Bible Prophecy Pertaining to the Muslim Nations
September 2, 2010
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The following is from the new book ISRAEL: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE, which is available from Way of Life Literature.
___________________
Bible prophecy describes Israel’s relationship with the modern Muslim nations following her restoration to God’s blessing. It will be a dramatic turn around from the conditions that exist today.
Since the birth of the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, she has fought continual wars with her Muslim neighbors. There was the War for Independence in 1948 against the Arab League composed of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. There was the Suez War in 1956 to force Egypt to allow free access for Israel’s ships through the Canal. There was the Six-Day War in 1967 against the coalition of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria contributing troops and arms. There was Egypt’s War of Attrition against Israel from 1968-70. There was the Yom Kippur War of 1973 when Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. And Israel has been under constant attack by Muslim organizations such as Hamas, the PLO, and Hezbollah.
That is the present situation. Let’s look now to the future.
The Palestinians (Philistines) and Jordan (Edom, Moab, Ammon)
“The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them” (Isaiah 11:13-14).
The ancient name “Philistine,” from the Hebrew “Peleshet,” is the source of the modern name “Palestinian.” The original Philistines were not Arabs or Middle Eastern in origin; they migrated from Asia Minor and were of Greek stock. The only thing that the modern Philistines, the Palestinian Arabs, have in common with the ancient Philistines is that they hate Israel and want to own the land. Today the Palestinians control the Gaza Strip which was one of the strongholds of the old Philistines. Bible prophecy describes the Philistines as being west of Israel in the day of Christ’s return, and Gaza is in the western part of Israel. The Palestinians envision a Palestinian state composed of Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as the capital. If this ever happens, it will be short-lived, because when Christ returns, Israel will conquer the modern Philistines.
Israel will also conquer Jordan. Jordan occupies the land of ancient Edom, Moab, and Ammon east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. All of these territories will “obey” restored Israel in that day.
Egypt, Syria, and Iraq (Assyria)
“In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” (Isaiah 19:16-25).
Egypt is Israel’s most ancient enemy, and nothing has changed. Egypt attacked Israel in 1948, 1949, 1967, and 1973, and she remains a part of the Islamic alliance that hates Israel. But Egypt’s attitude will change dramatically in the future.
The day will come when Egypt will be terrified of Israel. This is an amazing prophecy. Historically, Egypt was a mighty power compared to Israel, and it still has a much larger military machine. Some believe that this prophecy is being fulfilled today, since Egypt has lost four wars to Israel, but though Egypt might hesitate to go to war with Israel again, it can hardly be said that she is terrified of Israel. The prophecy will not be fulfilled until Israel is converted and becomes an indestructible weapon in the hands of Almighty God.
Egypt will cry out to the Lord and He will send them a saviour. We don’t know if this refers to Christ Himself or to one of His generals.
Egypt’s prophetic destiny is different than that of the other nations surrounding Israel. She will not merely be conquered; she will be converted and become a fervent worshipper of Jehovah God and an intimate associate of Israel (Isa. 19:18-21).
Many Egyptians will learn Hebrew and use it to swear allegiance to Jehovah God. There will be an altar to the living God in the midst of the nation and a pillar in His name at the border. The name of Allah will be forgotten (Isa. 19:18-19).
A highway will be built from Egypt to Assyria, which is modern-day Syria and Iraq, to facilitate travel between the two lands (Isa. 19:23-25). Instead of being partners to oppose Israel, as they did in the Six-Day War, Egypt and Iraq will be partners with Israel.
In place of division and animosity between these nations, there will be unity and love. Instead of Israel dividing the nations, she will unite them in that day! The highway from Egypt to Assyria will doubtless run right through Israel. “Never then shall there be rivalry of armies, fleets of sea or air. In vain shall be the search then for Protestant or Romanist, for Democrat or Republican, for Monarchist or Anarchist, for Aristocrat or Proletariat, for Jesus, Lord of all, has caused the earth to bask in universal peace and concord; and He, the Melchizedek Priest, is here seen spreading His hands in blessing over the whole scene. Egypt, those of the Gentiles once expressive of corruption, are now His ‘people;’ Assyria, those of the Gentiles once expressive of violence, are now ‘the work of His hands,’ and quite a different handiwork will they be then” (Jennings, Studies in Isaiah, p. 236).
