By COGwriter
What will happen in Egypt? How will the current unrest in Egypt end? Might the Muslim Brotherhood have some type of role?
What does the Bible teach? Could Egypt be the King of the South? What have others have indicated? Are there other prophecies that might affect Egypt? This article will attempt to answer some of those questions. (Here is a link to a related YouTube video Egypt and End Time Prophecy.)
For information on the Exodus and plagues of Egypt and related prophecies, check out the following:
When was the Exodus? Did it Happen? Some deny the biblical account of the Exodus. Was Ramses II the pharaoh then? When did the Exodus occur? Is there proof outside of the Bible that there was an Exodus? Here is a related article in the Spanish language: ¿Cuándo fue el Éxodo? ¿Ocurrió realmente?
Reasons, Proofs, and Ramifications of the Ten Plagues of Exodus What do you know about these plagues? Is there any confirmation outside the Bible? Might something worse be coming? A related two-part sermon is available: Egypt and the Plagues (Part 1) and Exodus Plagues and Prophecy (Part 2).
Exodus and the Days of Unleavened Bread This article discusses parts of the Book of Exodus with some connections to the Days of Unleavened Bread. A related sermon is available and is titled: Unleavened Bread: Lessons in Exodus.
The Muslim Brotherhood was officially formed in Egypt in 1928 (some say the plan began in England). After a while it was banned, then the Egyptian government legalized the Brotherhood again in 1948, but only as a religious organization; it was banned again in 1954 because it insisted that Egypt be governed under shari'a (Islamic law) (Muslim Brothers Muslim Brotherhood al-Ikhwan al-Muslimin Jama'at al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun Hizb Al-Ikhwan Al-Muslimoon al-Ikhwan ("The Brothers") http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/mb.htm viewed 08/21/13). It was legalized again in 2011 after the fall of Hosni Mubarak and banned again in 2013. The last elected president of Egypt was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, though he was arrested as part of a military-backed coup in July 2013.
Although it has had problems, the Muslim Brotherhood became influential in Egypt and in many other Muslim-dominated lands. Many Arab seem to believe that the Muslim Brotherhood can give them the type of world and world-influence that many of them long for. And this is so, despite the current problems in Egypt.
The Muslim Brotherhood's credo was and is, "Allah is our objective; the Quran is our law, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations."
Here is some of what the official English-language website of the Muslim Brotherhood teaches about its history and goals (note: Dr. Morsi, who was deposed as the president of Egypt in July 2013, ran the website below when I first viewed these quotes):
Al-Banna was chiefly responsible for formulating the policies of this association…the idea of universal muslim state was constantly implied due to the association’s focus on Islam. While strongly disapproving of local brands of Nationalism, particularly if they were Western-inspired and secularly-minded, Banna developed his vision of Pan-Islamic Nationalism, insisting that Islam and Nationalism were complementary, especially when the latter operated within the parameter of the Islamic truth, since, for the Muslim Brethren, Islam was of course both religion and state. Here we need to analyze what was the basic concept from which Hassan al-Banna initiated to establish such Islamic organization. Then we would also explore his thought of the causes of descend of Islamic society particularly in Egypt. However, his effort and works deserved great consideration of Islamic society in the revolution to the revival of Islamic state (Caliphate)…The Muslim Brethren…believe that the caliphate is a symbol of Islamic Union and an indication of the bonds between the nations of Islam. They see the caliphate and its re-establishment as a top priority, subsequently; an association of Muslims people should be set up, which would elect the imam”. (zhyntativ. HASAN AL-BANNA AND HIS POLITICAL THOUGHT OF ISLAMIC BROTHERHOOD. IkhwanWeb, May 13, 2008. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=17065 viewed 09/22/11)
What is the Muslim Brotherhood?
The world’s largest and most influential Islamist movement. Founded in Egypt in 1928, the group was originally focused on ridding the country of corrupting secular influences brought by British colonial rule. Over the years, it established branches and affiliates in many countries to promote traditional Sunni Islamic morals, social justice, and the eradication of poverty and corruption. “The Islamic nation,” its charter states, “must be fully prepared to fight the tyrants and the enemies of Allah as a prelude to establishing an Islamic state”—ideally a re-established caliphate, stretching from Spain across the Middle East and Central Asia to Indonesia, to be governed according to Islamic sharia law. (Understanding the Muslim Brotherhood. February 14, 2011. © The Muslim Brotherhood. http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=28019 viewed 11/21/2011)
The Muslim Brotherhood apparently wants as its top priority a pan-national Islamic caliphate ruled by an Imam. Many Muslims long for the rising up of a leader called the 12th Imam, often referred to as the Imam Mahdi. It will not end up with Spain if I understand certain aspects of Bible prophecy correctly, but the confederation of the final King of the South may go from around Western Sahara and/or Mauritania to Oman (with possible involvement and/or coordination with Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and/or Indonesia).
