I365: Pope visits largest Muslim nation: Signing end of days Esau-Ishmael alliance against Israel
Israel365News posted the following:
Pope visits largest Muslim nation: Signing end of days Esau-Ishmael alliance against Israel
September 10, 2024
Pope Francis embarked on a 12-day tour of four nations in Southeast Asia and Oceania, beginning his tour with a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, home to the largest Muslim population in the world. In Jakarta, the pope met with Indonesia’s grand imam, Nasaruddin Umar, at the entrance to the “Tunnel of Friendship” which connects Istiqlal Mosque to the nearby Catholic Cathedral, Our Lady of the Assumption. …
Pope Francis expanded his agenda of solidifying a relationship between the Catholic Church and Islam by initiating The Istiqlal Declaration signed by Francis and Umar at a formal ceremony in the tent on the Istiqlal Mosque compound. …
During a 2019 visit to the Gulf, Francis and the imam of Al-Azhar, the 1,000-year-old seat of Sunni learning, launched a “Human Fraternity” movement calling for greater Christian-Muslim efforts to promote peace worldwide. More recently, Francis traveled to Najaf, Iraq, in 2021 to visit the top Shiite cleric, who delivered a message of peaceful coexistence.
Since ascending to the papacy in 2013, Pope Francis has worked openly to unite Esau and Ishmael by enhancing Christian-Muslim relations. This alliance implicitly threatens Israel, the spiritual descendant of their mutual Biblical nemesis. In 2019, Francis and Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, signed a statement about Jerusalem, referring to Israel’s capital as Al-Quds Acharif, the Arabic name for Jerusalem, minimizing the distinctive relationship between Jerusalem and the Jewish people. …
According to Rabbi Yechiel Weitzman author of The Ishmaelite Exile, this alliance of Christians and Muslims was predicted hundreds of years ago and is a sign of the End Times. According to Rabbi Weitzman, “The last stage in the process of Israel’s perfection will be characterized by the alliance between Ishmael and Esav (Esau), an alliance aimed at tormenting the entire world and the Jewish people in particular.”
The ancient Biblical connection between Esau and Ishmael is stated plainly in Genesis. Ishamael became Esau’s father-in-law when Esau married Ishmael’s daughter.
Rabbi Weitzman concluded, “At the very outset of history, Ishmael and Esav forged a bond through marriage. And so it shall be at the End of Days. The alliance between them will bring history to its culmination in the redemption.” https://israel365news.com/395904/pope-visits-largest-muslim-nation-signing-end-of-days-esau-ishmael-alliance-against-israel/
Yes, Pope Francis is working on an alliance with Muslims. And yes, there will be a temporary alliance between the Babylonian European King of the North Beast power and certain Islamic nations.
That is foretold in the Bible in places like the 83rd Psalm and the 11th chapter of Daniel.
But Yechiel Weitzman has some misunderstandings. While he would know that “Esau is Edom” (Genesis 36:8), he apparently does not realize that Edom (to a great degree) is Turkey.
Notice the following from the old Radio Church of God related to Psalm 83 and the peoples who are involved:
Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8. David, inspired of God, predicted the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe…Egypt…will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the “king of the north” in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the “glorious land” of Palestine (verse 41). “And the land of Egypt shall not escape”(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)
Psalm 83 discusses a temporal alliance between the coming European power and various Islamic peoples against the descendants of Israel. But Ishmael and Edom are the Arabs and Turks, not the Muslims and ‘Christians,’ although many Muslim nations will be involved as well as some European nations that will, relatively soon, accept a changed form of Roman Catholicism. So, that is the alliance that will form.
Furthermore, Daniel 11 shows a lying deal will be made between the Muslims and Europeans. Notice some information related to it in our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:
Here are comments from Muslim writer Moustafa Zayed …:
The alliance between the Muslims and the Romans will help fight a major enemy … [i]
It is possible that this could relate to some biblical prophecies.
One set is found in the Book of Daniel:
15 So the king of the north … 24 shall devise his plans against the strongholds … 25 … And the king of the South … 27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:15,24,25, 27)
In the above passages, we see that a lying deal is made between the king of the north (who is a European power) and the king of the south (who is a power of nations in the Middle East and North Africa)—but what the deal itself is all about is not specified. If it has to do with the power with the strongest fortresses (Daniel 11:39), that would be a major power they would be agreeing to defeat.
[i] Zayed M. The Prophesies of Muhammad. CreateSpace, 2012, p. 236
So, yes, the Bible (as well as Islam) tells of a coming alliance.
