Chapter 1: Libya and Ethiopia Reveal Iran’s Military Strategy
Philadelphia Trumpet, April 2011
What is the immediate future of Libya and Ethiopia? We must go to the Bible for the answer—you will find it no place else.
Just look at what has happened in the first couple of months of this year: 1) The Tunisian government has fallen, probably into the hands of the radical Muslims; 2) Lebanon has fallen to the Hezbollah terrorists, controlled by Iran—the number one terrorist-sponsoring nation in the world by far; 3) the government of Egypt has fallen, and its replacement will form some kind of an alliance with Iran, the king of the south. We have been prophesying this for about 20 years!
Now the whole world can see it happening very dramatically!
As usual, many of the Western world’s leaders see what is happening in Egypt as good news. They fail to see the strength of Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood, and some of them fail to see the broken will of America—which all the Middle East leaders see!
The government of Yemen is very shaky.
All these events are bad news for America and Israel. But they show us almost precisely where we are in Bible prophecy!
Now let me illustrate a new and stunning piece of the puzzle about the Middle East.
The whole scenario is explained in Daniel 11:40-44. These verses reveal what is unfolding in the Middle East, Europe and Asia—the most critical prophecy of the next few years.
Until now, I have not understood much about why the two nations of Libya and Ethiopia are mentioned in verse 43, along with Egypt. These two nations are the key that unlocks the strategy of radical Islam. That strategy is going to shake the United States and Europe to their foundations!
We are about to be flooded with bad news. But it is all concluded by the best news you have ever heard!
Soon you will see the prophesied 10 European kings unite into the Holy Roman Empire that is going to clash with radical Islam, or the king of the south. Europe understands what the U.S. does not: Radical Islam must be stopped! And the stronger leaders know it won’t be done through negotiation!
Here is what I wrote in the Trumpet magazine, July 1993—nearly 18 years ago: “So when does the king of the south ‘push’ at the king of the north? It must happen after the book of Daniel was revealed to Herbert W. Armstrong in this end time. Daniel 12:9 tells us the time of the end begins when Daniel is revealed. [The book can only be understood in this end time (Daniel 12:4, 9).] So the king of the south must arise after Daniel was revealed to God’s end-time Church—specifically to Herbert W. Armstrong. 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.”
How could I have known so long ago that Iran would be the king of the south and clash with the Holy Roman Empire? Because of what was happening in Iran and the Middle East, coupled with Bible prophecy. It is time for all of us to wake up to what is happening in this world. We are facing the greatest catastrophe ever on planet Earth.
What happened in January and February of this year was only a small dress rehearsal of what is about to explode in the Middle East! The whole world will be dragged into this unparalleled crisis! Iran is about to get the nuclear bomb. It is the greatest terrorist-sponsoring nation in the world—no other country even comes close. And here is the worst part of it all: Iranian leaders and many of their people believe the 12th imam (their version of the Messiah) is about to return. They think his return can be hastened by creating chaos!
You can create a lot of chaos with many terrorists and nuclear bombs. Never in this modern age has a powerful nation held such extremely dangerous beliefs. That makes Iran a terrifying danger far removed from what we have ever faced before! It is on a path that must lead to war!
Egypt’s Fate
Egypt adjoins Israel’s southern border, geographically. That is one big reason why the people of Israel fear what is happening in Egypt.
Here is another quote from my July 1993 Trumpet article: “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. Let’s read Daniel 11:40 and 42: ‘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.’ This verse indicates Egypt will be allied with the king of the south. That is probably the reason Egypt is also attacked and taken captive! I believe this prophecy in Daniel 11:42 indicates you are about to see a radical change in Egyptian politics!”
The Holy Roman Empire, led by Germany and the Vatican, is going to wage war against radical Islam with all the power it can muster. That one whirlwind blow will destroy the king of the south.
Since I wrote that, Egypt has been shaken repeatedly by Iran and radical Islam. Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt before Hosni Mubarak, was killed by the Muslim Brotherhood—the strongest opponent of Mubarak today and closely tied to Iran. Now that radical, violent organization is about to get much more influence and control in Egyptian politics. The Brotherhood has been less violent the last 30 years because of the strong leadership of Mubarak. But now he is gone. Egypt’s close relationship with America is history!
The Hamas terrorists of the Gaza Strip are the Palestinian counterparts to the Muslim Brotherhood! This terrorist Brotherhood could get control of Egypt. It could be very similar to how Hamas got control of Gaza.