Israel will maintain her exalted status as God’s “inheritance” even when she is joined by other nations (Isa. 19:25).
Lebanon
“I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them” (Zechariah 10:10).
The land of Lebanon actually belongs to Israel by right of the Abrahamic covenant and she will own it in when Christ returns. Israel will extend north to the Euphrates river according to God’s ancient promise (Gen. 15:18).
Iran (Persia)
“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet. ... And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone” (Ezekiel 38:3-5, 22).
The armies of Persia will join Gog and Magog and will suffer destruction with her.
Saudi Arabia (Arabia, Midian)
“For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. ... To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day. ... And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert. ... And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you” (Jeremiah 25:15, 18, 24, 26-27).
“The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).
Saudi Arabia will join the international alliance against Israel that will be destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon (Jer. 25). Afterwards, Saudi Arabia will worship Christ and send offerings to Him (Isa. 60:6).
Yemen (Sheba)
“The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).
Yemen will submit to Christ and send offerings to Him.
ISRAEL OCCUPIES HER PROMISED LAND
“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever” (Ezekiel 37:21, 24-25).
This prophecy states that Israel will dwell in the land promised to Jacob. This is very significant.
“... although Abraham was the father of both the Jewish people (through Isaac) and the Arab people (through Ishmael), the covenant was established only with Isaac and his descendants (see Genesis 17:18-21). This means the Abrahamic Covenant, and the land promise contained within it (Genesis 15:18-21), is exclusive to the Jewish people as the sole descendants of Isaac. This promise, in turn, was selectively passed on to Isaac’s son Jacob (who was renamed Israel) and not his son Esau (Genesis 28:13-15; 35:12)” (Randall Price, The Battle for the Last Days Temple, pp. 32, 33).
The land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob extends from the river of Egypt in the south to the river Euphrates in the north (Genesis 15:18). Only during Solomon’s reign did Israel control the full extent of this land (1 Kings 4:21). Even then, she only actually occupied the region “from Dan to Beersheba” (1 Kings 4:25). The Euphrates is in the northern part of modern Syria.
___________________
Bible prophecy describes Israel’s relationship with the modern Muslim nations following her restoration to God’s blessing. It will be a dramatic turn around from the conditions that exist today.
Since the birth of the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, she has fought continual wars with her Muslim neighbors. There was the War for Independence in 1948 against the Arab League composed of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq. There was the Suez War in 1956 to force Egypt to allow free access for Israel’s ships through the Canal. There was the Six-Day War in 1967 against the coalition of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, with Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria contributing troops and arms. There was Egypt’s War of Attrition against Israel from 1968-70. There was the Yom Kippur War of 1973 when Israel was attacked by Egypt and Syria. And Israel has been under constant attack by Muslim organizations such as Hamas, the PLO, and Hezbollah.
That is the present situation. Let’s look now to the future.
The Palestinians (Philistines) and Jordan (Edom, Moab, Ammon)
“The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off: Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim. But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil them of the east together: they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the children of Ammon shall obey them” (Isaiah 11:13-14).
The ancient name “Philistine,” from the Hebrew “Peleshet,” is the source of the modern name “Palestinian.” The original Philistines were not Arabs or Middle Eastern in origin; they migrated from Asia Minor and were of Greek stock. The only thing that the modern Philistines, the Palestinian Arabs, have in common with the ancient Philistines is that they hate Israel and want to own the land. Today the Palestinians control the Gaza Strip which was one of the strongholds of the old Philistines. Bible prophecy describes the Philistines as being west of Israel in the day of Christ’s return, and Gaza is in the western part of Israel. The Palestinians envision a Palestinian state composed of Gaza and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as the capital. If this ever happens, it will be short-lived, because when Christ returns, Israel will conquer the modern Philistines.
Israel will also conquer Jordan. Jordan occupies the land of ancient Edom, Moab, and Ammon east of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. All of these territories will “obey” restored Israel in that day.
Egypt, Syria, and Iraq (Assyria)
“In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which he shaketh over it. And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it. In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance” (Isaiah 19:16-25).
Egypt is Israel’s most ancient enemy, and nothing has changed. Egypt attacked Israel in 1948, 1949, 1967, and 1973, and she remains a part of the Islamic alliance that hates Israel. But Egypt’s attitude will change dramatically in the future.