Notice a translation of what some, who are part of it, write that the Muslim Brotherhood wants:
...the Islamic Ummah [nation] can regain its power and be liberated and assume its rightful position which was intended by Allah, as the most exalted nation among men, as the leaders of humanity...
He [Hassan al-Banna] felt the grave danger overshadowing the Muslims and the urgent need and obligation which Islam places on every Muslim, man and woman, to act in order to restore the Islamic Caliphate and to reestablish the Islamic State on strong foundations and to liberate the Muslims and defend them from any attack, and to spread the Da’wa (Islamic missionary activity) of Islam in the world and to establish this great religion, which Allah wanted for his servants...
Some think that Shahada (Martyrdom) causes loss and damages the [Muslim Brotherhood] Society, since it has lost influential people in action and Jihad. This is wrong, since the fall of the Shahid (Martyr) for the sake of Da'wa (Islamic missionary activity) is [seen as] provisions and fuel for the [next] generations, and as a symbol of self sacrifice in the way of the Da'wa until realization of the goals which the [Muslim Brotherhood] Society was established for, that is, establishing the State of Islam, headed by the Islamic Caliphate, in order to establish Allah religion on Allah's land...(Source: The Muslim Brotherhood - in its own words Translation of “Jihad is the way” by Mustafa Mashhur Leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, 1996-2002 by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik. http://www.palwatch.org/STORAGE/special%20reports/Jihad_is_the_way_by_Mustafa_Mashhur.pdf viewed 04/30/11)
To bring enough Arab nations together, I have felt that some type of “strongman” needed to rise up. One who Arabs would tend to respect--who might use or not use the title Imam Mahdi. He may be called a 'King' (which some Arab leaders currently are called) and/or a Caliph (which is more in line with traditional Islamic empires/confederation) (watch also the YouTube video The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South).
After the Muslim Brotherhood supporter Dr. Morsi was removed by a military coup in Egypt, a court there banned the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the seizing of its assets on September 23, 2013 (see Egyptian court bans Muslim Brotherhood!). But since it has long been a banned/underground movement, this still has not stopped all its supporters, who still want a Caliphate.
Notice the following hope/claim, which many still have:
Safwat Higazi: We can see how the dream of the Islamic Caliphate is being realized, Allah willing, by Dr. Muhammad Mursi and his brothers, his supporters, and his political party. We can see how the great dream, shared by us all - that of the United States of the Arabs... The United States of the Arabs will be restored, Allah willing. The United States of the Arabs will be restored by this man and his supporters.
The capital of the Caliphate - the capital of the United States of the Arabs - will be Jerusalem, Allah willing.(Video: Muslim Brotherhood: "'United States of the Arabs' with Jerusalem as Its Capital". May 9, 2012. http://daledamos.blogspot.com/2012/05/video-muslim-brotherhood-united-states.html)
Notice one interpretation of Islamic prophecy:
But one thing that is fairly well agreed upon among devout “Twelvers” is that the Mahdi will end apostasy and purify corruption within Islam. He is expected to conquer the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, Syria, “Palestine,” Egypt and North Africa, and eventually the entire world. (Rosenberg J. Why Iran's Top Leaders Believe That the End of Days Has Come. Fox News, November 7, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2011/11/07/why-irans-top-leaders-believe-that-end-days-has-come/?ref_dom=news.google.com&ref_url=/#ixzz1di20S2XP)
There are various Islamic views on the leader, the Imam Mahdi rising up (who could be the King of the South of Daniel 11:40-43). Here is one that suggests he does after Syria has problems and a leader arises in Egypt (called al-Maghribi below) and another leader of Egypt is killed:
Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of the Imam who will arise (qa'im), peace be on him, and the events which will take place before his appearance, together with the indications and features of it. Among them are: The Sufyani will come out in revolt; the Hasanid will be killed; the Abbasids will dispute over worldly kingdom; there will be an eclipse of the sun in the middle of the month of Ramadan; there will be an eclipse of the moon at the end of that month in contrast to ordinary happenings; the land will be swallowed up at al-Bayda'; it will be swallowed in the east-it will be swallowed up in the west; the sun will stay still from the time of its decline to the middle of the time for the afternoon prayer; it will rise from the west; a pure soul (nafs zakiyya) will be killed in the outskirts of Kufa with seventy righteous men; a Hashimite will be slaughtered between the corner (of the Ka'ba) and the station of Abraham); the wall of the mosque of Kufa will be destroyed; black standards will advance from Khurasan; al-Yamani will come out in revolt; al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will occupy Ramla; the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light; then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet; a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons; a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days; the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority; the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria)...
