Egypt declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization and arrests more of its supporters

Muslim Brotherhood

The situation in Egypt is still volatile as its interim government keeps coming up with more condemnations and arrests of its opponents:

December 26, 2013

Egypt escalated its crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, detaining at least 16 of the group’s supporters on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization the day after it was declared one by the government.

The activists were held in the Nile Delta province of Sharkiya on suspicion of “promoting the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood group, distributing its leaflets, and inciting violence against the army and police,” the state news agency said.

The government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group on Wednesday in response to a suicide attack a day earlier that killed 16 in the Nile Delta, accusing the group of carrying out the bombing. The Brotherhood condemned the attack…

Interior Ministry spokesman Hani Abdel Latif told state TV on Thursday that anyone taking part in Brotherhood protests would be jailed for five years. “The sentence could be death for those who lead this organization,” he added…

The government did not provide evidence to back up the charge that the Brotherhood had staged the Nile Delta attack in Mansoura, north of Cairo, which was claimed by the Sinai-based radical Islamist group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis.

Ansar Beit al-Maqdis has taken responsibility for several other major bombings, including a failed attempt to kill the interior minister in September.

The Brotherhood’s Islamist allies responded defiantly to the cabinet decision announced late on Wednesday, vowing to continue the protests it has staged against the army since the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi.

“The putchists are a terrorist organization. The Brotherhood are peaceful patriots,” they said in a statement.

Driven underground

Wednesday’s move marked an escalation in the government’s campaign to suppress the Islamist movement that propelled Morsi to the presidency 18 months ago but has been driven underground since the army toppled him in July after big protests against him.

In the weeks after Morsi’s removal, the security forces killed hundreds of his supporters while dispersing their protest camps, and arrested thousands more including most of the Brotherhood’s top leadership.

Though the Brotherhood has been outlawed for most of its existence, this is the first time it has been formally listed as a terrorist organization…

Bombings and shootings targeting the security forces have become commonplace, with around 350 soldiers and policemen killed. The state has declared itself in “a war on terror”…

The government has said violence will not derail its political transition plan. The next step is a mid-January referendum on a new constitution. http://www.voanews.com/content/Egypt-police-crackdown-on-brotherhood-supporters/1817701.html

Egypt will not continue the way the more secular government hopes. The situation in Egypt is more tense than most realize. Most in Egypt do not consider the Muslim Brotherhood to be a terrorist organization. True, probably most of the Coptic and other non-Islamic faiths do, but most Muslims do not. Many Muslims in Egypt appreciated some of the social programs and supports of the Muslim Brotherhood, and many also support the objective of the Muslim Brotherhood for a confederation of Islamic nations.

While the interim government in Egypt continues to take stronger and stronger steps, thus far it has not stopped supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood. Since the Muslim Brotherhood has been illegal in Egypt for most of its existence, the new declaration that it is a terrorist organization will simply mean that many supporters of it will do so clandestinely. Others, however, are likely to continue with the type of public protests that the interim government outlawed several weeks ago.

The goal of the Muslim Brotherhood is a confederation of states in North Africa and the Middle East with a leader, sometimes called a Caliph and sometimes the Imam Mahdi. Caliph is a shortened version of the expression “Khalifah rasul Allah” meaning “Successor to the Messenger of God.” 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 shows that Egypt will end up in some type of end type confederation, there will be a leader of it, and that others will support this confederation:

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).

Thus, 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.

So, while some leaders in Egypt apparently hope that another constitution may prevent an Islamic confederation from happening, biblically, the lands in North Africa and the Middle East that are currently dominated by Islam will get together. Despite Egypt’s interim government declaring the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, it will come to pass (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9).

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.