The day will come when Egypt will be terrified of Israel. This is an amazing prophecy. Historically, Egypt was a mighty power compared to Israel, and it still has a much larger military machine. Some believe that this prophecy is being fulfilled today, since Egypt has lost four wars to Israel, but though Egypt might hesitate to go to war with Israel again, it can hardly be said that she is terrified of Israel. The prophecy will not be fulfilled until Israel is converted and becomes an indestructible weapon in the hands of Almighty God.
Egypt will cry out to the Lord and He will send them a saviour. We don’t know if this refers to Christ Himself or to one of His generals.
Egypt’s prophetic destiny is different than that of the other nations surrounding Israel. She will not merely be conquered; she will be converted and become a fervent worshipper of Jehovah God and an intimate associate of Israel (Isa. 19:18-21).
Many Egyptians will learn Hebrew and use it to swear allegiance to Jehovah God. There will be an altar to the living God in the midst of the nation and a pillar in His name at the border. The name of Allah will be forgotten (Isa. 19:18-19).
A highway will be built from Egypt to Assyria, which is modern-day Syria and Iraq, to facilitate travel between the two lands (Isa. 19:23-25). Instead of being partners to oppose Israel, as they did in the Six-Day War, Egypt and Iraq will be partners with Israel.
In place of division and animosity between these nations, there will be unity and love. Instead of Israel dividing the nations, she will unite them in that day! The highway from Egypt to Assyria will doubtless run right through Israel. “Never then shall there be rivalry of armies, fleets of sea or air. In vain shall be the search then for Protestant or Romanist, for Democrat or Republican, for Monarchist or Anarchist, for Aristocrat or Proletariat, for Jesus, Lord of all, has caused the earth to bask in universal peace and concord; and He, the Melchizedek Priest, is here seen spreading His hands in blessing over the whole scene. Egypt, those of the Gentiles once expressive of corruption, are now His ‘people;’ Assyria, those of the Gentiles once expressive of violence, are now ‘the work of His hands,’ and quite a different handiwork will they be then” (Jennings, Studies in Isaiah, p. 236).
Israel will maintain her exalted status as God’s “inheritance” even when she is joined by other nations (Isa. 19:25).
Lebanon
“I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them” (Zechariah 10:10).
The land of Lebanon actually belongs to Israel by right of the Abrahamic covenant and she will own it in when Christ returns. Israel will extend north to the Euphrates river according to God’s ancient promise (Gen. 15:18).
Iran (Persia)
“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet. ... And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone” (Ezekiel 38:3-5, 22).
The armies of Persia will join Gog and Magog and will suffer destruction with her.
Saudi Arabia (Arabia, Midian)
“For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it. ... To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day. ... And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert. ... And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them. Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you” (Jeremiah 25:15, 18, 24, 26-27).
“The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).
Saudi Arabia will join the international alliance against Israel that will be destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon (Jer. 25). Afterwards, Saudi Arabia will worship Christ and send offerings to Him (Isa. 60:6).
Yemen (Sheba)
“The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD” (Isaiah 60:6).
Yemen will submit to Christ and send offerings to Him.
ISRAEL OCCUPIES HER PROMISED LAND
“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever” (Ezekiel 37:21, 24-25).
This prophecy states that Israel will dwell in the land promised to Jacob. This is very significant.
“... although Abraham was the father of both the Jewish people (through Isaac) and the Arab people (through Ishmael), the covenant was established only with Isaac and his descendants (see Genesis 17:18-21). This means the Abrahamic Covenant, and the land promise contained within it (Genesis 15:18-21), is exclusive to the Jewish people as the sole descendants of Isaac. This promise, in turn, was selectively passed on to Isaac’s son Jacob (who was renamed Israel) and not his son Esau (Genesis 28:13-15; 35:12)” (Randall Price, The Battle for the Last Days Temple, pp. 32, 33).
The land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob extends from the river of Egypt in the south to the river Euphrates in the north (Genesis 15:18). Only during Solomon’s reign did Israel control the full extent of this land (1 Kings 4:21). Even then, she only actually occupied the region “from Dan to Beersheba” (1 Kings 4:25). The Euphrates is in the northern part of modern Syria.
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