(Kitab al Irshad Chapter: The Twelfth Imam (Peace be on him) Page (s): 541 - 548 Published by Tehrike Tersile Qura'n. Contributed by Br. Ali Abbas, abbas@seas.gwu.edu http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/12thimam.html viewed 7/22/12)
Some originally speculated the the Egyptian that would be killed was Hosni Mubarek who was alive in November 2013 when I reviewed this. But there are various Egyptian leaders that the killing could possibly be interpretted to apply to.
The current President of Egypt, , has already called for pan-Arabic military cooperation (see Egypt calls for ‘King of the South’ military).
Perhaps it should be mentioned that there are plans to build what could become the capital of the King of the South in Egypt (see Is the King of the South’s capital being built in Egypt?).
Biblically, an apparently Islamic Empire will form in some type of confederation to include at least most of North Africa and the Middle East (Daniel 11:40-43).
Egypt will be a major part of this, but ultimately will not fare well.
What will biblically happen to Egypt?
The Bible shows that Egypt will end up in some type of end type confederation and that others will support it:
40 At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. 41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. (Daniel 11:40-42).
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“‘Wail and say, “Alas for that day!” 3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 “‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign LORD. 7 “‘They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come (Ezekiel 30:1-9, NIV).
So a confederation will form, Egypt will be part of it, it will be destroyed, and many of the nations that enter into a confederation with Egypt will suffer. Egypt will have involvement with the biblical King of the South.
Various ones have wondered if the final King of the South could be an Egyptian (a video of possibly related interest would be The Future King of the South is Rising).
This has been the position of various COG leaders and even some outside the COG for some time.
Notice a quote from the July 1963 Plain Truth article by Garner Ted Armstrong titled “And when you see the Abomination…” which helps demonstrate that:
Daniel was given specific visions of events to occur in OUR TIME!…Notice! And at the TIME OF THE END (this prophecy, then, is absolutely DATED as pertaining to OUR DAY, NOW) shall the king of the south push at him (the “king of the north”) and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (verse 40). Bible scholars have recognized the FIRST, TYPICAL fulfillment of this surprising prophecy, but have failed to see its LITERAL application to OUR TIMES!…
But what of the MODERN powers meant by these designations? Remember-the Bible is written, SPIRITUALLY and GEOGRAPHICALLY, from the point of view of PALESTINE! If you were to look on a map, and try to find two powers fitting this description, you would have a fairly easy task…Who else could this be, then, except the coming UNITED STATES OF EUROPE, a resurrection of the ancient ROMAN EMPIRE, Just as we have been fearlessly proclaiming…A rearmed GERMANY, heading up a final union…IN EUROPE -THIS is the Biblical KING OF THE NORTH!
The king of the South? EGYPT, of course. But not Egypt of today. Egypt of a few more years from now–Egypt as she continues to expand the U.A.R., bringing more and more of the North Africa Mohammedan nations into the same Afro-Arabian power block! (p. 22).
Although the U.A.R. (United Arab Republic) is no more, there are plans to bring more and more of the Islamic North African and Middle Eastern nations into a type of Afro-Arabian power block.
The late CG21's Raymond McNair (who was also once part of WCG) wrote:
Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).
Notice that Raymond McNair realizes that Egypt or some other Muslim country is where the king of the South will come from and that the term translated as Ethiopians really means the Cushite peoples who live in southern Egypt as well as elsewhere.
It may be of interest to note that the following from the Bible:
6 The burden against the beasts of the South. Through a land of trouble and anguish, From which came the lioness and lion, The viper and fiery flying serpent, They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys, And their treasures on the humps of camels, To a people who shall not profit; (Isaiah 30:6, NKJV)
7 Egypt is all show, no substance. My name for her is Toothless Dragon. (Isaiah 30:7, THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language)
Isaiah 30:6-7 seems to tie the “beasts of the South” with “the Egyptians,” which is further support that the Egyptians will most likely have significant involvement with the king of the South.
The United Church of God indicated (Sieglie M. Egypt in History and Prophecy. Good News, May-June 2011, p.11) that the following may be related to the King of the South:
4 And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 19:4)
Additionally, Isaiah 31 lists the destruction of “the Egyptians” (1-3) ahead of “Assyria” (vss. 8-9), just like the Book of Daniel places the destruction of the king of the South (Daniel 11:40-43) ahead of the king of the North (11:45).
