Bible Prophecy and the Future of Libya

8/7/2019 Bible Prophecy and the Future of Libya

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BIBLE PROPHECY AND THE FUTURE OF LIBYAPosted: February 28, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

It is so painful to watch the horror show underway in Libyaright now. Estimates tell us that at least 1,000 Libyans are dead. Many more are wounded. Some100,000 people have apparently fled Libya in recent days as the situation goes from bad to worse.

The first sentence of a new Time magazine article asks, Is it the End of Days for Libya? Thearticle looks at the rising death toll as Gaddafi continues using his army to slaughter the Libyan

people desperate for change. It also asks the question of whether Libya will experience peace even if (or when) Gaddafi is deposed. Dirk Vandewalle, a Libyan expert at Dartmouth University, toldTime : Both sides, both the population, and the security organizations, know exactly whats at stake.If government militias [are to] win, they will have to kill many more, and if the security organizationslose, then the people, the regular people in Libya are going to take their revenge.Either way weregoing to see a terrible blood bath. David Mack, a former deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs, told Time that the worst possible outcome would be a widespread lawlessness in whichLibya degenerated into a kind of Somalia on the Mediterranean.

What does the Bible tell us? Libya is referred to numerous times in the Scriptures, both directly andindirectly.

In Matthew 27, for example, we learn that it was a Libyan man Simon of Cyrene (a part of ancient Libya) who carried the cross for our Lord Jesus.

In Acts chapter 2 , we learn that God-fearing men from Libya were present in Jerusalem on theDay of Pentecost and heard the Apostle Peter preach the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Some 3,000 people that days repented of their sins and became fully devoted followers of JesusChrist. It is likely that Libyans were among them since they are mentioned in the text.

In Acts 11 , we learn that Libyan (Cyrene) followers of Jesus Christ helped bring the gospel toAntioch, Syria, and made disciples for Jesus there.

In Acts 13 we learn that a Libyan man Lucius of Cyrene becomes one of the leaders of the church at Antioch, helping send out Barnabus and Paul to take the gospel to Asia andEurope.

Again and again in the Scriptures we see that the Lord loves the people of Libya. He wants them toknow Him and receive His free gift of salvation.

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That said, Bible prophecy also tells us the government and many of the people of Libya will beengaged in great evil in the End of Days.

In Ezekiel 38-39 , we learn that Libya is one of the nations that joins the Russian-Iranianalliance against Israel in the last days. In this prophecy, Ezekiel uses the name Put. Thefirst century historian Flavius Josephus wrote in his famous book, The Antiquities of the Jews, that Put or Phut is ancient Libyos. Ancient Libyos, we know, certainly included the

territory of the modern nation state we refer to today as Libya, but also included Algeria and possibly Tunisia. This tells us the no matter what the near term outcomes of the revolutionsunderway in North Africa are, in the not-too-distant future Libya for certain and possibly her neighbors will have virulently anti-Semitic and anti-Israel leadership who will eagerly join acoalition bent on destroying the Jews and occupy the land of Israel. Gaddafi, of course, isalready such a leader. Perhaps he will ride out this storm and stay in power. Perhaps someoneworse will rise up after him. Hopefully Gaddafi will be deposed and a more moderateleadership will rise up for a season before the prophecy of the War of Gog and Magog comesto fulfillment. Either way, the Church should be using this window of time to do everything

possible to get the gospel into Libya and to strengthen the persecuted believers in Libya beforethe country faces Gods judgment for attacking Israel.

In Daniel 11, we learn that Libya is one of the countries that will be under the control anddirection of the Antichrist in the last days. The Hebrew Prophet Daniel tells us that adespicable person will arise during a time of tranquility and will seize global power byintrigue and by overflowing forces in the End Times. This person, known in Christiantheology as the Antichrist, will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself aboveevery god and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper untilthe indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. The Bible tells us theAntichrist will enter the Beautiful Land that is, Israel and will stretch out his handagainst other countries. Eventually, the Antichrist will gain control of the entire world andforce all people who havent received Christ as Savior and Lord to bow and worship him or be

beheaded. But the Bible specificially notes that the Antichrist will gain control over the hiddentreasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and

Ethiopians [the people of "Cush," which includes modern Sudan, Ethiopia and possible Eritrea]will follow at his heels. It is not entirely clear why the Bible points specifically to Libyansand Ethiopians as among those who will follow and serve the Antichrist, but this is what theLord tells us in advance will happen.

