Just as the Olivet Discourse speaks of the beginning f o sorrows wars

Transcription

1

2 Egypt is currently the focus of global attention. But is the civil unrest an indicator of things to come? What role will Egypt play as we move toward the horizon of prophetic events? Let us learn from some key passages of Scripture what the surprising relationship between Israel and Egypt will someday be?

3 Just as the Olivet Discourse speaks of the beginning of sorrows wars and rumors of war but the end is not yet (Matt 24:6,8), so what is happening today in the middle east is a precursor to the greater fulfillment yet to come. We are experiencing a foretaste of Egypt s role in what will be played out in a fuller sense in the apocalyptic days ahead. In Isa 19:2 God said, I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians. It also says in vs. 14 the Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit [confusion] in the midst thereof. The economy will begin to suffer (vs. 15).

4 According to the AP: In a sign of the economic impact of the turmoil, Suleiman [vice president] said 1 million foreign tourists fled over the past nine days, costing $1 billion in lost revenues from one of Egypt's most important industries. In Ezekiel 29:15, the prophet says that Egypt would recover from a desolation (perhaps Babylon's attack about 2600 years ago), but that it would never again rule over other nations. Up until the time of Ezekiel, Egypt had been a world power for centuries, dominating many nations, including Israel.

5 But for most of the past 2500 years, Egypt has been controlled by foreign powers, including the Romans, Ottomans and Europeans. Today, Egypt is again an independent nation, and it has always been an impressive nation. But since the time of Ezekiel, it no longer rules over other nations.

6 Egypt is a populous country in the Arab world and as such a significant power for Islam. In 2009, President Obama visited Egypt as the first stop on his tour of the Middle East. He delivered a speech at Cairo University in which he characterized the peace process as seeking "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims" ("Egyptians Positive on Obama Speech," BBC News, June 4, 2009).

7 President Obama s agenda is to extinguish ethnic and national disruptions by encouraging the absorption of dissenters [like Israel] into the sprawling influence of Islam. "Obama directly enlisted a religion [Islam] to build global peace and to resolve the Palestinian Israeli conflict, end nuclear proliferation and stop terrorism" (Feisal Abdul Rauf, "Obama's Challenge to the Muslim World," The Washington Post, June 5, 2009).

8 During the tribulation, two witnesses will cry out against the leader of the satanic, global society known as the Beast. He will have them executed in Jerusalem which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt (Rev 11:8). Sodom was known for its immorality and Egypt for its idolatry. The two witnesses bring miraculous judgments similar to Moses in Egypt. They turn water to blood and bring plagues (Rev 11:6).

9 Each of the ten plagues Moses called upon Egypt correlated to a false god they worshipped d( (Ex 12:12). 1. Water to blood Hapi god of Nile 2. Frogs Heket fertility goddess; frog head 3. Dust to Lice Gebgod of soil 4. Fly Swarms Khepri god of creation; fly head 5. Cattle Hathorlove goddess; cow head 6. Boils Isis goddess of medicine 7. Hail Nut goddess of sky 8. Locusts Seth god of storms and disorder 9. 3 Day Darkness Ra the Sun god 10. Firstborn Pharaoh, supreme god

10 Although not explained in Exodus, the Israelites got caught up in Egyptian idolatry. The children of Israel began to lean upon the Egyptians like a staff rather than trust in the Lord (Ezek 29:6 7,16). Idolatry does not need statuary. It simply needs to be a diversion of our trust in God. The golden calf was a representation of how oxen had aided them in their journey. They took credit away from God saying, these be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt (Ex 32:4). Today, people still misdirect their dependence. Medical advancements, technology, human talent and ingenuity, are all areas where we put too much confidence.

11 Ezekiel 38 & 39 gives details about the Battle of Armageddon. A list of nations that will come against Israel is given in the opening verses. Egypt is conspicuously absent in this anti Semitic alliance. One prophecy commentator said, Whatever the final outcome of Egypt, whether they revamp the current administration i i and make the kinds of changes the people are crying out for, or should their come and entirely new leadership in Egypt, it is for certain that as Egypt is not mentioned as being a part of those who come to attack Israel in Ezekiel s prophecy, that they will continue to be a neutral nation with no plans to attack Israel.

12 An amazing turn of events and sympathies will someday take place in this country. The lk like of which will probably happen in connection with the second coming of Christ. God will deal strongly with Egypt with a result that they shall return even to the Lord (Isa 19:22). The Anti Christ shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape (Dan 11:42). When Jesus returns, Antichrist shall come to his end, and none shall help him (Dan 11:45).

13 There will be metropolitan revivals in Egypt. No less than five cities will be consecrated to the Lord (Isa 19:18). A place of worship for Jehovah h will be established in the center of Egypt. A monument to the Lord will be erected at the border (Isa 19:19). Essentially, Egypt will become a Christian nation: the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day, and shall do sacrifice (19:21).

14 An unprecedented alliance will be formed among Egypt, Israel and Syria formerly Assyria. An open road system will run between the three nations (19:23 24). 24) This will encourage the intermingling of these diverse people in common worship of Christ. God will bless the land of Egypt and will consider its citizens my people (19:25).