Here is what the Christian Science Monitor wrote January 25: “[T]hey’re seeking the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak, who ascended to the presidency after Sadat’s assassination in 1981. A popular uprising in Tunisia may have just pushed out President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali [that did happen]. But activists, political analysts and average people in Egypt insist that something crucial shifted for Egypt today. Egyptian political scientist Mustapha Kamel Al Sayyid predicts that now the dam has broken, protests will continue. ‘The reservoir of discontent is huge,’ he says. … ‘[T]here’s a revolution coming,’ [a protester added]” (emphasis mine throughout).
The future is quite bleak for Egypt, just as your Bible prophesied in the book of Daniel about 600 years before the first coming of Christ!
Why won’t people believe their own Bibles?
Here is what Stratfor wrote January 4: “The most vulnerable time in Egypt is the period before Mubarak leaves the scene [when America’s government was humiliating Mubarak, our friend for the last 30 years]. … Let’s consider for a moment what an Islamist Egypt would mean. The Mediterranean, which has been a strategically quiet region, would come to life. The United States would have to reshape its strategy, and Israel would have to refocus its strategic policy. Turkey’s renaissance would have to take seriously a new Islamic power in the Mediterranean. Most important, an Islamist Egypt would give dramatic impetus to radical Islam throughout the Arab world. One of the linchpins of American and European policy in the region would be gone in a crucial part of the world. The transformation of Egypt into an Islamist country would be the single most significant event we could imagine in the Islamic world, beyond an Iranian bomb.”
Stratfor places the move of Egypt into the radical Islamic camp as more deadly than anything except Iran’s getting the nuclear bomb—which it is about to do!
That is exactly what is going to happen inside Egypt—according to Bible prophecy.
President Mubarak resisted the radical Muslims in their violence toward Israel and other nations. He was a powerful ally in helping America, Britain and Israel in their war against terror. Mubarak fought against Iran getting the nuclear bomb.
In terms of its peace, Israel is going to lose its best friend in the Middle East—Egypt. The Jewish nation is in grave danger! The Jews know it and many of them blame the U.S. for much of this Egyptian crisis.
President Mubarak exerted the power needed inside Egypt to control his strongest opponent, the violent Muslim Brotherhood. He has lived through six assassination attempts on his life.
Still our leaders seem to have no real concept of what he had to deal with every day.
In spite of Mubarak’s positive fruits, the present U.S. administration set out to humiliate him publicly from the beginning of the massive demonstrations in Egypt! Only a rebuke from Saudi Arabia slowed our government’s tactics.
No Arab country in the Middle East has done more to befriend America!
Yes, Mr. Mubarak made some serious mistakes. But America has utterly betrayed a friend of 30 years. The result? America’s influence in the Middle East has plummeted to near zero!
Why? Because we support the enemies of America and the moderate Arab states and humiliate nations that are friendly toward us. For example, the American government said nothing to support many thousands (some say millions) of dissenters in the summer of 2009 when they marched against Iranian leaders who stole their election!
America will never have another opportunity as it did with that first and most powerful wave of dissent. The brutal military has since gotten control over the dissenters, who are now more fearful.
On the other hand, the U.S. government immediately supported the dissenters in Egypt and humiliated our friend of many years, Hosni Mubarak.
The U.S. could have diplomatically spoken encouraging words to both sides.
How can we explain such a dangerous, upside-down foreign policy? Why should moderate Arab nations and Israel give any support to America? Surely, we must see how our actions negatively impact those nations in the Middle East!
The whole world is watching. America’s foreign policy is an unmitigated disaster!
In a crisis, what Arab country would now help us secure the massive amounts of oil we get from the Middle East—without which our economy would be wrecked?
What Egyptians Really Want
Egyptian presidential elections are scheduled to be held in September 2011. What results should we expect?
Many people in the West hope to see Egypt transform into a picture of democracy and peace. But what do the Egyptian people want? Are Western leaders willing to look at the reality?
A major survey by the Pew Research Center last year showed that the people of Egypt have no interest in Western-style democracy. They actually want strict Islamic rule.
Look at these results from the Pew poll.
Fully 85 percent of Muslims in Egypt want a strong Islamic influence in the nation’s politics.
Nearly the same number say those who leave the Muslim faith should be killed for it.
Eighty-two percent support stoning adulterers, and 77 percent think thieves should have their hands cut off.
Well over half would support segregating women from men in the workplace.
Fifty-four percent believe suicide bombings that murder civilians can be justified.