This is all the more reason the Church must seek to reach all of North Africa with the gospel of JesusChrist before it is too late. Please be praying faithfully for Libya and all of North Africa at this criticalhour.

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

More than 1,000 dead in Libya

100,000 refugees flee Libya as fighting increases

World leaders unite against Gaddafi

EU agrees fresh sanctions against GaddafiUN imposes new sanctions on Libya, could cost Russian $4 billion in arms sales




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Libya uprising: Anti-Gaddafi forces control Zawiya Forces fighting to oust the Libyanleader Col Muammar Gaddafi have seized the city of Zawiya, 50km (30 miles) west of thecapital, Tripoli

Inside The Revolution: How The Followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus are Battling To

Dominate The Middle East and Transform the World Now available in paperback at allyour favorite retailers.

The Twelfth ImamSign up for Joels free email updates, Flash TrafficJoin the Epicenter Team on FacebookTo learn more about The Joshua Fund watch the latest video blog or make a securedonation online, please click here

RABBIS SAY ARAB UNREST SIGNALS MESSIAHCOMING SOONPosted: February 23, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized A number of influential rabbis say unrest in the Arab world signals the coming of the War of Gog and Magog and the soon coming of the Messiah, reported a leading Israeli news service onWednesday.

The article is consistent with similar reports in recent years suggesting that a growing number of rabbis believe the War of Gog and Magog and the Messiah are coming soon.

Rabbi Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, for example, described in the Ynet News article as a prominentrabbi, is reportedly certain that God is causing the turmoil in order to put the people in their

place. Said Lefkowitz: God goes and humiliates (those feeling) sinful pride. At first there was this

little fire here, and a state that thought that it is big and strong suddenly needed help from the entireworld. Not a war, nothing special, just a small fire.

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, described in the Ynet article as an unconventional Lithuanian leader who is believed to have mystic powers, recently spoke of the tumultuous events underway in Egypt, Libya,Tunisia, Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East. People have come to me and said that its Gog andMagog, he said. We cannot know. But its probable that any unrest that God creates shows that theMessiah is coming, and that we must begin to prepare for it and become stronger.

On this, I agree with Rabbi Kanievsky the War of Gog and Magog is approaching, the Messiah iscoming, and we must be prepared and become stronger spiritually as the Lords return draws near.That said, I suspect the Rabbi and I disagree on the Messiahs identity. Thats a good discussion toengage, particularly now. The Hebrew prophets told us the Messiah would be born in BethlehemEphratah, would minister to the people living darkness in the region of Galilee, would teach in

parables, would do miracles, would suffer and die as a guilt offering for our sins, and then would riseagain and His body would not see decay in the grave. Whats more, in Daniel chapter 9 we learnthat the Messiah will come, atone for our sins, and be cut off before the Second Temple is destroyedand Jerusalem is crushed by the Romans. That means if the Messiah didnt come before 70 A.D., Heis never going to come.




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>> Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi has issued a fatwa that any Libyansoldier who can shoot dead embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi should do so to rid Libya of him.

>> FLASHBACK: Gaddafi says, I am the King of kings.

>> FLASHBACK: Gaddafi envisages a single African military force, a single currency and a

single passport for Africans to move freely around the continent.

Amidst historic and tumultous upheaval underway from Morocco to Libya to Egypt to Iran, Israelsnational security advisor has just stepped down. Filling this position with the right person will becritically important. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to appoint Major-General (res.)Yaakov Amidror as the new National Security Advisor, reports the Israeli newspaper Yediot

Aharonot on its website. If selected, Amidror will replace Uzi Arad, who announced his retirementon Sunday. Amidror, the former commander of the IDFs National Defense College, retired from theIDF in 2002 and has been known in recent years for his hawkish views, including his support for thereoccupation of the Gaza Strip.

Ive met General Amidror several times over the years, and interviewed him for my first non-fiction book, Epicenter . I believe he would be a strong choice hes smart, experienced, and able to look over the horizon and see future threats clearly. Interestingly, he is a deeply religious Zionist who

believes that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is ultimately looking out for State of Israel, alongwith the IDF. Thats not common among senior Israeli military leaders, but I believe it would be auseful perspective.

