LCG Commentary: Is Caliphate Coming for Middle East?

Muslim Brotherhood
الإخوان المسلمون
Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn

The situation in Egypt continues to be of prophetic interest. In today’s commentary, LCG’s Davy Crockett writes:

The whole world was riveted to their television sets and computer screens, as the demonstrators and protestors in Cairo, Egypt chanted their demands and openly defied the long-established dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak. The undulating mass of rebels in the streets received incredible media attention from around the world. The United States-backed regime finally caved and Mubarak fled Cairo, leaving the military in charge, at least for the present…

Now that the government of Egypt has collapsed, the long and sometimes stormy process of installing a new government begins, for this, the largest, most populous nation in the Middle East. This will certainly be a test of the motives of the many fractious and differing groups that coalesced to bring down the Mubarak government. Will they cooperate and establish a peaceful, benevolent government, or will there be a power-grab by religious extremists who have waited for this moment for a generation?

Success brings responsibility. Will these victors have the self-discipline and desire to do the hard work necessary to establish a representative government? If history is any indication, they will not be successful, and, in time, a repressive, authoritative government will emerge, especially if a charismatic leader appears…

The prophet Daniel, in chapter 11 of the book that bears his name, foretold of a king of the north, and a king of the south who enter into a great conflict in the end-time (the end of this age; not the end of the world).

If one has ears to hear, then it is obvious that the Muslim peoples are looking for a caliphate or kingdom to be established. Will this be the “king of the south?” It may take a while, but momentous times are ahead, as the whole world watches and waits for the other shoe to drop. Read more

Is a caliphate coming to the Middle East? Notice what the Muslim Brotherhood wants to accomplish:

In the group’s belief, the Quran and Sunnah constitute a perfect way of life and social and political organization that God has set out for man. Islamic governments must be based on this system and eventually unified in a Caliphate. The Muslim Brotherhood’s goal, as stated by Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna was to reclaim Islam’s manifest destiny, an empire, stretching from Spain to Indonesia. Wikipedia

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 time may be now and the Muslim Brotherhood may play an important role. They (who tend to be Sunni) want a Caliph while the Shi’ites look for the Imam Mahdi–both of whom sound a lot like final the King of the South.

We in the Living Church of God (LCG) have long expected such a leader:

Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs

Indeed, a coming “Mahdi” whose arrival Muslims are expecting—in Bible prophecy known as the “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40–45)—will soon arise and have a dramatic impact on world events. This powerful Muslim religious leader will unite many of the more than one billion Muslims. He will pose a genuine threat to the coming European Empire, which will have to crush that threat in order to continue exploiting Middle Eastern oil to further its military ambitions. (Meredith RC. Prophecy Fulfilled: God’s Hand in World Affairs. LCG Booklet, 2007, pp. 16-17)

Conflict Over the “City of Peace”

Today this pattern is repeating itself, as a “third wave” of leaders is sweeping across the Middle East. Rejecting both the capitalism of the West and the discredited Marxism of the former Soviet Union, these would-be “third wave” leaders have emphasized a fundamentalist brand of Islam that leaves no room for compromise. Looking back to the glory days of Arab conquest and dominance in the first centuries after Muhammad, they also dream of a pan-Arab union. This will not be a union under a monarch from one of the old Bedouin dynasties, or a secular-educated army officer turned dictator, but rather a new Caliph who will unify the Faithful under the banner of purified Islam. This, they reason, is the only way that Western influence can be expelled from their region, and that Israel can be subjugated…

In Daniel 11:40, we read of a future “King of the South” who will ultimately “push at” a coming European superpower at the time of the end. This individual, called in Bible prophecy the King of the South because his center of power is south of Jerusalem, will undoubtedly be a charismatic person who will whip up much of the Muslim Middle East into a frenzy against Israel and Europe. (Ogwyn J. Conflict Over the “City of Peace”. Tomorrow’s World magazine, March-April 2002).

The timing seems to be right for such a leader to start rising up. The events in primarily Sunni Egypt, Lebanon, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, and Yemen seem to be setting the stage of the Arabic peoples to be willing to consider some type of confederation with a strong leader to represent them–but there may be interim governments first. And presuming that those governments are perceived as somewhat secular and not unified nor highly successful, this will make it easier for religiously focused groups like the Muslim Brotherhood to gain supporters for their objective of a unified pan-Arabic caliphate.

Protests have continued (though they have been sometimes muted by governmental authorities) in Bahrain as well as Iran, countries with Shi’ite majorities (though the ruler of Bahrain is Sunni himself).

I and many others are watching events to see both the King of the South and the King of the North rising up and/or gaining power. The Bible says it will happen and events in the Middle East and the rest of the world suggest it may be relatively soon.

Some articles of possibly 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?
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?
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.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? What MUST happen BEFORE the Great Tribulation?
Might German Baron Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg become the King of the North? Is the German Defense Minister one to watch? What do Catholic, Byzantine, and biblical prophecies suggest?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, British, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?