ICG on Muslim Brotherhood; Mass Demonstrations in Egypt

Muslim Brotherhood
الإخوان المسلمون
Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn

ICG’s Mark Armstrong had the following in his newsletter last night:

We may be deep into autumn, but the “Arab spring” protest movement is still under way. It appears that Egypt is spiraling further out of control. This time the Muslim Brotherhood Islamist movement is right out front about their organization and involvement in a renewed round of protests in Cairo with hundreds of thousands reported to be back in the square. It’s been ten months since Mubarak was forced from power, and the military is still running the show. Obviously the Muslim Brotherhood is anxious to take over the government and the military, and disrupting every semblance of normal life and business activity is their means.

As he indicated, there have been massive protests in Egypt in the past couple of days that have been at least partially organized by the Muslim Brotherhood:

Egyptian Police, Protesters Clash for Control of Tahrir Square

19 November 2011

CAIRO – Police and protesters clashed for control of downtown Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Saturday, after security forces tried to stop activists from staging a long-term sit-in in the symbolic site.

Police, protesters clash in Cairo’s Tahrir SquareCNN International

Egypt has since been ruled by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. The military said it wants to transfer power to a civilian parliament and president.

But protesters on Friday were upset about proposed principles for the constitution, in which the military’s budget would not be scrutinized by civilian powers. They worry that the military would be shaped as a state within a state.

The outpouring reflected the power of Islamist forces in Egypt, particularly the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party.

Egypt’s Islamists dominate Tahrir Square’s dense Friday protest

Ahram Online

Hundreds of thousands of protesters descended on Tahrir Square Friday to call for one principal demand: an end to military rule and a swift transfer of power to an elected president by April 2012…Of the participating Islamists, the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), were the most visible, outnumbering their counterparts…Apart from flags, shirts and green caps emblazoned with the groups logo, two criss-crossed swords, the Islamist group came readied with their banners bearing emblems of the FJP and the Brotherhood’s student groups. Several banners indicated the various members’ governorate of origin in a show of their mobilisation power.

The Muslim Brotherhood does not wish to accept a standard secular government, but instead longs for a pro-multinational Islamic caliphate that crosses current borders. Much of the Egyptian military is used to having, however, a more secular government and its leadership seems to lean to that direction. Yet, that is not what many in Egypt, especially the Muslim Brotherhood want.

Notice a translation of what some, who are part of it, write that the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to attain:

…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…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)

“Allah’s land” is supposedly all nations from Spain to Indonesia, although I believe that mainly the area from Morocco to possibly Afghanistan should be considered to be in play, perhaps even involving Pakistan and others.

The show of power by the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and the statements this week by the likely next Prime Minister of Tunisia (see Tunisia’s Expected Prime Minister Claims to be part of the Sixth Caliphate), demonstrate that the idea of an Islamic caliphate, which is the goal of the Muslim Brotherhood is a reality that many are trying to now bring about.

But this should not be a surprise to regular readers of this page. For years, based upon the understanding that we in the Living Church of God have concerning end-time biblical prophecy, I have warned that an Islamic confederation would rise up in the Middle East and North Africa.

But there are also possible complications that I have also written about. For example, back on January 29, 2011, I wrote (see Egypt Protests Continue, Mohamed ElBaradei and Muslim Brotherhood Rising Up).

A group like the Muslim Brotherhood has the potential to unify the Arab states under the coming King of the South. I suspect that the King of the South will promise to appoint governors/presidents of various states or regions from a group that he is part of (and let some individuals in charge of various nations to keep their titles if they support him)…

If protests continue in Egypt, and if even more Middle Eastern nations face unrest, this could trigger other events in the Middle East (like Iran deciding to try to show “leadership” through provoking/attacking Israel) which will lead to the King of the South gaining power.

And, as I put in parenthetically, we may see Iran and Israel in a regional conflict, which may also encourage the rise of a unifying Islamic leader.

The King of the South will rise up and the Muslim Brotherhood hopes to make its version of an Islamic empire reality. Events in the Middle East and North Africa are moving in that direction.

Watch (Mark 13:37).

Some articles of related interest may include:

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?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2011, 2012, or 2013? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?