Amidrors views on the Iranian nuclear threat are particularly noteworthy, such what he saidat a Washington, D.C. forum on the crisis on Iran in December : Technically, Israel will be ready[to strike Iran] if and when the decision will be taken.[but] no one is eager for war with Iran.If war with Iran comes, American planes will be used the question is will it be American pilots or Israeli pilots flying those planes?.It would be a dirty one, a long one, one no one wants to be

in.We want to postpone as long as possible.If you ask me for my assessment and thats what Ihave done for 25 years, doing assessments I believe it is almost impossible to stop Iran withoutmilitary force. [Also: To listen to a conference call with Gen. Amdror from Feb 2, 2011 on therevolution in Egypt and its potential impact on Israel ]

>> Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi in Friday Sermon at Cairos Tahrir Square: Pray for theConquest of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

Inside The Revolution: How The Followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus are Battling To Dominate The Middle East and Transform the World Now available in paperback at all

your favorite retailers.

The Twelfth ImamSign up for Joels free email updates, Flash TrafficJoin the Epicenter Team on FacebookTo learn more about The Joshua Fund watch the latest video blog or make a securedonation online, please click here




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REVOLUTIONARY UNREST SPREADING THROUGHEPICENTER: Inside The Revolution releases todayin paperbackPosted: February 21, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

Today, the paperback edition of Inside The Revolution: How the Followers of Jihad, Jefferson, and Jesus Are Battling to Dominate the Middle East and Transform the World , releases nationwide. The book describes the last three decades of battles between:

the Radicals, Muslims who believe Islam is the answer and violent jihad is the way;the Reformers, Muslims who believe that Islam is the answer but jihad is not the way, that theIslamic world needs more freedom, more openness, more protection of human rights and civilrights and even democracy;

the Revivalists, Middle Easterners who have renounced Islam and come to believe that Islam isnot the answer, jihad is not the way, that following Jesus Christ is the way, and that the onlyhope for the region is to skip back in history before Islam and revive what they once had: firstcentury, New Testament, Biblical Christianity;

I hope youll find the paperback edition (which is available at Barnes & Noble , Amazon , Borders ,and any of your favorite Christian bookstores, like CBD , Parable , Family Christian Bookstores ,and other retail outlets) particularly helpful in sorting out the revolutionary dynamics driving the

current clashes underway in North Africa and the Middle East. What do the Radicals really believe?How far are they willing to go to get what they want? Why do they want to overthrow all the regimesin the Islamic world and create a caliphate? Why do so many believe the Twelfth Imam is coming anymoment? That said, who are the Reformers? Why do they believe the Radicals are crazy and thatdemocracy is the answer? Is there any hope of the Reformers gaining the upper hand and transformingthe region for good, and not for evil? Most importantly to me is the opportunity to take you inside theworld of the Revivalists. Who are they? What do they believe? Why are they so courageous in

preaching the gospel, making disciples and planting new churches? How are they using satellite TV,radio, and the Internet to advance the Kingdom in dramatic and exciting ways? From Morocco toEgypt to Iraq to Afghanistan, I interview men and women who are putting their lives on the line for




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their Savior and Lord, and are convinced more than ever that they are on the winning side of historyand that Jesus Christ is coming back very soon. I hope you find it useful.

Inside The Revolution releases amidst intensifying unrest that continues to spread to nationsthroughout the epicenter. Reformer protest movements are building, especially in Libya, Iran, Bahrainand Yemen, but Radical and Resister governments are cracking down more brutally, leading tohundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Heres a summary of the latest news over the last few

days:

LIBYA

Gaddafi signals defiance in TV appearance, says hes in Libya not Venezuela, despiteswirling rumors

LIBYA: Colonels defected to Malta rather than bomb protestersNYT: Warplanes and Militia Fire on Protesters in Libyan CapitalOn the run: Gaddafi flees Tripoli as protesters set the Libyan parliament building alight possibly 400 now dead

233 dead in Libya in anti-Gaddafi riots; 41 year old son warns that Libya is at acrossroads. If we do not agree today on reforms rivers of blood will run throughLibya.

