Deadly bombs explode in Egypt

Al-Shabaab Flag (also known as the Black Flag of Jihad)

Bombs went off and killed in Egypt:

At least 10 dead in police station bombings, clashes with security forces in Egypt

January 24, 2014

CAIRO — A string of explosions struck several security targets in the Egyptian capital on Friday in the highest-profile attack on Egypt’s military-backed government since the ouster last summer of President Mohamed Morsi.The most powerful blast, outside Cairo’s police headquarters, killed four people and injured more than 50, the Health Ministry said. Three smaller explosions in other districts of the city — one near a police station, another targeting a line of security vehicles and a third near a movie theater — killed two others, state media said.

Also Friday, four protesters demonstrating in support of Morsi in the southern province of Beni Suef were killed in clashes with police. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/blast-kills-at-least-3-at-security-headquarters-in-cairo/2014/01/24/4c9d5d14-84c2-11e3-9dd4-e7278db80d86_story.html

January 24, 2014

A spokesman for interim President Adly Mansour condemned the violence. He said “such terrorist operations that seek to break the will of Egyptians” will only unify them.

Meanwhile, supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood clashed with security forces and civilians during protests in several cities on Friday. Officials said at least 10 people died in that unrest.

The violence came one day before the nation marks the third anniversary of the uprising against longtime leader Hosni Mubarak, which began on National Police Day.

Following the explosions Friday, Egyptian media reported that authorities plan to block Tahrir Square through Sunday. Opposition groups, both secular activists and the Muslim Brotherhood, had said they were planning peaceful protests to mark the anniversary.

Divisions have deepened over the possibility that the next president could be another military strongman, de-facto leader General Abdel Fatah el Sissi. Security was on high alert even before the blasts.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. There were unconfirmed reports that the jihadist group Ansar Beit al Maqdis, which derides the Brotherhood for lack of militancy, had sent a warning to officials before the blasts occurred.

The Sinai-based militants have claimed responsibility for other attacks in recent months, including a failed assassination attempt on the nation’s interior minister and the bombing of a police station in the Nile Delta that left 16 people dead.

Ansar Beit al Maqdis is among several jihadi groups who have escalated attacks against security and military targets since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsi last year.

Public suspicion immediately fell on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, with crowds chanting death to the group outside police headquarters. The building was heavily damaged by the blast, as was the Museum of Islamic Art across the street.

The Brotherhood has denounced previous such attacks, but the government blamed them for the Nile Delta bombing, and declared the group a terrorist organization.

Little hard evidence has been presented to link the Brotherhood and the jihadists. http://www.voanews.com/content/car-bomb-rocks-cairo/1836660.html

The situation in Egypt will change. It might change quickly, it might take years. Egypt’s interim government, which came it as the result of the military backing protestors, will not last as it is.

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. The title Caliph has been given to the head of state in Muslim-governed countries in the past. Many in Egypt and other portions of North Africa and the Middle East want such a leader.

The Bible tells of a time when the region of North Africa and the Middle East (including the Arab peninsula) will change when the King of the South (cf. Daniel 11:27,40-43) rises up. Egypt will lead or at least support this King, and Egypt will not fare well as various scriptures show (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

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 some of the scriptures in Isaiah as they point to a time of chaos 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)

It will likely be a religious, Islamic-oriented, government that will help create the coming confederation which is doomed to failure. Egypt is not prophesied to remain an isolated nation as it currently is. But what will happen will not end well.

Egypt will ultimately not be a secular independent nation, despite what its current government hopes for.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Egypt in Prophecy Does Egypt have a special role in end time prophecy? Will Egypt rise up and then be defeated. What does God teach will happen to those in Egypt? Here is a link to a YouTube video titled Egypt and End Time Prophecy.
The Future King of the South is Rising Does the Bible teach that there will be a future King of the South in Daniel 11? Is this kingdom rising up now? Did the old Worldwide Church of God (WCG) teach that there would be another one? And who is the King of the South? How will this involve Egypt? Is the final King of the South some type of Arab-Muslim confederation? Can Iran be involved? Is there a group that seems to be supporting the goals of the King of the South? Has the Obama Administration supported the rise of this power? This sermon video answers those questions.
The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South The Bible tells of the formation of a power of nations that are in the Middle East and North Africa that are part of the final “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40-43) The Muslim Brotherhood wishes to have an Islamic empire with basically the same nations. This YouTube video explains what to expect from such a confederation.
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
What Should You Know About Turkey in Prophecy Do you know the Turkish people descended from? Did the Ottoman Empire possibly fulfill a promise in Genesis? Will Turkey support the European King of the North or Arabic King of the South? Will it betray one of them? Will Turkey be involved in the encouraging the destruction of Israel? Is Turkey going to become Catholic? Is Turkey mentioned in Psalm 83, Daniel 11, and elsewhere in the Bible? This video provides answers.
Damascus and Syria in Prophecy Will Bashar Assad hold power as he has it? Does the Bible show that Damascus, the capital of Syria, will be destroyed? What will happen to Syria? Will the Syrians support the final King of the South that the Bible tells will rise up? Which scriptures discuss the rise and fall of an Arabic confederation? Does Islamic prophecy predict the destruction of Syria. This is a YouTube video.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.