Egypt condemns 183 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to death

Emblem of the Muslim Brotherhood

Egypt’s top leader is concerned about Islamists in that land:

February 2, 2015

An Egyptian court sentenced to death 183 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood Monday on charges of killing at least 15 police officers in at attack after the 2013 ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi.

Thirty-four Brotherhood members were also sentenced in absentia in the attack.

The assault on the police station in the village of Kerdasa, near Cairo, in August 2013, took place on the same day security forces killed hundreds of demonstrators in Cairo during clashes at two large protest camps supporting Morsi.

The verdict was the latest in a string of mass death sentences that have sparked local and international condemnation.

Monday’s verdict was issued by Judge Mohammed Nagi Shehata, who has developed a reputation for harsh sentences against perceived government critics.

Shehata sentenced a trio of prominent revolutionary activists to prison for violating a new law against unauthorized demonstrations. He also sentenced three journalists from Al Jazeera English to jail terms ranging from seven to 10 years.

One of those journalists, Australian Peter Greste, was released and deported Sunday, while the other two remain in prison.

Crackdown on Brotherhood

Egypt has mounted one of the biggest crackdowns in its modern history on the Brotherhood, with thousands of the group’s supporters being arrested and tried en masse in a campaign human rights groups say shows the government is systematically repressing opponents.

Since Morsi’s overthrow, the government has jailed tens of thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters. Hundreds have also been killed in violence that often breaks out during protests.

Morsi, was the country’s first democratically elected president, was toppled by then-army chief Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

Sissi, who was elected president last year, said the Brotherhood is a security threat. Movement leaders said they are committed to peaceful activism.

The death sentences followed one of the bloodiest attacks on Egyptian security forces in years. The Islamic State group’s Egypt wing claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated operations that killed at least 27 people in Egypt last week.

Egyptian authorities make no distinction between the Brotherhood, the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, arguing that they have a shared ideology and are equally dangerous. http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-sentences-to-death-183-brotherhood-members-in-police-killings/2624380.html

This is not the first time that massive death sentences have been given to supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, though not all the previous death sentences have been carried out.

As the above article hints, the elected leaders in Egypt which were part of the Muslim Brotherhood were forced out by public protests followed by a military coup. The new coup government then outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood and arrested many of that group’s leaders.

The elected leaders in Egypt, which were part of the Muslim Brotherhood, were forced out by public protests followed by a military coup. The new coup government then outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood and arrested many of that group’s leaders.

The now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood is not gone. It still has has multiple millions who still support it. The Muslim Brotherhood is a group that want a pan-national Islamic caliphate ruled by an Imam:

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).

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. The time may be now for him to rise up and the Muslim Brotherhood may play an important role. The Muslim Brotherhood has been called the world’s oldest and largest Islamic political group and has been called the “world’s most influential Islamist movement” (http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/2010/11/2010111681527837704.html)–though some new group could also form.

Back in 2011, the Muslim Brotherhood believed that it was close to be able to attain its goal for a caliphate:

The Muslim Brotherhood is close to achieving the “ultimate goal” set by the group’s founder Hassan al-Banna in 1928, which is the establishment of a “just and reasonable regime.”

The project begins with the creation of a sound government and ends with the establishment of a just Islamic caliphate, said Mohamed Badie, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt on Thursday, in his weekly message on the group’s official website. (Al-Youm, AM. Muslim Brotherhood says they are close to attaining their “ultimate goal. Sharia Awareness Action Network, December 30, 2011. http://shariafreeusa.com/muslim-brotherhood-says-they-are-close-to-attaining-their-ultimate-goal/)

The early results of “Arab Spring” were favorable in certain respects for the Muslim Brotherhood (see also the YouTube video The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South). Of course, the troubles in Egypt and elsewhere in 2013-2015 have affected the situation for now.

We in the Continuing Church of God suspect that the Muslim Brotherhood, ISIS, and/or similar groups may be part of making end time events happen:

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 video explains what to expect from such a confederation. (Continuing Church of God YouTube video The Muslim Brotherhood and the Rise of the King of the South).

An Islamic caliphate is consistent with prophecies in the Bible of a coming King of the South in Daniel 11:40-43. Groups like ISIS, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, and Ennahda all are working towards putting together that type of confederation. (Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy)

The Muslim Brotherhood made major strides in 2011 and 2012 in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, and elsewhere in the Arab world. It also has been cozing up to Hamas, who is an offshoot (see Muslim Brotherhood’s Egypt’s Goma Amin, Hamas, and the King of the South). And despite setbacks in 2013-2015, it is attempting to move forward. ISIS basically exploded on the scenes in 2014, following its split from Al-Qaeda, and it too is pushing for Islamic caliphate (which it actually declared ISIL declares itself ‘Islamic State’ and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as caliph).

Despite death sentences, the final biblical King of the South will rise up, and Egypt will be part of that confederation. And it will not turn out well for Egypt (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9). I should add that before that King of the South is eliminated, the Bible also shows that the USA will be (Daniel 11:39).

While the current courts and government in Egypt believe that they know the way of peace, it will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom to truly bring peace and lasting prosperity to Egypt.

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.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Others have many misunderstandings about him. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
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.
Differences Between Islam and the Continuing Church of God What are some of the main differences? Are there any similarities?
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
Just What Do You Mean the Kingdom of God? A booklet that was written by Herbert Armstrong answers questions about the Kingdom.
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? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Arabic Nazarenes May Have Kept Original Christian Practices Were their faithful Arabs who held to original Christianity?
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Who were the Nazarene Christians? What did they believe? Should 21st century Christians be modern Nazarenes? Is there a group that exists now that traces its history through the Nazarenes and holds the same beliefs today? Here is a link to a related video sermon Nazarene Christians: Were the early Christians “Nazarenes”?