Gaddafis son warns of civil war in LibyaLibya protests analysis: For Muammar Gaddafi its kill or be killed; Libyas leaderfaces the worst unrest since he seized power, but no-one expects him to give up peacefully

IRAN

Iran cracks down to silence media, oppositionIrans Forces Battle Protests NationwideIran protests: capital under lockdown; Police and basij militia locked down the centre of Tehran on Sunday night after crowds of anti-regime demonstrators tried to converge on

central squares from across the city

US must be removed from Islamic world: Khamenei

BAHRAIN

Could the Kingdom of Bahrain Become an Iranian Pearl Harbor?Bahrain protesters seek to overthrow royal familyAt least 4 dead in Bahrain as violence continuesHillary Clinton: End Violence in Bahrain

YEMEN

Yemen president rejects demands he step down now 4 killed in Friday of Rage in YemenThe Woman at the Head of Yemens Protest MovementYemens unrest could embolden al-Qaeda or sideline it amid democratic hopes

MOROCCO

Tens of thousands march peacefully for reforms in Morocco; The mass rallies in Rabatand other cities are aimed at expanding democratic rights under the monarchy, which attimes has been oppressive




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Five dead after Morocco protestsFears of Chaos Temper Calls for Change in Morocco

ALGERIA

Protests increasing in AlgeriaAlgerian founding father urges reform

AHMADINEJAD SAYS THE FINAL MOVE HAS BEGUN:Revolution in Egypt managed by the Twelfth ImamPosted: February 18, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

>> UPDATES on the latest Palestinian leadershipefforts to condemn Israel at the U.N. Security Council

>> Anne Graham Lotz, internationally renowned Bible teacher and daughter of Billy Graham and a speaker at our upcoming 2011 Epicenter Conference has written anexcellent column on Prayer for Egyptian Believers that is now posted at www.joshuafund.net .Please take a moment to read it and share it with others.

>> Heres my recent interview on Fox News Channel discussing the implications of the fall of the Mubarak regime for Israel, for followers of Jesus Christ in Egypt, and for the battlebetween Radicals and Reformers in Iran.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is telling the people of Iran that the Twelfth Imam ismanaging the the revolution now underway in Egypt and in various parts of the Islamic world, andthat the final move has begun to destroy America, Israel and the influence of the Western powersin the epicenter.




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We will soon see a new Middle East materialising without America and the Zionist regime and therewill be no room for world arrogance (the West) in it, Ahmadinejad told a crowd chanting Death toAmerica, death to Israel and death to Mubarak last Friday.

Agence France Presse reported that in his fiery style, Ahmadinejad, showed his messianic beliefs onFriday, saying the world was witnessing a revolution managed by Imam Mahdi, the 12 Shiite imamwho disappeared as a five-year-old in the 10th century and who Shiites believe would return on the

judgement day.

The final move has begun, said Ahmadinejad. We are in the middle of a world revolution managed by this dear (12th Imam). A great awakening is unfolding. One can witness the hand of Imam inmanaging it.

The Christian Science Monitor provided additional quotes from Ahmadinejads message . Iransrevolution was the starting point of the rule of God over the earth, Ahmadinejad proclaimed. Its along path to fight against evil-doers; everyone must be aware of Satanic deceptions of the UnitedStates, Israel, and the West, he said, adding that the U.S. and Israel would soon be destroyed withdivine assistance, as Iran led humankind to summits of perfection. The Monitor also coveredAhmadinejads references to the Twelfth Imams role in guiding the global revolution nowunderway.

I am grateful to Agence France Presse and the Monitor for covering the story. Most of the rest of the mainstream media worldwide, however, have ignored Ahmadinejads comments this week, evenamidst provocative new moves by Iran to send two warships through the Suez Canal and close tothe Israeli coastline and to aggressively fix the damage done by the Stuxnet computer virus andaccelerate the enrichment of uranium . For all the left-wing (and some conservative) criticism of Glenn Beck in recent months, I also give him credit for seeking to educate Americans on this topic.Yesterday, he devoted an entire one-hour program to the topic of the Twelfth Imam, which I was gladto be able to assist with. Heres one YouTube clip from the program . My comments are part of avideo segment that begins at 6:22 minutes into this clip. I was glad to see other people interviewed for

the program included Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Delta Force commander Lt.-Gen. (ret) Jerry Boykin.

The Twelfth Imam and Iranian eschatology are topics that deserve more attention than theyare getting from the media or our government officials. Let us pray that our leaders wake up to thetrue gravity of the threat posed by Irans apocalyptic regime before it is too late.

