AND EVEN CRY OUT FOR OUR LORD’S RETURN! 

I do not desire – nor want to hasten the demise of my beloved country.  BUT – if push comes to shove Biblically – this is NOT my country.  I am looking for a city whose architect and builder is God Himself.  Therefore as I continue to love this country and seek its peace – I will also live in the reality that apart from a widespread revival and spiritual awakening in our land we are headed for very rough and difficult times.  And one of the benefits of seeing things this way has been a renewed call to prayer – and a renewed passion in looking to the heavens and crying out, “Maranatha!”  Come Lord Jesus!

The north-African region has been a hotbed of controversy for the past year.  We’ve watched as first Egypt, and now Libya have gone through popular uprisings of the people to overthrow their current dictators in favor of . . . well that is yet to be decided hasn’t it.  Our president boasts that these events of the “Arab Spring” as he calls it, will result in greater freedom and peace for the entire region.  Yet as time moves on – it seems that his predictions – as well as his actions are going to bring anything but peace in this region. 

Egypt was supposed to become a wonderful democracy after the political overthrow of Hosni Mubarak, their former dictator.  Please understand that I am not a Mubarak fan – he was a brutal dictator.  But as we’ve learned over the years often in matters of foreign affairs, the devil we know is often better than the devil we do not know.  Such seems to be the case with Egypt.  What seems to be rising out of the ashes of the Mubarak regime is a fragile alliance between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.  This second group has proven to be a radical Islamic group who desire Islamic law to rule Egypt.  They also are a group who does not favor peace with Israel.  All this took a new turn as a series of events recently have caused Israeli Egyptian relations to reach their lowest point in almost 30 years. 

The Sinai Peninsula has been the site of a series of attacks by Gaza-based militants which resulted in the deaths of eight Israelis.  When Israel retaliated against these terrorists, three Egyptians with their defense forces were killed.  This resulted in demonstrations in the streets in Egypt – and even an unprecedented call for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador there.  One demonstrator climbed up and ripped down the Israeli flag from their embassy in Egypt.  Currently negotiators and envoys from several nations are seeking to defuse the situation.  There has also been a rare Israeli government apology for the deaths of the Egyptians. 

What this situation is revealing is that the former government of Hosni Mubarak, which desired more peaceful relations with Israel, is being replaced with a far more anti-Israeli government that reflects the position of the Muslim Brotherhood.  Times are changing in the Islamic world.  This is also true in Libya as well.  The Obama administration has entered into military actions with that state in the hope that their dictator, Khadaffi, may be overthrown.  But once again, what is in the wake of this overthrow is a government that will be far more agreeable to the demands of the Muslim street.  As with the situation in Egypt, the Muslim street’s views are better represented by the Muslim Brotherhood than by more moderate Muslims (if there are any when it comes to Israel). 

What does all this mean to us who believe that the Last Days of the Bible are going to come to pass just as God has promised?  It means that there are ominous developments that point to a group of nations eerily similar to that of Ezekiel 38:1-6 are arising in this region – all of which are becoming more and more anti-Israel in their political views.  Egypt is listed in this group, along with Libya as well.  Added to this group is the ancient location of Ethiopia.  The geography of this place better fits the nation of Northern Sudan which is another radical Islamic state.  When you add Turkey to this group – things start getting a little wild, since Turkey has elected a far more radical Islamic government, which has become far less friendly with Israel over the past 2-3 years.  The other nations mentioned in Ezekiel 38 include the “- stan” nations of the Russian Steppe region – Khazakstan, Tagikistan, etc.  These are joined with Iran, whose hatred for Israel is unmatched by any other nation on earth presently.  The final piece of this puzzle is Russia, which now has strengthened its ties with these nations who will one day come together to attack Israel from the north. 

Our president thinks that what has happened in Egypt and Libya is a good thing.  He hopes for new governments in these two states (and Syria is not too far behind them either) where their former dictator is replaced with pro-western democracies that will bring a new era of peace to the Middle East.  That is not happening currently, but instead these nations are being more and more radicalized.  This means that we are facing a serious crisis in the region.  One that will most likely lead to a war that will engulf the entire region.  This is not a “good thing” – but rather a “God thing.”  God is setting up this region along previously prophesied lines – for an event He has told us WILL come prior to the start of the 7 year Great Tribulation period.  As we watch these nations further radicalized in their views toward Israel, we can know that whether things are as imminent as we think or not – the alignment of nations is very similar to that of the Biblical narrative.  Is this just the luck of the draw – or the unseen hand of God getting things ready for the return of Christ?  It should be no shock to those of you who know me that I strongly believe it is the latter of these two things.  Stay ready saints – and keep yourself in the love of God and the preparation of your heart for His imminent return.  But then again – this should not be done because of the nightly news – but because of the command of Scripture.

