LCG: Hezbollah Gaining in Lebanon; Also, Muslim Brotherhood Gaining in Egypt

Muslim Brotherhood
الإخوان المسلمون
Al-Ikhwān Al-Muslimūn

The situation with the Middle East and Egypt continues to be of prophetic interest. First an item from LCG:

Hezbollah gains more power in Lebanon.

While there were the congratulatory speeches in Israel last week surrounding the fifth anniversary of Israel’s second Lebanon War, Lebanon received delivery of advanced ballistic missiles from Syria. These missiles have the range to reach Israel, Jordan, and parts of Turkey. (DEBKA, July 20, 2011).Earlier this week, Hezbollah-supported Shiite Major General Abbas Ibrahim, was confirmed in the post of Lebanon’s General Security Director. This very powerful and extremely sensitive position will afford Hezbollah unprecedented access to high levels of security in Lebanon (The Daily Star [Lebanon], July 20, 2011). At least one conservative news source views these events as occurring almost unbeknownst to the Israeli military leadership (DEBKA, July 20, 2011).

None of Israel’s Arab neighbors are pleased that Israel controls Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Bible prophecies indicate that the nations surrounding Jerusalem will eventually besiege the city and that half of the city will go into captivity (Zechariah 14:1-2). Jesus also warned of a time when Jerusalem would be surrounded by Gentile armies and eventually “trodden under foot” by them (Luke 21:20-21).

We are witnessing events now that will eventually lead up to this frightening time of the end of this age. For more information on this eye-opening subject, review our booklet on The Middle East in Prophecy.

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More and more “extremist” groups seem to be gaining influence in the Middle East.

Notice a couple of reports about Egypt:

New-found friends

Islamist forces are uniting in pursuit of power, writes Amani Maged

Islamist movements are hunkering down to talks despite the ideological and doctrinal differences which have frequently driven them to clash in the past.

Groups that were once at each others’ throats, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis, are now joining forces in informal alliances in an attempt to build a united front against secularists and secure more seats in the next parliamentary elections. Their representatives are to be found in a number of overlapping associations, including the Islamic Law Organisation for Rights and Reform, the Coalition of Islamic Forces, the Shura Council of the Ulema and Islamists for Egypt. http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1057/eg8.htm

Egyptian army rulers promise transition to democracy

Reuters – Dina Zayed, Ahmed Tolba – ‎23 July 2011

Egypt’s interim military rulers are committed to transforming the Arab world’s most populous nation into a democracy, Field Marshall Mohamed Hussein Tantawi said in a televised address on Saturday.

What many Westerners have not fully grasped is that in the Middle East, democracy seems to tend to result in less secular, more militant, Islamic leaders rising up. This is what happened in Iran decades ago, in Gaza years ago, in Lebanon recently, and what likely will happen in Egypt and many other lands, eventually.

It would seem that any secular-type governments that the “Arab Spring” temporarily install will not ultimately satisfy the Arab peoples. Ultimately they would realize that they want something else.

Here are three more news items from today about events in other Arabic nations:

Syria Blames ‘Saboteurs’ for Deadly Derailment

Voice of America

July 23, 2011 Syria Blames ‘Saboteurs’ for Deadly Derailment VOA News The Syrian government has blamed “saboteurs” trying to “hide behind” anti-government protests for a train derailment that killed one person and left several injured.

CTV.ca

Libya rebels claim strike on regime officials

Aljazeera.net – ‎23 July 2011

Rebels say rare RPG attack hit meeting in Tripoli attended by Gaddafi’s son, intelligence chief and prime minister. The Libyan capital was rocked by a series of explosions, thought to be the result of NATO airstrikes, in the early hours of Saturday

Hundreds of Jordanians seeking reforms protest US involvement in struggle

Boston Globe – ‎23 July 2011

It was a rare burst of anti-US sentiment in the proreform movement that has been holding rallies for months in Jordan, though at a smaller scale than the protests that shook Egypt, Tunisia, and other Arab nations. Protesters accused the United States of trying to co-opt their movement.

Chaos and protests often lead to more militant individuals and/or groups taking control.

Notice a translation of what some, who are part of the Muslim Brotherhood, write that the Muslim Brotherhood wants:

…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…

He [Hassan al-Banna] felt the grave danger overshadowing the Muslims and the urgent need and obligation which Islam places on every Muslim, man and woman, to act in order to restore the Islamic Caliphate and to reestablish the Islamic State on strong foundations and to liberate the Muslims and defend them from any attack, and to spread the Da’wa (Islamic missionary activity) of Islam in the world and to establish this great religion, which Allah wanted for his servants…

Some think that Shahada (Martyrdom) causes loss and damages the [Muslim Brotherhood] Society, since it has lost influential people in action and Jihad. This is wrong, since the fall of the Shahid (Martyr) for the sake of Da’wa (Islamic missionary activity) is [seen as] provisions and fuel for the [next] generations, and as a symbol of self sacrifice in the way of the Da’wa until realization of the goals which 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)

We in the Living Church of God (LCG) suspect that the Muslim Brotherhood may be part of making end time events happen:

The virtual “tsunami” of Middle East and North African nations overthrowing their secular rulers is coming along day by day even as I write. This—as we have explained—could clear the way for the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamic extremists to take over much of the Middle East. Such an event would “prepare the way” for the coming “Mahdi”—the Islamist religious/political leader who will no doubt become the biblically prophesied “King of the South” (Daniel 11:40). He will probably lead in the provocation of the “King of the North” described in that same inspired prophecy in Daniel 11. And this will set in motion the final chain of events leading up to “Armageddon,” and then Jesus Christ’s return as King of kings (Revelation 11:15)! (Meredith RC. Tomorrow’s World subscriber letter, May 9, 2011)

World events are lining up with LCG’s understanding of biblical prophecy.

There are troubles in the Arab World. Of course, Jesus told of troubles as part of the beginning of sorrows:

8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows. (Mark 13:8)

It is possible that the Muslim Brotherhood may be the vehicle to help establish a pan-Arabic leader. This will not truly solve all the “troubles,” but may seem to somewhat do so for a while.

The Bible tells of an end time King of the South that seems to rule over the much of the Arab world (Daniel 11:40-43; Psalm 83). Theevent in the Middle East and North Africa are aligning with what seems to be needed that that will encourage such a leader (who may well be Egyptian) to rise up.

Prophetic details concerning much of this can be found in the following articles:

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.
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?