UPDATE: In a disturbing sign for the future of Egypt, the military is securing access for the once-banned Muslim Brotherhoods spiritual leader to preach in Tahrir Square during Friday prayers. This leader, Yossef al-Qardawi, was profiled in the German magazine Der Spiegel this week .The article notes: Qaradawi advocates establishing a United Muslim Nations as a contemporaryform of the caliphate and the only alternative to the hegemony of the West. He hates Israel and would

love to take up arms himself. In one of his sermons, he asked God to kill the Jewish Zionists, everylast one of them.

Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi: Theologian of TerrorThe Voice of Egypts Muslim BrotherhoodThe Qaradawi FatwasEgypt OKs Iran warships through Suez Canal




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WITH MIDEAST IN TURMOIL, U.S. DECIDES TOREBUKE ISRAEL A TRUE DEMOCRACY AND ITSMOST LOYAL ALLY AT THE U.N.Posted: February 17, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

2/20 update: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks at this weekly Cabinetmeeting: Over the weekend, US President Barack Obama decided to veto a draft UN SecurityCouncil decision condemning Israel. Israel deeply appreciates this decision and we remain committedto advancing peace both with our neighbors in the region and with the Palestinians. I believe that theUS decision makes it clear that the only way to peace is direct negotiations and not through theactions of international bodies, which are designed to bypass direct negotiations. The most importantthing in any negotiations that we conduct is the security component. The security component iscritical to any peace agreement and I think that today, we can see what an unstable region we live in, aregion in which Iran tries to exploit the situation that has been created in order to expand its influence

by passing warships through the Suez Canal. Israel views this Iranian move with utmost gravity andthis step, like other steps and developments, underscores what I have reiterated in recent years

Israels security needs will grow and the defense budget must grow accordingly.

2/18 update: Hillary Clinton: Israeli Settlements Illegitimate; Secretary of State CallsWorking Toward Mideast Peace Her Highest Priority

2/17 update: Mahmoud Abbas is trying to force a U.N. vote to condemn Israel for buildingsettlements on territory the Palestinians claim is theirs but refuse to sign a peace treaty to get .The good news: the Obama administration is threatening to veto the resolution if it comes before theSecurity Council. The bad news: the U.S. is proposing to condemn Israel in a different manner toappease Abbas and the Islamic world.

>> Abbas rejects U.S. request to withdraw UN settlement resolution Washington has made itclear that it will veto the resolution should it come to a vote, and has implored the PalestinianAuthority and other Arab nations to withdraw the proposal, but to no avail.

The U.S. informed Arab governments Tuesday that it will support a U.N. Security Council statementreaffirming that the 15-nation body does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlementactivity, a move aimed at avoiding the prospect of having to veto a stronger Palestinian resolutioncalling the settlements illegal, reports Foreign Policy magazine in a story posted on its website.

But the Palestinians rejected the American offer following a meeting late Wednesday of Arabrepresentatives and said it is planning to press for a vote on its resolution Friday, according officialsfamilar with the issue. The decision to reject the American offer raised the prospects that the Obamaadminstration may cast its first ever veto in the U.N. Security Council. Still, the U.S. offer signaled arenewed willingness to seek a way out of the current impasse, even if it requires breaking with its keyally and joining others in the council in sending a strong message to Israel to stop its construction of new settlements. The Palestinian delegation, along with the councils Arab member Lebanon, haveasked the councils president this evening to schedule a meeting on Friday. But it remained unclear whether the Palestinian move today is simply a negotiating tactic aimed at extracting a better dealfrom the United States.

Unbelievable. What a way to treat Israel, our only true democratic and stable ally in the Mideast.




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HEADLINES TO TRACK:

FYI: I taped an interview this morning on The Twelfth Imam that is scheduled to be air onthe Glenn Beck show on the Fox News Channel tonightmay be used as soundbites, not a

full interviewwell see.FYI: last Wednesday, Glenn invited me to NYC to tape a full one-hour interview to be aired last Fridayhowever, with the fall of Mubarak, events overtook theshow and it was never aired.such is media during fast-moving events.

Iran Says Its Sending Two Warships to Canal, TV Says (despite previous report of cancellation)

Heritage Foundation report: Refocus on Iran: More Sanctions Needed Irans hostileregime has been one of the chief beneficiaries of the political turmoil that has convulsed Egyptand Tunisia, which distracted the United States and other countries from the ongoing standoff over Irans nuclear program. The dramatic events diverted international attention from Tehransstubborn refusal to negotiate an acceptable resolution of the nuclear issue at the failed Istanbultalks last month.

