Islamic State kills Ethiopians; Arab League attempting to put together ‘king of the south’ coalition

Islamic State supporters shown on cover of the German edition of Bible News Prophecy magazine

Supporters of the Islamic State in Libya have killed apparently Ethiopians hoping to get on vessels to Europe and the Arab League is considering forming a more militaristic coalition:

April 20, 2015

After the release of a video by Islamic State on Sunday showing what the group said was the killing of 28 Ethiopian Christians, thousands of Ethiopians have taken to social media to express their shock and outrages. …

The victims are believed to be migrants trying to reach Europe. The news came only a few days after African migrants (including Ethiopians) have experienced xenophobic attacks in South Africa, news of a boat that sank with hundreds of African migrant in Mediterranean, which many Ethiopians suspect is also carrying their fellow men and women and a civil war in Yemen that caught Ethiopian migrant workers trapped; many are believed to have been killed in Yemen. http://allafrica.com/stories/201504201732.html

April 19, 2015

The White House has condemned “in the strongest terms” the mass murder of 30 Ethiopian Christians in Libya claimed by Islamic State. …
In claiming responsibility for the massacre, Islamic State group posted a graphic video showing men kneeling on a beach and beheaded. Others are shot in the back of the head. …

Arab League meeting planned

An Arab League official told the French news agency military chiefs from the region would meet in Cairo this week to discuss creating a joint military force against Islamic State militants.

A United States-led coalition of several regional partners continued attacks against the IS nerve-center on Sunday, with 12 airstrikes in Iraq and one in Syria.

In Ethiopia, government spokesman Redwan Hussein said officials were in contact with its embassy in Cairo to verify the video’s authenticity. Hussein said he believed those killed likely were Ethiopian migrants hoping to reach Europe. Libya has become a hub for migrants across Africa hoping to cross the Mediterranean to enter Europe for work and better lives.

“If this is confirmed, it will be a warning to people who wish to risk and travel to Europe though the dangerous route,” Hussein said.

Abba Kaletsidk Mulugeta, an official with the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church’s Patriarchate Office, told the AP he also believed the victims likely were migrants.

“I believe this is just another case of the IS group killing Christians in the name of Islam. Our fellow citizens have just been killed on a faith-based violence that is totally unacceptable. This is outrageous,” Mulugeta said. “No religion orders the killing of other people, even people from another religion.”

Ethiopia long has drawn the anger of Islamic extremists over its military’s attacks on neighboring Somalia, whose population is almost entirely Muslim. http://www.voanews.com/content/is-video-purports-to-show-ethiopians-killed-in-libya/2725578.html

The actions by the group calling itself the Islamic State are pushing the US to push for a militarized Arab coalition as well as pushing many Arab leaders to push for a militaristic coalition.

Biblically, a military force of Arabs and others is inevitable–and this force will be led by one called the King of the South in Bible prophecy:

40 “At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. (Daniel 11:40-43, ESV)

The peoples listed above are mainly located in North Africa and the Middle East. They are in Muslim-dominated lands and include the Arabs and some of the Turks. The Arab League is working on the framework for that type of coalition–and an Arabic coalition with Turkish and Cushite involvement will come to pass. Now, I used the English Standard Version (ESV) above as it does not improperly translate one of the groups verse 43 as Ethiopians as that is a mistranslation of the Hebrew in the KJV.

The word commonly mistranslated as “Ethiopians” is the plural of the word Kuwshiy, which according to Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary means descendants of Cush. Or in other words, people of dark color–and it is commonly translated as Cush or Cushite in many Old Testament passages.

I would add that the late evangelist Raymond McNair also wrote that Ethiopians were not being discussed, he properly referred to the peoples mentioned as :

modern Cushites, south of Egypt (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

Thus, hopefully all can understand that Ethiopia proper is not required to be part of the coming coalition, though some from Ethiopia may end up supporting it.

The situation with Ethiopians being in Libya is also related to another issue. The amount of refugees trying to get on vessels to get to Europe, as well as the increasing number of deaths to these people, are concerns for the Europeans:

April 20, 2015

Ships and airplanes scanned the Mediterranean Sea for survivors and bodies on Monday, a day after an overloaded boat crowded with hundreds of desperate migrants capsized off the Libyan coast.

“We are there to look for survivors,” said Italian coast guard Commander Filippo Marini. “Let’s not give up hope.”

European officials, under pressure for not doing more to aid a flood of Europe-bound migrants escaping wars, oppression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East, were set to discuss the growing refugee crisis in Luxembourg later Monday. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/mediterranean-disaster-provokes-calls-to-contain-deadly-exodus-to-europe/2015/04/20/7e9b7fda-e73b-11e4-9a6a-c1ab95a0600b_story.html

Europe wants to figure out a way to stop this type of ‘immigration’ (or at least slow it down). The Bible tells of one or more deals that the European will make with the Arabs (e.g. Psalm 83:3-8). Immigration issues could be part of some deal that will ultimately be made between the coming European King of the North and the coming King of the South (perhaps the deal of Daniel 11:27) or at least trigger the need for more discussions between the Europeans and Africans. We may see more European interest in pushing for some type of coalition to form the end time biblical King of the South.

To mention other matters related to Ethiopia, as it turns out I have recently been receiving several contacts from that nation. And today, not related to the killings by the Islamic State, I received emails from two different leaders in Ethiopia. We in the Continuing Church of God are considering having one of our pastors visit Ethiopia this Summer if all goes well with our contacts there. Basically leaders, who once had ties to CG7, representing between 100 and 300 people there have contacted us. I have also contacted CG7 to discuss the situation there in an attempt to determine what, if anything, they know about these leaders, who originally learned COG doctrines from someone in Kenya who had ties to CG7.

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Africa: Its Biblical Past and Prophesied Future What does the Bible teach about Africa and its future? Did the early Church reach Africa? Will God call all the Africans?
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.
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.
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
Iran in Prophecy Is Iran in Bible prophecy? If so, what does the Bible teach? What names, other than Persia, may be used to describe Iran? There is also a YouTube video titled Iran in Prophecy. Here is a related video Iran In 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
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show? 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.
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?