IRAN ALLYING WITH EGYPT
Egypt and the Islamic Republic of Iran have not been close allies since 1979 and do not have a strong alliance as of this writing (2017). In fact, these two Muslim Middle Eastern nations have been bitterly divided. Iran is Persian; Egypt is Arab. Iran is Shiite Muslim; Egypt is Sunni Muslim. Iran wants to dominate the entire Middle East; Egypt is a leader in North Africa. And not long ago, Iran allegedly murdered the president of Egypt.
Still, the Trumpet is watching for these two nations to end up together, in some kind of alliance with Iran as the dominant power. We expect that this development will actually help define this volatile region for a brief window of time.
What is the source of this unusual geopolitical forecast?
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History of Bitterness
In the 1970s, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat was leading the Middle East toward reconciliation with the West. He even made peace with Israel, a nation he had led an attack against in 1973. Sadat spoke at the Israeli Knesset in 1977, and normalized relations with the Jewish state in 1978.
Meanwhile, Iran was traveling a very different path. In 1979, the country underwent the Islamic Revolution and took a radical turn. Soon after, Egypt and Iran broke off relations. Egypt angered Iran by granting asylum to the shah. In 1981, President Sadat was assassinated by radical Islamists in the Egyptian military. Many authorities agree that Iran helped sponsor the killing. Sadat’s assassin is honored with huge murals in Tehran.
In other words, there is plenty of history and bad blood working against any alignment between Iran and Egypt.
Why then does the Trumpet maintain that such an alignment is coming? Why do we say that this alliance between Egypt and Iran will be so strong, in fact, that Egypt will actually stand with Iran even when it fatally clashes with another superpower?
The Trumpet’s confidence comes not from political advisers, economic analysis, covert intelligence or historical precedent. It comes from the Bible. It is because of a key biblical prophecy that the Trumpet’s editor in chief explained and emphasized back in our earliest issues.
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Forecasts
The prophecy is in Daniel 11:40:
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Guided by this prophecy, the Trumpet has closely tracked the rise of Iran as “king of the south”—the dominant Middle Eastern power in recent decades. Editor in chief Gerald Flurry correctly forecast that it would emerge from the morass of the 1980s, dramatically more powerful.
In the September-October 1990 issue of the Trumpet, Mr. Flurry’s cover story asked, “King of the South—Is He Now on the World Scene?” Mr. Flurry identified this “king” as a Middle Eastern power bloc that would violently clash with “the king of the north,” probably over the issue of oil. He wrote:
Oil and money gives the king of the south power to “push.” The king of the north (the European economic community) has shocked the world by its meteoric rise to power! Are we now seeing the king of the south rise in a similar fashion?
Mr. Flurry again focused on the Middle East power bloc with his article “An Islamic King of the South” in the July 1992 Trumpet. Writing about Islam’s immense population, control of oil and possible acquisition of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union, Mr. Flurry wrote: “The king of the south could rule Iraq or Iran or both countries. But it is looking more now like Iran may produce this king.”
In 1994, Mr. Flurry forecast that Iran would grow to become the dominant future power in the Middle East, heading up a powerful alliance of radical Islamic nations. Mr. Flurry also specified that Egypt would become one of those allies. This is based on the details recorded in verses 42-43 of this prophecy that show Egypt being targeted by the king of the north right alongside Iran, implying a strong alliance between them. In the December Trumpet issue that year, he wrote, “The radical Islamic movement, led by Iran, is very strong in Egypt and Algeria. This religion will probably take control of both countries very soon.”
We will examine these prophecies in more detail. But first let’s look at what has been happening in the region since this forecast first appeared in the pages of the Trumpet.
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Radicalization in Egypt
The Trumpet has written for many years about a key factor likely to play a role in pushing Egypt into Iran’s camp: the Muslim Brotherhood. Many countries consider this Islamist group a terrorist organization. In 2006, Mr. Flurry wrote: “As the MB [Muslim Brotherhood] grows more popular it will strengthen its ties with Islamic powers throughout the region—especially Iran. … [W]atch for Cairo to distance itself from America. Should the MB ever take control, there is no doubt that a strong alliance between Iran and Egypt will be built.”