There is also information about a temporary peace deal in the Bible as well as in Islamic writings. Here is information from our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:
Islam and the Bible Look for a Peace Deal
In Islam, there are hadithic writings that say there will be a treaty, like a seven-year peace deal with a Roman Catholic European leader, that will be broken:
Rasaullah [Muhammed] said: “There will be four peace agreements between you and the Romans [Christians]. The fourth agreement will be mediated through a person who will be the progeny of Hadrat Haroon [Honorable Aaron — Moses’ brother] and will be upheld for seven years.[i]
There will be a treaty between you and the Romans, then they will betray you and march against you with eighty banners, under each of which will be twelve thousand (troops). (Sunan Ibn Majah 4042, Book 36, Hadith 117)
General anarchy and bloodshed, that no Arab household will be spared from it Then a life of peace as a result of a peace agreement between you and the Banil Asfaar (Romans) which they will break and attack you with a force consisting of eighty flags and under each flag will be an army of twelve thousand men.[ii]
To varying degrees, those treaty writings appear to be consistent with the following biblical prophecy:
26 And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:26-27)
The above is referring to a deal or covenant that has a time element attached to it. The “one week” time element has generally been understood anciently to mean a seven-year deal (e.g. early 3rd century by Hippolytus of Rome [iii]), that will be broken in the middle of it (after 3 1/2 years, which is a half of a week, also per the 2nd century Irenaeus of Lyon [iv]). The “with many” would seem to indicate that multiple nations, as opposed to one or two, are agreeing to something.
The one biblically called a “prince” will be some type of leader of the final developing European empire. One way to show this is a European reference is to realize that it was the people of the Roman Empire of the 1st century that fulfilled the portion of Daniel 9:26 as they destroyed “the city” (Jerusalem) “and the sanctuary” (the Jewish Temple) in 70 A.D.
Because of other biblical passages (Daniel 8:25; 11:23-24), this “covenant” is generally considered to be a “peace deal” by prophecy watchers. Bible prophecy refers to a coming leader of lands in North Africa and the Middle East currently dominated by Islam as the “King of the South.” Whether, or how, the coming King of the South of Daniel 11 may be involved in the deal of Daniel 9:27 is not directly specified. However, it might be implied from biblical prophecies in Daniel 11, as well as Islamic prophecy, that one considered as the Imam Mahdi (or a “great caliph”) is involved.
Anyway, both biblical and Islamic prophecy tell of a time when there is a peace deal between the Europeans and others in Islamic-dominated lands that will one day be broken.
The Bible tells of a future confrontation between the European King of the North and the apparently Islamic King of the South. The old Worldwide Church of God taught:
Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north” — called in Bible symbolism “the beast” — who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there … {will} emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south” — an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi! And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head … devastating war in the Middle East![v]
The confirmation of a seven-year portion of some “peace” agreement by the relatively powerless “prince” is an event that will set off what could be considered the final clock of many prophesied end-time events. This seemingly includes pointing to the last 3 ½ years of the USA and its British-descended allies before they are conquered.
Since various Protestant and other prophecy watchers are also looking for this deal, it is likely it will not look obvious to most people when it is confirmed. But, make no mistake about it, this will be an important prophetic event, even though many looking for it will not believe it, even when it is told to them (cf. Habakkuk 1:5).
A confirmation of a particular deal with a time element in it by a European “prince” will set the countdown for the rise of the Beast and the destructive Great Tribulation.
That “prince” is the one who is called the “King of the North” in Daniel 11:40, as he is shown as also fulfilling the last prophecy of Daniel 9:27 in Daniel 11:
31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)
However, the way it will be done will seemingly be in a manner that those that do not sufficiently understand biblical prophecy will not accept, even though some will be told (cf. Acts 13:41).
Like the CCOG, most Muslims believe that Jesus will return after a coming seven-year period,[vi] with the CCOG specifically pointing to seven years after the deal of Daniel 9:27 is confirmed by “the prince.” Perhaps it should be mentioned that like the CCOG, Muslims do not believe that there will be a pre-tribulation or mid-tribulation rapture like some Protestants hold to. [vii]
That said, the Bible warns about the Kings of the North (Daniel 11:21-45; Isaiah 10:5-12) and South (Daniel 11:40-43) who will make one or more deceptive deals (“they shall speak lies at the same table” per Daniel 11:27) that sound consistent with Islamic prophecy.
The Roman Catholic saint and doctor of their church Jerome said (unlike some modern Roman Catholic writers[viii]) that many of the prophecies in Daniel 11 were not to be considered to have been anciently fulfilled, but that they had future fulfillment.[ix] Islamic prophecy also suggests a deal where the Roman Catholics and Muslims make a deceitful deal. [x] So, there are similarities in some of the biblical, Roman Catholic, and Islamic traditions here.
[i] Richardson J. Antichrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah. Pleasant Word, 2006, p. 48
[ii] Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah.
http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 08/11/12
[iii] Hippolytus. On Christ and Antichrist, Chapter 43
[iv] Irenaeus. Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 25, verse 4
[v] Stump KW. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979
[vi] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 216; see also Poston, Larry
[vii] Yaseen, The Signs, p. 216
[viii] e.g. Kurz W. What Does the Bible Say About the End Times? A Catholic View. Servant Books, Cincinnati. Nihil Obstat: Kistner H., Schehr T.P. Imprimi Potest: Link F., Paul J.M. Imprimatur: Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 19, 2004, p. 76
[ix] Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 11. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. 1958
[x] Ibn Zubair Ali, Mohammed Ali. The minor signs of Last Days from: The Signs of Qiyamah. http://www.islamawareness.net/Prophecies/minor.html viewed 08/11/12
Both the Bible and Islamic writings show that the deal will be broken.
