Libya is in the news a lot these days. The nation of Libya was formed by Italy (under a UN trusteeship) when they united three desert kingdoms into one, Cyrenaica, Tripolitania, and Fezzania. The resulting nation, under King Idris, was a western friendly kingdom, and gained its independence from Italy in 1951. But in 1969, Moamar Quadaffi effected a coup d'etat and became dictator of that African nation. Under Quadaffi, Libya has been a major player in international irritation and terrorism. Quadaffi has long held Socialist and Marxist style tendencies, and closely aligned himself with the former Soviet Union and Arab/Muslim supremacists. Quadaffi was a weapons client of Russia, and used that weaponry to solidify his dictatorship, and to spread radical Islamic power via terrorism into Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
Libya is mentioned several times in the Bible. In ancient times, Libya was also known by the name of Phut, one of the sons of Ham. Many people will remember the name "Simon of Cyrene," who carried the Cross of Jesus. This very same Simon was from Libya, or Cyrenaica.
Libya is also mentioned in Bible prophecy. It is one of the coalition of allies mentioned in the Ezekiel 38 scenario of the great Magog invasion against Israel in the Latter Days. (Ezekiel 38:1-6 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armor, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.)
Libya is plainly portrayed as being a sublevel ally of Magog in the Last Days invasion of Israel. While Quadaffi was in power, it was easy to see how Libya would readily be compliant with any aggression against Israel. The same is true today of Iran and all the rest of the Ezekiel 38 war partners. However the fall of Quadaffi would seem to make that picture a little bit more clouded.
But when one remembers the geo-political fact that ancient Rome had a unique history in the development of Libya, and that if the eventual Antichrist is to emerge from a greater EuroMed union, then the recent so-called Arab Spring upheavals in North Africa (Tunisia, Egypt and Libya) may just be a precursor of events to create the political platform for the rise of the Antichrist.
Presently, there is no certainty as to who will rule in Libya in the near future. There are possibilities that terrorists-connected elements of Islamic networks could emerge as leaders, much like the situation in Egypt with the Muslim Brotherhood. Bible prophecy doesn't particularly reveal anything specific about that, but one thing is for sure, Libya will join Russia and Iran in a future war against Israel, and the current geo-political events show that Libya is a battleground between several major forces; Europe and the West, Russia, and several competing Muslim networks. If there is a single verse that sticks out about the Arab Spring, and the multi-pronged Arab-Muslim networks involved in international intrigue, it is the following prophecy from Genesis.
(Genesis 16:11-12 And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.)
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Syria in Bible Prophecy
Syria is a major player in end-times Bible prophecy. More specifically, the city of Damascus carries a weighty "burden" upon its shoulders. This burden stems from demonic hatred of Israel that permeates so much of the Arab-Muslim world. (Isaiah 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.)(Jeremiah 49:24-25 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!)
Scholars of Bible prophecy have debated for years about the rise of the Antichrist, and from what area of the world he might arise. While most tend to think that the AC will arise from the West (Rome), there is also the distinct possibility that the eventual AC will have prominence in Syria-Iraq. Regardless of where he comes from, one thing is certain, the AC will forge a seeming workable solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict by incorporating a peace treaty among "many nations" that will include Syria.
The decades old search for Middle East peace has always found an obstacle in Syria, and the complex question about the Golan Heights. While Egypt and Jordan were infused into peace accords with Israel, Syria has never been on board in the whole process. Events of late have seen a pro-democracy Arab Spring movement that has dramatically changed the political scene in the Middle East. Now that movement has hit in Syria, and it seems that the Global governance proponents of the world (predominant in socialist democracies) is intent on dissecting Syria away from its Iranian benefactors, and its old Russian clientele by fomenting reforms in Syria to dislodge Bashar Assad from power. These current geo-political winds could witness the reality of the Isaiah and Jeremiah prophecies, thereby setting the stage for the rise of the Antichrist, who could then cement the periphery of the false covenant of peace with Israel.
We live in exciting times, and watching these events play out on the world stage is awe-inspiring. It is true cause for anticipating the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Darrell G. Young
Scholars of Bible prophecy have debated for years about the rise of the Antichrist, and from what area of the world he might arise. While most tend to think that the AC will arise from the West (Rome), there is also the distinct possibility that the eventual AC will have prominence in Syria-Iraq. Regardless of where he comes from, one thing is certain, the AC will forge a seeming workable solution to the Arab-Israeli Conflict by incorporating a peace treaty among "many nations" that will include Syria.
The decades old search for Middle East peace has always found an obstacle in Syria, and the complex question about the Golan Heights. While Egypt and Jordan were infused into peace accords with Israel, Syria has never been on board in the whole process. Events of late have seen a pro-democracy Arab Spring movement that has dramatically changed the political scene in the Middle East. Now that movement has hit in Syria, and it seems that the Global governance proponents of the world (predominant in socialist democracies) is intent on dissecting Syria away from its Iranian benefactors, and its old Russian clientele by fomenting reforms in Syria to dislodge Bashar Assad from power. These current geo-political winds could witness the reality of the Isaiah and Jeremiah prophecies, thereby setting the stage for the rise of the Antichrist, who could then cement the periphery of the false covenant of peace with Israel.
We live in exciting times, and watching these events play out on the world stage is awe-inspiring. It is true cause for anticipating the soon return of Jesus Christ.
Darrell G. Young
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