Israels economy grows 7.8% in fourth qtr of 2010

Inside The Revolution: How The Followers of Jihad, Jefferson and Jesus are Battling To Dominate The Middle East and Transform the World

Sign up for Joels free email updates, Flash TrafficJoin the Epicenter Team on FacebookTo learn more about The Joshua Fund watch the latest video blog or make a securedonation online, please click here

PROTEST MOVEMENT SPREADING THROUGHEPICENTER: Largest demonstrations in Iran since crackdown

Posted: February 16, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

>> Answer to prayer: Israeli mayor is cancer-free after evangelical Christians and othersaround the world pray for him details on The Joshua Fund website.

>> Israel says Iran warships to transit Suez for Syria

>> German magazine reports that Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader and TV preacher Youssef al-Qaradawi advocates establishing a United Muslim Nations as a contemporary form of thecaliphate and the only alternative to the hegemony of the West. He hates Israel and would loveto take up arms himself. In one of his sermons, he asked God to kill the Jewish Zionists, everylast one of them.

The drama in the epicenter is building. Iran on Tuesday witnessed the largest protests against thegovernment since the crackdown in 2009 after the rigged elections swept Mahmoud Ahmadinejadinto power for another four years. Major protests in Bahrain and Yemen, too. Developing.

HEADLINES TO TRACK

Washington Post reports on the protests in Iran: The demonstration was the largest inIran since a crackdown on the opposition 14 months ago; President Obama tells Mideast




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leaders, The world is changing.You have a young, vibrant generation within theMiddle East that is looking for greater opportunity. . . . You cant be behind the curve.Iran protests: clashes filmed in TehranIranian opposition returns to streets, energized by EgyptIranian Lawmakers: Execute Opposition LeadersBahrain takes the stage with raucous protestClashes Erupt in Bahrain as Tumult Ripples Across MideastYemenis trying to oust leader protest for 5th dayViolence punctuates Yemen protestsMuslim Brotherhood in Egypt to Be Political PartyEgypt opposition needs time, or Islamists will winFormer Egyptian leader at his residence in Sharm el-Sheikh Mubarak falls into comaafter final speech: report

WHAT DOES MUBARAKS DOWNFALL MEAN FORCHRISTIANS IN EGYPT? Update: Egyptian military vows tohonor treaty with IsraelPosted: February 12, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

JUST POSTED: Heres my interview on Fox News Channel on Sunday (Feb 13) with ShannonBream , discussing the implications of the fall of the Mubarak regime for Israel, for followers of JesusChrist in Egypt, and for the battle between Radicals and Reformers in Iran.

Feb 11 interview on CBN News, includes analysis from Jerusalem bureau chief ChrisMitchell, and international correspondent George Thomas

Feb 11 interview on the Chris Fabry show on the Moody Radio Network, includes the

Presidents statement to the nation about the fall of Mubarak and interviews with KenBoa, an evangelical ministry leader who was in Egypt when the revolution began, and Dr.Charlie Dyer, a Mideast expert and professor of Biblical studies at the Moody BibleInstitute ; my interview comes about 30 min into the one hour program

Background on the Chris Fabry showVideo blog on Isaiah 19 the future of Egypt from the perspective of Bible prophecy

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What does the downfall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak mean for Christians in Egypt? Thatsthe question Im being asked about again and again in TV and radio interviews over the past fewdays, so I thought Id jot down a few thoughts this morning.

First, senior pastors and ministry leaders in Egypt estimate there are some 2.5 million followers of Jesus Christ in their country. Most of these are born again converts who were raised as nominalChristians inside the historic Coptic (Orthodox) church. There are about eight to ten million Coptics

in the country, all told, and there is a significant revival going on among them. By Gods grace, agrowing number of Egyptian Muslims are leaving Islam and turning to Jesus every year. Amen. Maythis accelerate in the weeks and months ahead.

Second, believers in Egypt face significant harassment, ostracization, and outright persecution. Boththe Mubarak government and the Islamists have worked hard to intimidate the Church over the years.While there are wonderfully bold and courageous pastors and lay leaders, many have come to live infear and anxiety as a result.

