LCG’s Dr. Meredith on the Middle East Situation

جامعة الدول العربية
Jāmaʻat ad-Duwwal al-ʻArabiyya Arab League Flag

The Presiding Evangelist of the Living Church of God sent out the following this afternoon:

February 15, 2011

Dear Brethren and Co-Workers with Christ,

Warm greetings from Charlotte, NC! My friends, truly exciting prophetic events are cascading across North Africa and the Middle East! All the way from Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere, enormous political upheavals have been occurring—sometimes completely overthrowing top government leaders! Nothing like this has happened in that part of the world for decades…

Right now, in the prophesied “last days,” God has specifically predicted that an entire group of Arab states will get together in a confederation with plans to overthrow and even destroy modern “Israel”—just before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ! Back in Psalm 83, God’s Word prophetically describes the preparatory events to this terrible calamity. He describes how those nations consult together and say, “‘Come, and let us cast them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more.’ For they have consulted together with one consent; they form a confederacy against You: the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre” (Psalm 83:4-7). Note that this confederacy will be composed of the descendants of Edom and of the Ishmaelites, among others. Many Bible scholars recognize that the descendants of “Ishmael” (Genesis 16:10-12) are a warlike people and that the modern people of Moab and Ammon are now found primarily in Jordan (with “Amman” as the capital) and among the peoples of Lebanon and the Palestinians. The primarily “Ishmaelite” peoples are scattered throughout Egypt, the Gulf States and other North African nations.

These are the very people now involved in the furious riots and overthrows of government throughout that region—freeing up the situation for them to get together and form the prophesied “King of the South.” For your Bible clearly predicts that at the “time of the end” (Daniel 11:40-45) a powerful Arab Confederation will become strong enough and arrogant enough to attack or “provoke” the soon-coming Beast Power in Europe! Although they will probably “give it a good try,” the technological superiority of the Beast Power will simply overwhelm this Arab Confederation.

Again, God’s inspired Word clearly indicates that those nations which will be involved are the modern Egyptians, Libyans and Ethiopians along with other allies in that region. Although modern “Israel”—the “glorious land”—will be overthrown, the peoples of modern Jordan shall “escape” from the conquering Beast Power (v. 41). Is this because the sanctuary of “Petra” is controlled by modern Jordan and may become a “Place of Safety” for God’s true Church (Revelation 12:12-17)? Time will tell…

With Christian love,

Roderick C. Meredith

Some time ago, he also wrote:

The final fulfillment of the prophecies about the coming King of the South are certainly yet to come. But, even now, it is obvious that many events now indicate that the stage is being set for the powerful Muslim leader indicated in Daniel 11:40–43. Our…constant backing of the state of Israel, and many other acts by the U.S. and Europe, have infuriated the Muslim world. The current situations in Israel and Iraq are causing the Arab world to unite in a manner unprecedented in recent times. This will certainly carry over into their backing for a truly powerful pan-Arab leader when God’s time comes.

And the current riots and protests also seem to be pointing in that direction. There will also be more riots in Europe and even some in the USA, but the ones in the Middle East are the ones that will apparently set the stage for the rising up of the final King of the South.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab 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?
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? What does the Bible say?
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?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory.
There are Many COGs: Why Support the Living Church of God? This is an article for those who wish to more easily sort out the different COGs. It really should be a MUST READ for current and former WCG/GCI members or any interested in supporting the faithful church. It also explains a lot of what the COGs are all about.