Weekly Prophecy Review

In the news...

• New laws have been passed in Uzbekistan which require all religious groups to register with the government. Each group must have at least 100 members or it cannot register. This means house churches are no longer allowed to operate.

• Over Easter weekend the largest church in the Southern Baptist Convention had in excess of 27,000 in attendance. To accommodate all the visitors at the Saddleback Church of Lake Forest, California, the pastor preached nine identical sermons.

• Instances of church arson in the U.S. are down 27%. In 1996 a total of 297 churches were set on fire.

• An association of evangelical churches in Ethiopia has designated 60% of its budget for the purposes of evangelism and missions. The group plans to evangelize a group of 7 Arab nations where many Ethiopians reside, as well as Israel and India.

• According to Open Doors International, Saudi Arabia is the worst persecutor of Christians in the world. Bibles, crosses, and Christian worship are strictly forbidden. Moreover, Saudi Christians caught telling others about Jesus Christ are subject to the death penalty.

• An overwhelming number of voters approved a referendum designed to end 30 years of religious bloodshed in Northern Ireland.

News that might actually have some bearing on prophecy...

• Sunday is the 31st anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem.

• A recent Gallop poll shows 80% of Israeli Jews feel that, under the current conditions, no further withdrawals from Judea or Samaria should take place.

• According to a manufacturers association president in Israel, the proposed European Union boycott of Israeli goods from Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and East Jerusalem would cause the Palestinians to lose 13,000 jobs and millions of dollars in much needed income.

This week our focus is on Egypt in prophecy. Before we get to that, here are some recent happenings in that land in what we might call a bad news-good news format.

• The bad news: Nine shoe store proprietors have been arrested in Cairo, Egypt. Their crime? Selling Fila brand shoes. The problem is that the Fila logo displayed on the shoes is similar to the word "Allah." This is deemed offensive to Muslims, so the proprietors face jail sentences of up to a year and hefty fines.

• The good news: The 1998 Cairo Book Fair reports some remarkable statistics. Despite fewer booths and a two week fair (down from the customary three weeks), sales were double that of last year. In addition, the Christian bookstore in Cairo sold more Biblical materials in February than in all of 1997! During that month the store sold, on average, "57 whole Bibles, 160 New Testaments, 168 Biblical videos and 953 audio cassettes—per hour." Source: the Bible Society.

Egypt in End-Time prophecy

Other than Israel, what nation has the Lord been dealing with the longest? The answer is, of course, Egypt. It was the land used by the Lord to shelter and nurture the family of Jacob until it became a nation of over 2 million people. Then the Lord had to smite Egypt before His people were allowed to return to Canaan. From that time forward, there has been unremitting enmity between Egypt and God's people, Israel. For that reason it may surprise you to know—the time is coming when the Lord of Hosts will refer to the people of Egyptian as "My people!" This little known prophecy is found in the 19th Chapter of Isaiah.

Before examining all that Isaiah revealed about Egypt, we need to say a few words concerning the context the prophet's message. At the time, Israel was caught in the midst of a struggle between Egypt and Assyria, the two super-powers of that day. Many in Israel were in favor of joining an alliance with Egypt in order to resist the coming Assyrian invasion.

According to Isaiah, the Lord strongly opposed the idea of Israel relying on Egypt for protection. In fact, he revealed why that was a poor strategy. It seems the Lord, Himself, had a three-fold plan to destabilize Egypt. First, He was going to stir up a civil war, "inciting Egyptians against Egyptians" (verse 2). Second, He was going to dry up the river Nile, which would bring about an economic collapse (verses 5-10). And third, He was going to confound the rulers of Egypt, causing their wisest advisors to "become stupid" (verses 10-14).

To drive home the coming fate of Egypt to the people of Israel, the Lord commanded Isaiah to go among the people—naked and barefoot. "And the Lord said, 'Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and a token against Egypt and Cush [Ethiopia], so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt'" (Isaiah 20:3-4).

And yet, in the midst of these predictions of coming calamities, Isaiah also had a remarkable message of future blessings for the nation of Egypt.

1. Egypt will learn to "fear the Lord."

When Isaiah wants to speak of the End-Times, he uses the phrase, "in that day." Isaiah announces, "In that day the Egyptians will become like women, and they will tremble and be in dread because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He is going to wave over them" (19:16). Apparently, God will perform acts which will excite awe on the part of the Egyptians. And whatever those acts might be, it appears Judah [modern Israel] will participate with God in them. "And the land of Judah will become a terror to Egypt..."

2. The people of Egypt will become reconciled to the Lord.

They will establish an altar for the Lord in the midst of Egypt and a pillar near the border (see 19:19). These will witness to the fact that the nation has aligned itself with Israel in the worship of the Lord, God. In addition, "five cities in the land of Egypt will be speaking the language of Canaan and swearing allegiance to the Lord of Hosts" (verse 18).

3. The people of Egypt will cry to the Lord for deliverance.

Their alliance with the Lord of hosts will lead to oppression. The result is, "They will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them" (19:20). Naturally, we assume this refers to Messiah.

4. The Lord will reveal Himself to the Egyptians.

"Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and will perform it" (19:21).

5. The Lord will discipline Egypt.

"And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them" (19:22).

6. Egypt, as well as Assyria, will be on equal footing with Israel.

"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be a third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance'" (19:23-25).

Here, Egypt can be thought of as an object lesson on the Lord's plan to unite all nations to Himself in worship in the last days. First, He begins with a few cities (five in this case). Then he causes the whole nation to be reconciled to Him. Finally, He brings the whole world together.

A possible scenario

When the last days begin in earnest, Antichrist will have authority over every nation (for 42 months). At the same time, the two witnesses of Revelation 11 will be prophesying in the land of Israel. These remarkable men have the same power Moses and Elijah possessed. For instance, they can shut up the heavens so no rain can fall; they can turn water to blood; and they can call down fire from heaven to destroy any who would try to destroy them.

During those 42 months the witnesses cause severe droughts to occur. This apparently makes the Nile River dry up. Remember, the people of Egypt have had a long history of dealings with the God of Israel. They observe the power of the witnesses and realize these modern prophets can smite their land just as Moses did so long ago. For this reason, they quickly learn to fear the God of Israel, and they wisely choose to worship Him rather than Antichrist.

At that time, the Egyptian leader [the king of the South] sets up altars to the Lord of hosts within Egypt. Perhaps this is the issue which precipitates a conflict with the Antichrist. According to Daniel, "And at the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North [Antichrist] will storm against him.." (Daniel 11:40). As Antichrist seeks to confront Egypt he picks up allies to assist him. Scripture lists two: Libya and Ethiopia [Sudan].

From Daniel we learn that Egypt does not escape, and Antichrist gains control over "the hidden treasures of gold and silver, and over the precious things of Egypt" (Daniel 11:43). It is at this time the people of Egypt call to the Lord to deliver them (see Isaiah 19:20). Antichrist then hears "rumors from the East and from the North" which disturb him. Because of them he proceeds to the plain of Meggedo, pitching the tents of his royal pavilion in Israel "between the seas and the beautiful Holy Mountain. There, "he will come to his end, and no one will help him" (Daniel 11:45).

Now you realize why Egypt is a key place to watch as the last days approach.

Till He comes again...