Third, this is the most dramatic moment in the history of the modern Middle East since the downfallof the Saddam regime and the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Reformers are boldly

proclaiming their solutions for Egypts problems. Likewise, the Radicals are boldly proclaiming their solutions for Egypts ills. Now it is time for the Revivalists followers of our Lord Jesus who wantto revive what Egypt once had before Islam: First Century, New Testament, Biblical Christianity to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ . True freedom and liberation spiritually and socially

will only come when individuals choose to begin a personal relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ His Son. Only then does the Lord offer us the free gift of life eternal and lifeabundant, as we read in John 3:16 and John 10:10.

Fourth, our job as believers around the world at this moment of turmoil, change and uncertainty is tostand with our brothers and sisters in Egypt, encourage them, pray for them, provide whatever trainingor resources they need, and provide some funding if possible to help them proclaim the gospel, makedisciples, train new pastors, plant new churches, care for the poor and needy, and minister to the

people in many other ways. We cant do the work of the Church in Egypt for them, nor should we.But we can and must let them know that they are not alone. The Apostle Paul wrote in ICorinthians 12 that you are Christs body, and individually members of it. He told us that if onemember [of the Body] suffers, all the members suffer with it. In Philippians 2, he urged believers to

be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Heencouraged us to do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard oneanother as more important than yourselves. In other words, we need to do a better job understandingthe needs of the Egyptian Church and seek ways to stand with them and encourage them, not beselfish or prideful or focused merely on ourselves.

My wife, Lynn, our four sons, Lynns mom, and I had the joy of living in Egypt in a suburb of Cairo, actually for nearly three months in late 2005 and early 2006 when I was researching andwriting a book. During that time, we had the opportunity to see the enormous surge of Christianityunderway in the Middle East and North Africa firsthand. We met with Egyptian Muslim BackgroundBelievers (MBBs) and Nominal Christian Background Believers (NCBBs). We met believers engagedin satellite television ministry, in radio ministry, in Internet ministry, in gospel literature distribution,and in all manner of evangelism outreaches and discipleship programs. It was also a remarkable timeto study the history and culture of Egypt. We visited the great museum in Cairo, climbed inside the

pyramids, and traveled around the country to places like Alexandria and Sharm el-Sheikh. We learnedso much, saw so much poverty, so much sadness, such stagnation, such political and spiritualstagnation.




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We also made some dear friends and visited a variety of churches to better understand the challengesfacing believers in that historic country. One of these was the famous garbage church in the cavesabove Cairo, located right next to the biggest city of trash and waste products I have ever seen inmy life.

To get to the garbage church, you must first drive through this city of badly built brick andcement apartment buildings teeming with an estimated fifteen to thirty thousand garbage people

no one knows for sure, and the numbers are always changingliving amid literally thousands of tonsof trash. Everywhere you look you see people picking through it, sorting it, rebagging it, looking for objects of value and hoping to sell plastic bottles and the like to recyclers. The stench is unbelievable.

But then you come through it to the other side, to a paved parking lot and a lovely little Christianchapel, nestled against huge cliffs. Carved into the cliffs are the most amazing scenes of Jesuswalking on water, Jesus on the cross, Jesus ascending to heaven, and so forth, each with a Bible verseinscribed below it in Arabic and English, all done by a Polish artist. Inside the six caves are sixchapels, the largest of which holds twenty thousand people.

Our guide that day was an MBB named Addel. He shared with us (by translation) how he was lost indrugs and alcohol and the depression of living in the garbage village. He also shared with us how hecame to hear an audiocassette of one of the priests at the church and how God used that sermon toconvict him of his sin and point him to what Jesus did on the cross to pay the penalty for his sins andoffer him forgiveness. Now Addel greets visitors who come to see this extraordinary ministry andtells them the story of what God is doing there.

The church was planted, he said, in 1978 by a Coptic priest with a burden for reaching the people Paulcalled the scum of the world, the dregs of all things with the Good News that they could be adopted

by the King of kings. So many people became Christians in the years that followed that in 1992 theyhad to covert the largest cave into a worship amphitheater. On an average weekend, some tenthousand new and growing believers from the garbage community come to sing and hear the messageof the gospel and learn how to be true disciples of Jesus Christ. Services are held on Thursday nights

(the most popular service), Friday mornings, and Sunday evenings. In May of 2005, more than twentythousand Arab believers gathered at the garbage church for a day of prayer for their unsaved Muslimfriends to become followers of Christ. The event was broadcast throughout the Middle East on aChristian satellite television network, allowing millions more to see God powerfully at work.

