Egypt and Libya – A Good Thing . . . or a God Thing?

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.