The Muslim Brotherhood was kept at bay under the 30-year reign of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a man who himself was wounded during the assassination of President Sadat. Mubarak kept the group officially outlawed and cracked down on it multiple times. Yet he allowed it to continue to function, partially because of its immense popularity among Egyptians. The group remained Egypt’s strongest and best-organized opposition.
In 2005, the Mubarak regime bowed to international pressure and allowed for more open elections. Although the Muslim Brotherhood was still outlawed and it had to run its candidates as independents, the group fielded 160 candidates and won 40 percent of the electoral vote, securing 88 out of 454 parliamentary seats.
In 2007, relations began to warm between Egypt and Iran. The Mubarak regime sent representatives on Egypt’s first official visit to Iran since 1979. Then Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that “Iran and Egypt are two brotherly nations” and that the two had developed cultural and economic relationships and needed only to restore full political relationships in order to “pave the grounds for massive cooperation.”
Regarding the improving relations, Trumpet staff wrote in December 2007: “Keep watching though—Egypt and Iran’s prophesied relationship isn’t over yet. What we have seen thus far is a harbinger of further relations and a sign of Egypt’s pro-Iranian sentiment. Expect to see either [Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed] Morsi or another radical Islamist take the reins of power in Egypt in the near future.”
Mr. Flurry wrote around the same time, “Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been the primary force keeping Egypt secular and relatively moderate for the past generation. Yet, at age 79 and with failing health, the question of what lies ahead for Egypt is coming into sharper focus.”
In 2011, the Arab Spring drenched the Arab world in protests, riots, coups and bloodshed. The upheaval in Egypt, most visible in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, ultimately forced Mubarak to resign.
In the aftermath, Egyptians voted in what many consider Egypt’s only free election in its 5,000-year history. They handed parliament to the Muslim Brotherhood. Six months later, they elected their new president: Mohamed Morsi.
Morsi is an Islamist whose campaign launched in 2012 with Egyptian cleric Safwat Higazi telling an enthusiastic crowd with Morsi in the front row, “We can see how the dream of the Islamic caliphate is being realized, Allah willing, by Dr. Mohamed Morsi. … The capital of the caliphate … will be Jerusalem, Allah willing” (translation by Middle East Media Research Institute).
Thousands cheered and chanted, “Morsi will liberate Gaza tomorrow,” “Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem,” and “Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas.”
Russian media reported Morsi’s response: “The Koran is our constitution, the prophet is our leader, jihad is our path, and death in the name of Allah is our goal.”
Meanwhile, leading up to and during Morsi’s reign, the Trumpet stated, “Iran Pursues Closer Ties With Egypt,” “Egypt Shifting Away From Israel, Toward Iran,” “Sharia Will Win in Egypt,” “Egyptian Overtures to Iran Demonstrate Alliance,” “Muslim Brotherhood: the Genie Is Unleashed,” “Egyptian and Iranian Presidents Meet for First Time in 30 Years,” “Egypt Is Lost,” “Why Egypt’s Election Is Destined to Impact You,” and almost 80 other headlines focusing on Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran.
These Trumpet stories covered various events: Morsi’s power grab from the military, his decree contravening the supreme constitutional court, his assuming the power to legislate without judicial review, his push for an Islamist draft constitution, his declaration of a state of emergency, his warm embrace with Iran’s president, and, interestingly, his efforts to topple the Assad regime in Syria (a current Iranian ally that the Trumpet forecasts will actually soon leave that alliance). These Trumpet stories offered various possible outcomes, but they all shared the same rock-solid prophecy: Somehow, at some point, Egypt will ally with Iran.
The picture looked clear when Morsi came to power: Many Egyptians wanted the Muslim Brotherhood, President Morsi, a new Islamist constitution, a new Islamist government and new and improved relations with Iran. But the story wasn’t over yet. Many others, including the leaders of the nation’s powerful and influential military, did not want these things. Protests against Morsi’s power grabs erupted just one year into his term, and the military ejected him from the presidency. In the years since, the military has remained in control of the government.
This plot twist makes the Trumpet’s forecast even more intriguing. Hasn’t the Muslim Brotherhood already spent its strength? Hasn’t the secular military proven more powerful than the Islamists?