Notice more quotes of the scriptures in Isaiah as they point to a time of chaos/civil war and then destruction in Egypt:
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;
And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out His hand,
Both he who helps will fall,
And he who is helped will fall down;
They all will perish together. (Isaiah 31:3)1 The burden against Egypt.
Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.
2 “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. 3 The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. 4 And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4)
Notice the following prophecy:
2 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him:
'You are like a young lion among the nations,And you are like a monster in the seas,Bursting forth in your rivers,Troubling the waters with your feet,And fouling their rivers.'
3 "Thus says the Lord God:
'I will therefore spread My net over you with a company of many people,And they will draw you up in My net. 4 Then I will leave you on the land;I will cast you out on the open fields,And cause to settle on you all the birds of the heavens.And with you I will fill the beasts of the whole earth. 5 I will lay your flesh on the mountains,And fill the valleys with your carcass.
6 'I will also water the land with the flow of your blood,Even to the mountains;And the riverbeds will be full of you. 7 When I put out your light,I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark;I will cover the sun with a cloud,And the moon shall not give her light. 8 All the bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you,And bring darkness upon your land,'Says the Lord God.
9 'I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries which you have not known. 10 Yes, I will make many peoples astonished at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they shall tremble every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.'
11 "For thus says the Lord God: 'The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.
'They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt,And all its multitude shall be destroyed. (Ezekiel 32:2-12)
Since the King of Babylon attacks Egypt and the King of the North is the end time King of Babylon, this suggests Egypt may be the King of the South.
Notice also the next few verses:
13 Also I will destroy all its animals
From beside its great waters;
The foot of man shall muddy them no more,
Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them.
14 Then I will make their waters clear,
And make their rivers run like oil,'
Says the Lord God.15 'When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
And the country is destitute of all that once filled it,
When I strike all who dwell in it,
Then they shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 32:13-15)
Consider also that it may be that verse begins with the final Day of the Lord and that verse has never happened and thus these passages in the Book of Ezekiel may be related to Egypt in the 21st century.
Interestingly, the Catholic saint Jerome apparently felt that the King of the South was from Egypt as he wrote about Daniel 11:
As for the Antichrist, there is no question but what he is going to fight against the holy covenant, and that when he first makes war against the king of Egypt, he shall straightway be frightened off by the assistance of the Romans… the Antichrist…shall first fight against the king of the South, or Egypt, and shall afterwards conquer Libya and Ethiopia (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). This text was transcribed by Roger Pearse, Ipswich, UK, 2004. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/pearse/morefathers/files/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 06/05/11)
While Jerome is confused on some points (the Antichrist is not the King of the North, but a supporter of that king; and it is more likely that Americans and not Romans frighten him off in Daniel 11:30), he is correct in indicating that the Beast power will over-power the King of the South and conquer Egypt and Libya.
The King of the South ruling over at least parts of North Africa and the Middle East will happen.
While various ones have concerns, the reality is that it appears that some type of Islamic party will ultimately rule Egypt and support the future King of the South (a coming confederation of peoples in the Arab and Turkish Islamic nations listed in Daniel 11:40-43 and Ezekiel 30:1-8), and this will result in devastation/destruction in Egypt.
Notice also another verse in Daniel 11:
43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels.
The above prophecy, made thousands of years ago, shows that in the time of the end that Egypt will have gold. Egypt relatively recently reopened an ancient gold mine which may become its largest source of wealth--see the news item Gold of Egypt; Egypt also has some oil resources that are now being developed. Thus even today we are seeing the prophetic scenario being fulfilled before our eyes--Egypt had to have significant amounts of gold, silver, and other wealth for the King of the North to be noted for taking its gold, silver, and other treasures for Daniel 11:43 to come to pass. This did not happen in the 20th century.
Although Daniel 11:40-42 is mainly mentioning peoples in predominantly Arabs lands, some may point to verse 43 as proof that the nation of Ethiopia specifically is involved, as the NKJV, perhaps incorrectly, showed.
The problem with the KJV/NKJV and similar translations is that the word "Ethiopians" is not in the Hebrew in the Old Testament. The word translated as "Ethiopians" is the plural of the word Kuwshiy, which according to Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary means descendants of Cush. Or in other words, people of dark color--and it is commonly translated as Cush or Cushite in many Old Testament passages.
It is not necessarily those from Ethiopia, but seems to include peoples who live in and near Egypt.
The New International Version translation of the Bible seems to get Daniel 11:43 translated correctly as follows:
He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Nubians in submission.
