PCG on Syria, Psalm 83, Iran, and the King of the South
Gerald Flurry
Joel Hilliker of the improperly named Philadelphia Church of God (cf. Revelation 3:9) wrote the following (Lessons From the Bloodbath in Syria. February 8, 2012. From theTrumpet.com):
Syria is Iran’s top ally, and the only Arab state at this point openly partnered with Tehran… As the Trumpet has written several times, a divorce between Iran and Syria is coming. We know this because of biblical prophecy, which speaks of two distinct camps emerging within the Middle East in our day. One camp is prophesied to be led by Iran, the other to include Syria. These two are destined to play very different roles in the sequence of end-time events that lead up to Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. (Read about them in our free booklet The King of the South.) The fact that the Iran-Syria alliance—which has been so strong for so long, and has shaped Middle East geopolitics so much in recent years—is under such tension today is deeply significant. Soon it will fracture.
It has been a while since I looked at Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South so, I did so today. Here are a few comments from the 2011 edition of it:
So the king of the south must arise after Daniel was revealed to God’s end-time Church—to Herbert W. Armstrong. However, many of the specifics of Daniel’s book have been revealed to the Philadelphia Church of God today…
Since the early 1990s, we have believed and taught that Iran would lead the radical Islamist world and be the king of the south. Today Iran is “king” in the Middle East…
The Muslim Brotherhood has taken charge because it’s so organized and so supported by Iran!…Libya and Ethiopia
are also going to be closely allied with Iran!…So you need to watch Libya and Ethiopia. They are about to fall under the heavy influence or control of Iran, the king of the south…Bible prophecy makes it clear that Iran will be conquered—but not at the hand of America and Britain. These latter two countries are going to fall into social and economic ruin before this prophecy is even fulfilled.
Basically, PCG seems to believe that Herbert W. Armstrong (who died in 1986) should be followed and even though he never taught that Iran was going to be the King of the South, this knowledge has somehow been “revealed” to the self-appointed prophet of PCG, Gerald Flurry. Gerald Flurry will be proven wrong on many of those points above. Iran is not the King of the South.
Continuing with his writings, Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South also says:
Let’s look at a Psalm that strongly indicates which countries will be allied with the king of the south. This prophecy lists several moderate Islamic nations that will ally themselves with Assur (Assyria), or modern-day Germany. …this will happen after Germany and the European Union conquer the king of the south…Psalm 83…The “enemies” are an Islamic alliance with the king of the north, which are about to attack the modern descendants of Israel. The victims are primarily America, Britain and Judah (the little nation called Israel today)…This will be a deceitful alliance.
There are many problems with the above. First, a deceitful alliance between the Kings of the North and South happens in Daniel 11:27, which is well before the King of the North conquers the King of the South in Daniel 11:40. Also, the Anglo-powers (the “strongest fortress”) are also defeated prior to this as shown in Daniel 11:39. Those who cling to Gerald Flurry’s misunderstanding of this will do so to their peril as he is wrong.
Continuing with his writings, Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South also says:
Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia are missing in the prophecy of Psalm 83. Is this because these countries by this point have already been defeated or controlled by the king of the north? Psalm 83 tells us the nations that will not be allied with Iran when Germany and Europe conquer that nation and radical Islam.
Now, I agree that Iran is likely to have been defeated prior to the deal of Psalm 83. I have repeatedly used the term “neutralized” to describe what I suspect will happen to Iran–this will likely happen because of a war involving Israel and/or political unrest in Iran.
It should be mentioned that the impression that I have from reading Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South and Joel Hilliker’s post regarding Syria is that perhaps PCG believes that Syria is one of the nations that is not defeated by the King of the North and is somehow part of the Psalm 83 alliance, though it that is not actually clear from Gerald Flurry’s booklet.
Anyway, while there will be an alliance between Assyria and the Arabic/Turkish peoples as Psalm 83:4-8 points out and a deceitful deal as Daniel 11:27 shows, Gerald Flurry misunderstands the timing amongst other things. Probably because he believes his own imaginations have somehow been “revealed” to him.
Time and events will prove him wrong as Bible prophecy disagrees with him on many points. Including the identity of the final King of the South. The King of the South will not be Iran.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include the following:
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?
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” or a variety of other titles make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
What is a True Philadelphian? Many claim to be part of the Philadelphia era of the Church, but is claiming enough? This article has biblical and historical evidence about who really are the Philadelphians.
Are the Laodiceans the Modern Sadducees and Pharisees? Discusses similarities of the Sadducees and Pharisees to various COGs in this end-time.
Samaritans: Old and New Who were the Samaritans? Do the represent true Christianity or something else?
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 best essentially represented by the Living Church of God.
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.
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