The Trumpet continues to hold that the Muslim Brotherhood (or some other radical force) will cause Egypt to ally with Iran.
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Prophecy
It was all the way back in a July 1993 issue of the Trumpet that Gerald Flurry identified the “king of the south” as Iran.
He wrote: “These verses point to a king of the south that is yet future. And I believe all indications point to radical Islam, headed by Iran as this king.”
Look again at Daniel’s prophecy: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over” (Daniel 11:40).
This verse says the king of the south will “push” at the king of the north. Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon says “push” means “to strike—used of horned animals” or “to push with the horn.” It is “used figuratively of a victor who prostrates the nations before him.” It also means “to wage war with anyone.”
In that same article, Mr. Flurry gave several examples from the early 1990s of Iran already pushing through its use of terrorist organizations and its desire for nuclear power. He also explained that Egypt is going to support Iran’s pushy foreign policy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0_1_CLLS7Y
That article was also the first time he spoke of an Iranian-Egyptian alliance. Mr. Flurry wrote under the subhead “Egypt’s Fate,” “Islamic extremism is gaining power at a frightening pace in Egypt also. There is a prophecy that indicates Egypt will probably fall to Islam—or be strongly influenced by Islam.”
That prophecy is in verses 42-43. Read them again closely:
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. … He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt ….
When the king of the north attacks Iran, he will also wipe out Egypt. Why? These verses strongly indicate that he views Egypt as part of the problem that must be decisively dealt with. That European power will move in like a whirlwind and resolve the entire issue all at once, decisively!
“I believe this prophecy in Daniel 11:42 indicates you are about to see a radical change in Egyptian politics!” Mr. Flurry wrote.
The stage is being set for an Islamic group of nations to be led by Iran as the prophesied king of the south. Iran’s main strategic aim is to be the dominant power in the Middle East. Becoming the undisputed leader of the radical Islamic camp is a huge step in that direction.
In 2007, Iran’s Fars News Agency curiously copied much of “Egypt and Iran Stride Toward Full Diplomatic Ties” from theTrumpet.com, including this portion:
Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has predicted for over 13 years that Iran would be the king of the Middle East, and that we would witness an alliance take place between Iran and Egypt. “Daniel 11:42 implies that Egypt will be allied with the king of the south, or Iran. … This prophecy indicates that there would be a radical change in Egyptian politics!”
Since Mr. Flurry wrote those words approximately three years before Mubarak lost power, Egyptian politics have indeed changed radically. The country continues to struggle with a tumultuous and uncertain future.
But the book of Daniel prophesies a very specific outcome: Egypt and Iran will become allies. It further states that this turn toward radical Islam will result in a disaster for the Egyptians.
Verse 43 of Daniel 11 shows that Egypt will not escape the European empire’s wrath when it comes against Iran. Why would this king of the north want to conquer or control Egypt? That would be unnecessary or irrelevant—unless Egypt was allied with Iran in this “time of the end.” (For proof that these are in fact the biblical prophesied end times, read “Are These the ‘Last Days’?”)
To prove for yourself whether the 2,600-year-old book of Daniel really did forecast modern events in Egypt, and to find out the identity of this powerful “king of the north” and understand how these events will affect your life, read History and Prophecy of the Middle Eastand Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South. Keep watching the Middle East to prove whether the Trumpet—and the Bible—are accurate in this bold prophecy: Egypt will ally with Iran.
THE PREDICTION NO ONE BELIEVES—UNTIL IT HAPPENS
Almost no one today insists that Egypt will ally with Iran. And in the mid-1990s, these two Middle Eastern nations were even worse rivals. Yet Gerald Flurry wrote in 1994 that Iran would lead a radical Islamist Middle Eastern power bloc that would include Egypt. His only source for that forecast was the Bible (Daniel 11).
Today, the signs of a coming alliance between Iran and Egypt are beginning to emerge. Read about these amazing indicators in Gerald Flurry’s booklet The King of the South (first published in 1996). This booklet will show you what the Bible forecasts for Egypt and Iran, and how those forecasts are happening before your eyes—if you know where to look. Request your free copy now.