Now getting back to Yechiel Weitzman, he would be expected to know about the coming battle between the King of the South (who leads Islamic lands) and the European King of the North. Here is information related to that from our free online book Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century:
Battle Losses
The Islamic Dajjal is seemingly supposed to be around during the time of the biblical Beast and Antichrist. This is also the time of the reign of the King of the South (perhaps called the Imam Mahdi by many in Islam).
Now let’s look at a battle-related hadith:
The Last Hour would not come until the Romans would land at al-A’maq or in Dabiq. An army consisting of the best (soldiers) of the people of the earth at that time will come from Medina (to counteract them). When they will arrange themselves in ranks, the Romans would say: Do not stand between us and those (Muslims) who took prisoners from amongst us. Let us fight with them; and the Muslims would say: Nay, by Allah, we would never get aside from you and from our brethren that you may fight them. They will then fight and a third (part) of the army would run away, whom Allah will never forgive. A third (part of the army) which would be constituted of excellent martyrs in Allah’s eye, would be killed and the third who would never be put to trial would win and they would be conquerors of Constantinople. … The Dajjal has taken your place … (Sahih Muslim 2897, Book 54, Hadith 44)
The comment about Constantinople is interesting because biblically, as well as from a Roman Catholic writing, the Turks will betray the coming King of the South, and make a deal with the Europeans (Romans)—which will be led by the Beast with the support of the final Antichrist. Hence, since Constantinople is in Turkey, though called Istanbul, this Islamic writing may tie in.
The hadith above sounds a lot like a battle between the European King of the North and the Arabic King of the South. Notice something that the late Raymond McNair mentions first below and then what the Bible prophesies in Daniel 11:
Daniel 11 … 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 {like the Sudanese}), Libya {would also include Algeria, Tunisia}, 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.[i]
25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. 26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. (Daniel 11:25-26)
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. 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. (Daniel 11:40-43)
This defeat also comes before the gathering at Armageddon, probably 1-3 years prior to it (neither the Bible nor the hadiths clearly specify how much before).
There is a biblical passage that would seem to support massive deaths that, because of its description and timing (Ezekiel 30:2-9), seems to be related to the defeat of the troops of the King of the South:
4 A sword shall come upon Egypt, and anguish shall be in Cush, when the slain fall in Egypt, and her wealth is carried away, and her foundations are torn down. 5 Cush, and Put, and Lud, and all Arabia, and Libya, and the people of the land that is in league, shall fall with them by the sword.
6 “Thus says the LORD: Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down; from Migdol to Syene they shall fall within her by the sword, declares the Lord GOD. 7 And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste. (Ezekiel 30:4-7, ESV)
Cush is a reference to the Sudanese and perhaps other Africans. Libya is a reference to lands west of Egypt, and not just the modern nation called Libya. The old Radio Church of God tied some of Lud in with north Africa and Put with west Africa. [ii]
Anyway, that type of devastation seems to be consistent with the hadith. And the biblical prophecy will be fulfilled before Jesus returns.
A Losing Battle
That said, since Islam teaches that their Mahdi will lose a battle to the European “Catholics,” Muslims should consider that the final Antichrist will be in league with that European Beast leader before the time of that defeat.
Yet, many Muslims will doubt that the one defeated is the actual Imam Mahdi, as if he is the one who the Bible calls the final King of the South, he will not likely have reigned for seven years as Muslims believe the Imam Mahdi will.
Various Muslim scholars consider the hadiths about the Mahdi to be intended to be understood figuratively and not literally,[iii] and hence that is something many Muslims will likely do when the biblical King of the South arises, but even more question when he is defeated.
Be that as it will be, the fact is that the next pan-Islamic leader who has a major battle with the Europeans (Daniel 11:40) after the destruction of the USA (Daniel 11:39), will be around after the final Antichrist (a Dajjal) is on the world scene.
[i] McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century
[ii] Hoeh H. The Origin of Nations. Ambassador College, 1957
[iii] Saritoprak, pp. 651-653
Notice that the King of the South alliance will temporarily include Edom, Turkey. This past Saturday, Turkey’s President recently called for an alliance like that (see Turkey’s Erdogan: Islamic countries should form alliance against ‘Israel’s growing expansionism’).
Anyway, yes, there will also be a temporary alliance between the Muslims of the Middle East and North Africa (it is possible that Indonesia could have some involvement) and the Europeans. Pope Francis and others have been taking steps to help set the stage for it.
Yet, the alliance will not last as the Islamic King of the South and the nominally Roman Catholic King of the North will turn against each other.
Much is going on in the world of prophetic importance.
Here are links to some items of possibly related interest:
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims.
Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes This article has information from the book, Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century, as well as from the old WCG and other sources. Here is a link to a related sermon: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes. Here is a related sermon in the Spanish language: El cristianismo visto a través de los ojos islámicos.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
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.
Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied? What does the Bible teach? Which nations may be affected? Here is a link to a related sermon: Terrorism, Christianity, and Islam. Here is a shorter video: Afghanis: Potential terrorists?
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.
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