Nearly half have a “favorable view” of the terrorist group Hamas, and 3 in 10 are positive toward Hezbollah. One fifth of Egyptians even hold positive views of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
Among the 18 Muslim nations Pew surveyed, Egypt had the highest unfavorable rating toward America: 82 percent of Egyptians dislike the U.S.
A powerful Mubarak was able to control or contain the more extreme views of his own people. But that dam was broken when he resigned.
No new leader could ever get the power to resist such strong beliefs of the Egyptian people. This all plays into the hands of Iran and its strong ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. What happened to Iran in 1979 is somewhat similar to what will happen in Egypt. And let’s not forget how Iran turned Gaza and Lebanon into its own terrorist arms. In each of those places, it started with a group like the Muslim Brotherhood.
We continually underestimate the power of Iran! That wealthy nation gives full, fanatical support to terrorist groups!
The people are now rejoicing in Egypt. But it is not a time for joy in America—it is a time for fear. If we don’t understand that now, we soon will!
Iran’s Strategy—U.S. and EU Nightmare
Stratfor Intelligence mentioned the Mediterranean area twice. Turkey, already an ally of Iran, is on the northern part of that strategically important sea.
Stratfor believes the U.S. and Israel will have to reshape their strategy. Stratfor also mentioned Europe. Germany and the Vatican are going to cause the whole world to reshape its Middle East strategy! Bible prophecy makes that very clear.
Most authorities overlook how these events are affecting Europe. Germany and the Vatican see the new Middle East crisis as deadly serious. The king of the north, or the Holy Roman Empire, is soon to have a strong leader who will see the danger much like Stratfor Intelligence does and will act accordingly. That too is prophesied in the Bible. (Request our booklet Germany and the Holy Roman Empire. All of our literature is free.)
Germany and the Vatican probably see Iran’s strategy better than any power outside the Middle East.
There are several Middle East nations not mentioned in Daniel 11:40-44 either by their ancient or modern names—for example, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Yemen, Pakistan, Afghanistan, etc.
But two more nations are mentioned for a reason I have not understood as I do now.
Libya and Ethiopia
“But he [the king of the north] shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps” (Daniel 11:43). Why did God inspire the mentioning of Libya and Ethiopia? Every word in God’s inspired Bible has significance. God placed two nations in the same verse as Egypt for a definite reason. This verse states that Libya and Ethiopia are also going to be closely allied with Iran!
Here is how Soncino Commentary defines at his steps: “Either joining his army, or placing themselves at his beck and call.”
Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon defines that expression as “in his company.”
The Moffatt translation reads this way: “following in his train.”
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. That is why they are subdued in the king of the north victory.
That prophecy is easy to understand. The big question is this: Do you believe your Bible?
Why would Iran be so interested in getting some measure of control over Libya and Ethiopia? To me, the answer is intriguing.
All you need to do is get a good map of the Middle East, with the emphasis on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Then you can see why the king of the south, or radical Islam, is so interested in an alliance with or control over these two countries (as well as Egypt and Tunisia). They are on the two seas that comprise the most important trade route in the world!
Whoever heavily influences or controls Ethiopia will undoubtedly also control the small areas of Eritrea and Djibouti on the Red Sea coastline. These areas only recently became independent of Ethiopia. Also, I believe the Bible view is that these small areas are included as a part of Ethiopia.
Controlling the Suez Canal is not enough. Egypt tried that in 1956, when Britain, France and Israel kicked it out in one attack. But what if you have radical Islamic nations along this sea trade route with real air power—including missiles?
That could give Iran virtual control of the trade through those seas. Radical Islam could stop the flow of essential oil to the U.S. and Europe!
Iran could also potentially get control of Jerusalem, its third-holiest site. I believe Jerusalem is more important to Iran than the oil is. The Islamic people have fought the Catholic Crusades for about 1,500 years over control of Jerusalem. Bible prophecy says one final crusade is about to erupt.
Iran conquering Jerusalem would SUDDENLY galvanize the whole Islamic world! It would spread radical Muslim influence to many countries outside the Middle East. It could lead to dangerous rioting and terror in Europe, Asia and even America.
The soon-coming Holy Roman Empire—a superpower with 10 kings, dominated by Catholicism, and led by the most deceptive and aggressive Germany ever—realizes that Arab fervor could spread like wildfire. Many Catholics consider Jerusalem their most important religious site.
If Iran gets control of that trade route, it could create enormous damage and chaos in America and Europe almost overnight. Germany and the Vatican, the heart of the Holy Roman Empire, are not going to allow the king of the south to get control of Jerusalem and the world’s number one trade route!
