Is PCG right on Yemen and Iran?

The April 2015 edition of the Philadelphia Trumpet has the following in an article by PCG’s Gerald Flurry:

Yemen is one of the most strategically important countries in the world. … In January, the Houthis, a rebel group sponsored and directed by Iran, overthrew the pro-American Yemeni government. …

The Houthi takeover in Yemen proves that Iran is implementing a bold strategy to control the vital sea lane from the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. …

In order to reach the Mediterranean Sea from the Indian Ocean, a lot of seafaring trade—including 3.8 million barrels of oil per day—passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait… The northeast edge of the strait is in Yemeni territory. …

Nearly 10 percent of global seaborne oil supplies pass through the gates of the Red Sea. …

Now that Iran controls Yemen, it can virtually close or open this spigot on Middle East oil bound for Europe.

Yemen has had problems this year (see USA suspends anti-terrorism activities in Yemen: danger lurks in Yemen).

While the Bible in Daniel 11 does discuss nations in the Middle East and North Africa, it does not specifically mention the Red Sea corridor nor the Red Sea itself. Now in Ezekiel 30:2-8 some additional specifics about the peoples is provided, including mentioning the involvement of “all the mingled people” (Ezekiel 30:5). This would seem to include Yemen.

While it is true that Yemen is located on part of the Red Sea corridor, so are other nations like Eritrea and Djibouti.

Getting back to Gerald Flurry’s article, it also states:

Iran’s Red Sea Strategy

The Houthis’ takeover of Yemen was not just a grassroots revolution. It was a part of a deliberate and calculated Iranian strategy to conquer the Red Sea. This strategy is revealed in a powerful prophecy in the biblical book of Daniel.

As astounding as it may sound, the Prophet Daniel foretold what just happened in Yemen! He even mentions names of individual nations along the Red Sea corridor that will be aligned with Iran.

Notice it: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Daniel 11:40). This is an end-time prophecy. It concerns the time we are living in right now, and it directly concerns these Middle Eastern nations.

For almost 25 years we have identified the king of the south as a radical Islamist power led by Iran, and the king of the north as a German-led European power. This prophecy reveals that the Iranian-led power will push at Europe. It may be that this push could take place in the very area of Yemen or the Gulf of Aden.

Notice what Michael Segall wrote for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: “If the Shia rebels gain control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Iran can attain a foothold in this sensitive region, giving access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a cause of concern not only for its sworn rivals Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the Gulf states, but also for Israel and European countries along the Mediterranean. Arab commentators in the Gulf have warned in recent years about this Iranian push” (Nov. 3, 2014). …

The following verses in Daniel reveal other nations that will align with Iran, the king of the south. Those mentioned include Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya (verses 42-43). These nations are all situated next to the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea. …

Daniel 11:40 shows that as these events play out with Iran, the United States won’t be a factor! It is Europe that Iran is going to push against. And it is Europe that will respond. …

Daniel 11:40 says Europe will come at Iran like a whirlwind. https://www.thetrumpet.com/article/12459.24.173.0/middle-east/iran-gets-a-stranglehold-on-the-middle-east

As far as Iran goes, it has threatened to stop oil shipments in the past based on its own border on the Persian Gulf. While it possibly could use Yemen as a proxy, the military reality is that it could not keep this particular corridor closed as other powers would not allow it. Of course as PCG is indicating, the Europeans would not stand for it.

However, Daniel 11:40 never mentions Iran. Daniel 11:40 DOES NOT SAY THAT ‘EUROPE WILL COME AT IRAN LIKE A WHIRLWIND.’ Daniel 11:40 says that the King of the North will come against the King of the South that way. Iran is NOT specifically mentioned in Daniel 11:40-43.

Where did Gerald Flurry get his false idea about Iran being the final King of the South?

Well, since Iran is mainly east of Jerusalem, it was not from geography or the Bible. Iran might be a king of the East, but it is not the King of the South.

Since the late Herbert W. Armstrong believed that king would be Egypt and/or an Arabic Muslim leader, as that is what was published while he was alive by the church he was the physical leader of, Gerald Flurry did not get this from Herbert W. Armstrong.

So, in my view, he got it from his own imagination.

Gerald Flurry is wrong about this and in my view he is clearly a false prophet.

While Iran wants to play a massive international role, because it is NOT the biblical King of the South, in my view it is likely to get neutralized, perhaps through a regional war and/or civil unrest in its own country. The King of the South will rise up as the BIBLE teaches (Daniel 11:40-43), Yemen will apparently be part of that confederation, but it will not be led by Iran.

Some items of related interest may include the following:

Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
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? 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.
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.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
6. The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.
7. The Laodicean Church Era has been predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. The Laodiceans are non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG or its offshoots. They do not properly understand the work or biblical prophecies and will face the Great Tribulation if they do not repent.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?