With our kids, Lynn and I have been watching events unfold in Egypt through the lenses of our ownexperiences there, but more importantly through the lenses of Scripture. We know through Isaiah 19that the future of Egypt is going to get far worse in the last days before the return of Christ. We alsoknow that eventually Egypt will experience a great national awakening. Millions of Egyptians willcome to faith in Jesus Christ and worship Him during the Millennial Kingdom, when He reigns fromHis throne in Jerusalem. We are praying for the Lord to show us and The Joshua Fund team boardand staff how we can be a blessing not only to Israel, but also to her neighbors, like the dear people of Egypt who have suffered so long and need to find hope and freedom in Jesus. Wed love for you to

join us in these vital prayers, as well. Thanks so much, and may the Lord bless you as you bless Israeland Egypt at this critical hour.

HEADLINES TO TRACK:

Reuters: Gaddafi tells Palestinians: revolt against IsraelHaaretz: Palestinian cabinet to resign in wake of Mideast turmoilCNN: Egypts military dissolves parliament, suspends constitutionAP : Egypts military rulers dissolve parliament




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MUBARAK: I WILL NOT LET MY PEOPLE GO Time forthe Church in Egypt to be bold for the gospel

Posted: February 10, 2011 by joelcrosenberg in Uncategorized

UPDATED AT 6:15pm eastern Thurs LATEST HEADLINES ADDED 10am Friday

A few initial thoughts on Mubaraks speech:

As I was listening to the speech, my immediate thought was of the Pharoah in the Book of Exodus refusing to let the Jews go. Today, Mubarak refuses to go. Today, Mubarak refuses tolet the Egyptian people go.

1.

The Egyptian people deserve spiritual, economic and political freedom. They deserve so much better than what they have.

2.

That was not a speech of a man ready much less eager to step down from 31 years in power.Mubarark is resisting international pressure to leave on anyone elses time table but his own.

3.

I want to see Mubarak go, but I dont want to see a coup, or a takeover by a new authoritariandictator, or by Radical Islamists such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

4.

The speech creates more uncertainty in Egypt, in Israel and throughout the epicenter. For most people, uncertainty creates anxiety.

5.

Followers of Jesus Christ need to stay focused on that Christ is the King of kings and Lord of laws. He alone is sovereign. He removes kings and establishes kings, as the Hebrew ProphetDaniel wrote in Daniel 2:21.

6.

I was just on a radio show and was asked, how can Christians in the U.S. pray for Egypt right now. My immediate answer: Please pray for the Church in Egypt to be bold, courageous, fearless witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, the Reformers are in the

streets by the hundreds of thousands saying what they think is the answer to Egypts problems(depose Mubarak, end the emergency law, and bring about free and fair elections). TheRadicals such as the Muslim Brotherhood is clear about their answer ( Allah is our objective.The Prophet is our leader. The Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah isour highest hope. ) Now its time for true followers of our Lord Jesus to preach the gospelthroughout Egypt will urgency and courage. Christ is the Prince of Peace. He is the only trueand lasting hope for the dear people of Egypt.

7.

Another question I was asked: As youve watched this situation in Egypt unfold in recentweeks, do you see a possibility that if there is an orderly transition that the situation forChristians could actually improve? My answer: Its a very interesting question. Yes, itcould. I think of the time when the Soviet Empire collapsed on Christmas Day in 1991. Thatopened up Russia and the entire Eastern bloc to the gospel. Many people came to faith inChrist. Many new congregations were planted. Many new pastors were called and trained. Sothats one scenario, more freedom opening a door for the gospel. But then theres the Iraninanmodel. The fact that Radicals have been in power there for 32 years has been what God hasused to begin to change that country. A Radical regime in Iran has counterintuitively been thehealthiest for the church. Not easy. Dont get me wrong. Theres been terrible persecution. ButGod has used all this to shake Iranians from their belief that is Islam is the answer and jihad isthe way. Millions of Iranians have turned away from Islam. At least one million Iranians, it isestimated, have come to faith in Christ. So God can use two entirely different environments, theopening up of freedom and democracy, or a crackdown and more repression, to bring souls to

8.




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Bible Prophecy and the Future of Libya

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Transcript of Bible Prophecy and the Future of Libya