And while Ethiopians might possibly be indicated here, the reality is that Nubians makes a lot more sense.
Why?
Because the Nubians are Moslems and historically lived amongst the Egyptians and the other Arabs. The Nubians have been in so much contact with Arabs that Nubians speak that some of their peoples have been "Arabized" (http://www.thenubian.net/nubtoday.php 8/05/06).
Interestingly, although it uses the term "Ethiopians" while discussing Daniel 11:43, Matthew Henry's Commentary says that these are people who anciently lived next to Egypt.
Well, Nubians currently live in Egypt as well as in neighboring Sudan. The Sudanese, like the Nubians, are also Cushites, and are also mainly Moslem (especially since they have killed many of the non-Moslems in the southern portion of what had also been part of their country)--plus Sudan is between Egypt and Ethiopia. Thus, Bible prophecies involving Egypt and apparently some that are mistranslated as being related to Ethiopia are involving a people that has ties to Egypt.
Despite its prophesied defeat and involvement with the final King of the South, I should add that not all is lost for the Egyptians and their end time allies. They too will ultimately be offered salvation, and the Bible shows that many there will take it.
Defeat is not the ultimate destiny for most Egyptian and their allies. Deification is.
But how?
The mainstream "Christian" view correctly teaches that there is salvation in no other than Jesus (Acts 4:10-12), as "there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (vs.12).
But what happens to the multitudes in Egypt and elsewhere who have not even heard the true name of Christ? What about those who do not respond per Deuteronomy 4:29-31? And what happens to those born before Christ's earthly ministry? Recall that the Bible teaches that after Adam sinned, humankind was blocked from the tree of life as God had it guarded so that humans would not be able to access it on their own (Genesis 3:22-24).
Even the basic Protestant view is that unless one professes belief in Jesus prior to the first death, then salvation will be unavailable. It is perhaps because of the difference between this view and that of the genuine Church of God, that Protestants tend to label Church of God groups as cults.
The Philadelphia remnant of the Church of God, as represented by the Continuing Church of God, teaches that God is only calling a relatively few during this age with the Day of Pentecost (also called the Day of Firstfruits, Numbers 28:26) partially explaining this. "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" (James 1:18).
Jesus and the real Church of God teach, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him" (John 6:44). And that will be few at this time, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14), "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14).
Protestants and Catholics tend to feel, correctly, that God uses ministers to preach (Romans 10:14). Yet, the message is not always clear. In Isaiah 6:9-11 God teaches,
9 "Go, and tell this people: 'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' 10 Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed." 11 Then I said, "Lord, how long?" And He answered: "Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, The houses are without a man, The land is utterly desolate".
In other words, the bulk of the people are not to understand until after a time of great desolation.
Unless Egyptians have committed the unpardonable sin (and relatively few could have) they will be judged as other uncalled people are. Some, apparently in Egypt, will rebel at first even after Jesus returns:
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. 18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. 19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (Zechariah 14:16-19)
But as the above shows, God plans to use weather to get their attention. God is merciful and often uses weather issues to try to get people to realize that they need to change. I believe that this will work well and those in Egypt and other lands who rebel against keeping God's Holy Days (Leviticus 23), such as the Feast of Tabernacles will later decide to observe it and truly learn about God's plan of salvation.
The Bible clearly teaches that salvation will be offered to all. And that includes the Egyptians. Notice the following scripture:
6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke 3:6).
Those who were uncalled in this age (including most people and nearly all of the Egyptians, including those that have long been dead) will be offered an opportunity for salvation (two related articles of interest may include Universal Offer of Salvation: There Are Hundreds of Verses in the Bible Supporting the Doctrine of True Apocatastasis and Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants).
And nearly all of them will accept it. The Continuing Church of God teaches that God will ultimately give every individual an opportunity for salvation--and that nearly every individual will accept that opportunity. The vast majority of human beings will ultimately be in God's family.
This means that ultimately that nearly all Egyptians will be in the permanent kingdom of God. Notice some of the descriptions from the Book of Revelation:
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:2-4).
Notice that Egyptians are specifically listed as being in the Kingdom:
19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. 20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them. 21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it. 22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria — a blessing in the midst of the land, 25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:19-25)
So, despite the bad news, there ultimately will be good news for the Egyptians, along with the rest of humanity, in the coming Kingdom of God. All should heed Jesus’ words and pray, “Your Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).
Here is a link to a related YouTube video Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
Thiel B. Egypt in Prophecy. http://www.cogwriter.com/egypt.htm COGwriter (c) 2013/2014/2015 1027