For the past several days we've watched on television as the country of Egypt has erupted with violence and protests against the existing dictatorship with Hosni Mubarak at its head.  There should be no illusion that Mubarak is a democracy advocate - he is not.  He is a brutal dictator whose actions have time and again suppressed freedom for the masses in his country.  That being said, the United States and others in the region see him as the lesser of two evils when it comes to our foreign policy in the region.  He is the typical Middle-eastern leader who speaks one thing to our leaders and the west - while making it clear that he will allow the "Arab-street" to voice their vitriolic hatred of Israel and the United States without much opposition.

It is interesting to watch this uprising because in some ways it reminds those of us who know history of the Iranian Revolution.  The people are taking to the streets in larger numbers over the past couple of days.  These crowds are not just gathering in the capitol, but in various places all over Egypt.  This protest also sports a cast of characters that, although not as strident and powerful as the Iranian ayatollahs, are nonetheless fairly radical in their Islamic orientation and philosophy.  So the question arises for us as we watch this situation develop, is this going to be another Iranian Revolution?

There are very clear differences in Egypt that will probably not make this Iranian Revolution, take 2.  First of all, according to several articles written by those watching these things from an Islamic vantage point, the protesters are rising up far more due to economic reasons, than religious ones.  The Mubarak regime is having similar problems with their economy that the rest of the world is experiencing.  Their problem is that many are so poor already that the only step downward is total destitution.  So for them, there is nothing left to do except riot and protest. 

Another difference is that there does not seem to be an overall leadership led by powerful religious figure-heads presently.  Mohammaed ElBaradei, the former head of the UN Atomic Energy Agency seems to be wanting to step us as a possible leader.  He has returned to Egypt to participate in the protests with the hope that he will receive support and be able to possibly head up an attempt to change the government.  We need to remember him as the one who did his dead-level best to tell the world that Iran did not have a nuclear weapons program - while they were establishing one in full sight of every western nation in the world.  He also is not a man we should consider as pro-western.  Another group who has supported the protests it the Muslim Brotherhood, a radical Islamic group who, although they have not struck recently with terrorist activity, is still a very radical Islamic group in Egypt.   The Muslim Brotherhood seeks to transform Egypt into an Islamic regime that they hope will stand at the forefront of the global jihad.  They have grown closer in recent years to Iran, Hamax, and Hizbullah - actually having their attorneys represent their terrorists who were arrested in Egypt in 2009 for plotting to bring down the current regime with a series of spectacular attacks.

What does all this mean though for the prophetic picture painted for us in the Scriptures.  I believe the destabilization of Egypt would move a peace deal forward much more rapidly.  Unlike the terrorist groups that currently surround Israel, Egypt has a very, very powerful military presence that can threaten Israel on a whole different level.  The Mubarak regime who continued the peace deal initiated under Sadat - has  benefited from purchases of U.S. military materials.  They have an air force that boasts 300 F-16's, their army is outfitted with the M1A1 tank similar to ours, the largest navy in the region, an army twice the size of the IDF, and an air defense system that would cause the Israeli air force serious problems that would hamper their effectiveness greatly.  If the government were to fall into the hands of ElBaradai and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, there would be a radical Islamic group with this kind of military power at their disposal.  Israel would be far more motivated to sign some kind of regional peace deal than ever before.  This might play directly into the hands of a worldwide leader, who would come on the scene promising peace in a region so plagued with problems.  

As I watch, though, I see some serious problems with this happening without things getting far worse.  The military is still solidly behind Mubarak - and are starting to crack down with increasing severity.  All we can do is continue to look at what is happening - and hope that this nation does not fall into radical Islamic control like Iran did.  If that does happen, the region will be further destabilized (if that is possible).  Although this does not bode well for our current peacefulness and security - it may be another piece of the puzzle falling into place for the coming peace treaty between the Antichrist and Israel.  I would counsel us to watch and pray - as Scripture tells us to do.  Oh, and I would also advise us to take advantage of every opportunity to live for and share Christ with those around us.  Who knows - we may not have as much time as we think to do so.