I did a television program on January 27 of this year. The viewers were asked to watch Libya and Ethiopia because of new understanding I had received the previous day.
There was almost no news about Libya at that time. The nation seemed stable. Less than one month later, Libya’s government was about to be overthrown, or a civil war was beginning.
We believe that the new understanding we received about Libya was a miracle. We also believe the timing of when we received that understanding was a miracle.
Such miracles are not just coincidence.
You need to continue to watch for Libya and Ethiopia to make a severe and rapid turn into the radical Islamic camp.
You also need to watch closely what we speak and write about concerning Bible prophecy.
The king of the south is going to push at the king of the north, probably from its trade route power. That push will be a dramatic act of war! The Holy Roman Empire will respond with an all-out whirlwind attack—and Iran and radical Islam will fall immediately. (Request my booklet Germany’s Secret Strategy to Destroy Iran.)
Arab-Iranian control over the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea could be the real reason the U.S. is not involved in this Mideast war. Our economy is shaky, the dollar is extremely weak, and Iran could threaten or even cut off all our oil and wreck the U.S. economy to keep America out of the war.
The prophecy about Libya and Ethiopia unlocks Iran’s military strategy! We wrote over 15 years ago about Iran’s global ambitions. They have only intensified since that time.
So the Bible indicates that Libya and Ethiopia also have to be subdued by the king of the north because they are in the radical Islamic camp. Those two nations are “at his steps.” Both countries have already been influenced by radical Islam. But they are not in the radical Muslim camp—yet.
Why are these two nations even mentioned in this prophecy if they don’t play a key role?
Lebanon’s Government Falls
The Lebanese government has been friendly to the U.S., but it also fell in late January this year. Hezbollah, a terrorist arm of Iran, has now gotten control of Lebanon.
Agence France-Presse wrote on January 26, “Israeli Vice Prime Minister Silvan Shalom said on Wednesday that Lebanon was being taken ‘hostage’ by Iran and Hezbollah, after the Shiite group’s preferred candidate was named as Lebanese premier-designate. ‘The international community must do everything to stop Hezbollah and Iran from taking Lebanon hostage,’ Shalom told Israeli public radio. ‘Hezbollah is not simply a terrorist organization, it’s a terrorist organization controlled by the Iranian state,’ he said.”
That is the king of the south in action!
This is another dangerous shift in Middle East power to terror-sponsoring Iran. It’s more bad news for Israel and the U.S., because the Lebanese government was friendly toward them. Iran’s terrorist arm of Lebanon is geographically joined to Israel.
The alarm bells are ringing!
While I was writing this article, the Yemeni government pledged to soon step down because of large demonstrations. That government has also been helping the U.S. and others fight the war against terror. Yemen is already infested with terrorists. It is located on the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden—and is another strategically powerful country if you are trying to control world trade.
World War III and Christ’s Second Coming
Events in the Middle East are going to trigger World War iii. The king of the north, after conquering the king of the south, will be alarmed as the kings of the east prepare to attack. So the European power will strike first. Europe will then be overwhelmed by Russia, China and probably Japan. (For more information, request our booklets Daniel Unsealed at Last! and The King of the South.)
This will lead to Armageddon, which leads to Christ’s Second Coming.
“And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination [the king of the north] that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days” (Daniel 12:11).
Verse 12 then says, “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Here God draws attention to 1,335 days and says those who make it to the beginning of this time period are blessed.
From Daniel 10:10 to the end of Daniel’s book is the longest single prophecy in the Bible. Mainly it focuses on “the time of the end” (Daniel 11:40). The Moffatt Bible translates that expression, “when the end arrives.”
The end time has arrived! Mighty prophecies are being fulfilled before your eyes! That means monstrous and lightning-fast changes in world events. But these extremely dangerous end-time events conclude with the coming of the Messiah. That is the finale to the longest single prophecy in the Bible!
Whether we like it or not, the end time has arrived. Ninety percent of Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in this end time. News reports are filled with prophetic events.
America is about to go bankrupt. Soon riots and race wars are going to explode in the U.S. They will make the demonstrations in Egypt seem like child’s play by comparison!
God is going to get our attention!
The Great Tribulation is about to burst on the world scene. It will be followed immediately by the Day of the Lord—which is concluded by the Messiah’s coming.
Bible prophecy proves that God is alive and His plan always prevails. It is time for all mankind to wake up to the reality of Bible prophecy!
The extremely good news is that these cataclysmic events lead directly to the Second Coming of Christ. Then Christ will rule this Earth forever under the direction of His Father.
Mankind’s terrible suffering is about to end forever.