Taken from December 1979 Plain Truth Magazine

Is the Arab world mentioned in Bible prophecy? Today the Arab-world is an area of vital concern to nations around the globe. Both political and economic considerations place that vast region stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean at the very focal point of world attention. Could Bible prophecy overlook the Arabs? Assuredly not! .

The Arab peoples are destined to play a significant role in the development of future world events. They will be at the very center of a series of crises which will plunge the Middle East into a major war;;ultimately drawing in all the nations of the earth!

What is an Arab?

But first, just what is an Arab? This question has plagued scholars for centuries. Peoples of many different ethnic groups, often exhibiting widely differing physical characteristics, consider themselves or are considered by others to be Arabs Experts place the number of Arabs in the world today at well over 100,000,000.

The Arabic term al-Arab originally referred only to the wandering Bedouins (Badawis) of the Arabian Desert, The Bedouins consider themselves to be the original Arabs and the only true Arabs remaining today. Scattered from Morocco to Iran ; but- concentrated in the Arabian Peninsula the Bedouins maintain a lifestyle, which has changed little since the time of the Old Testament.

But the meaning of the term Arab has changed over the centuries. During the Moslem military conquest of the seventh and eighth centuries AD., widespread Bedouin intermarriage with the indigenous peoples of conquered North Africa and other areas of the Middle East served to blur earlier ethnic distinctions.

To this day no standard or official definition of an Arab has been agreed upon or is likely to be. The best criterion of who is an Arab is probably language. Therefore many use the term Arabic speaking people instead of Arabs to designate a linguistic group composed of many diverse peoples.

Where did the Arab People come from?

Nations are merely families grown big In general the Arab people descended from one man Ishmael (called Ismail by the Arabs), the son of Biblical patriarch Abraham (or Ibrahim). The Arabs themselves acknowledge this. The story is found in the book of Genesis, beginning in chapter 16.

Abraham's wife Sarah was unable to have children. Sarah suggested that Abraham take Hagar the Egyptian, her handmaid, and obtain an heir by her. Abraham agreed, and Hagar conceived a child.

As could be expected, friction soon 'developed between Sarah and Hagar. Sarah began to treat Hagar harshly. When she could take it no longer. Hagar fled into the desert. There an angel appeared to her, telling her to return to Sarah. The angel declared; Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shall call his name Ishmael (meaning *God will hear) because the Lord hath heard thy affliction (Genesis 16:11). The angel also revealed that her progeny would be multiplied exceedingly, that it would not be numbered for multitude So Hagar returned and soon afterwards presented Abraham with a son.

Thirteen years passed. God then appeared to Abraham and announced that Sarah - then age 90, would soon bear Abraham a son! Abraham was incredulous More­over, he had grown to love Ishmael greatly and desired that he be his heir and receive the birthright blessings. O that Ishmael might live before thee! Abraham entreated God.

But God replied Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed and thou shalt call his name Isaac and I will establish my covenant with him (Genesis 17: 19). But God understood Abraham's concern for Ishmael's future, and assured him And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee,Behold I have blessed him and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. TWELVE PRINCES SHALL HE BEGET, AND I WILL MAKE HIM A GREAT NATION (verse 20)

After the birth of Isaac, Hagar and Ishmael were cast forth into the desert at the insistence of Sarah. Their God miraculously preserved them and reaffirmed His promise to make of Ishmael a Great Nation (Gen. 21:18) And God was with the lad, the account continues, and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran (the modern Negev Desert); and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt (verses 20-21). One or two additional wives were later added.

As God had prophesied, Ishmael became the father of 12 sons, whose names are recorded in Genesis 25:13 -16: Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. Ishmael also had one daughter, called Mahalath or Bashemath (Genesis 28:9; 36:3), who married Esau, the son of the patriarch Isaac.

A Great Nation

Ishmael died at the age of 137 (Genesis 25:17). As God had promised, his twelve sons grew into a great nation; Today numbering scores of millions!

The specific genealogies of each of the modern-day Arab tribes, sub-tribes, families and clans are virtually impossible to trace back in every case to their ultimate biblical origins. But some of the major lines of descent are knownFor example From Ishmael's son Kedar(Qaidar in Arabic)dated approximately 1840 BCcan be traced a line of descent to Adnan (or Qais) 122 BC and from him (21 generations further on) to Mohammed (AD 570-632) of the Koreish tribe, the founder and prophet of the Islamic faith.

Though Ishmael is considered to have been the progenitor of the majority of the Arabworld, there are indications of some intermingling of Ishmaelites with other related peoples specifically Joktanites and Keturahites.

Joktan (called Qahtan or Kahtanby the Arabs) was the son of the Patriarch Eber (Gen. 10:25) who lived many generations before Abraham and Ishmael. This Joktan whom authorities consider to have been the father of all northern Arabs had 11 sons named in Genesis 10: 26-29. One of them Jerah (Yarab to the Arabs) is believed to have found the Kingdom of Yeman in the northern part of the peninsula. Some authorities believe his name was the root of the word Arab, the meaning of which is thought to be arid

Yarab's brother Hadoram (Jorham to the Arabs) is believed to have founded the Hejaz, an important kingdom along, the western coast of Arabia, containing the cities of Mecca and Medina. According to Arab history, the, daughter of Mudad a descendant of this Jorha, became one of the wives of ishmael. It is from that union that Ishmael's illustrious son Kedar is said to have come.

Another of Joktan's sons Hazarmaveth, is claimed by the present-day tribesmen of the Hadhramaut (a region in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula) as their ancestor.

The other line with which the Ishmaelites are said to have intermarried is that of the Keturahites. The Keturahites were descendants of Keturah, whom Abraham married after, the death of Sarah. Abraham and Keturah had six sons (Genesis 25:2) whose progeny like that of Joktan, gradually became incorporated into The House Of Ishmael.

Thus after making due allowance for mixture with Joktanites and Keturahites the Arabs may be regarded as essentially an Ishmaelite race.

In Bible usage the name Kedar is often employed as the collective name of all the nomadic Arab tribes generally as Kedar apparently had been the largest and most conspicuous of the Bedouins tribes. The tribes importance can be inferred from the mention of the rich princes of Kedar in Ezekiel 27:21, and elsewhere.

The Prophet Isaiah in the burden of destruction upon Arabia, (Isaiah 21:13-17) prophesied the demise of the glory of Kedar. The glory of Kedar did fade and the Arabs slipped into obscurity.

The conquest of Islam

Their Arabs interest appears to have been fighting wars among themselves an activity designed not so much with the intent of eradicating or enslaving rival tribes but rather to break the wearisome monotony of watching animals graze in the vast emptiness of the desert.

When it came to religion, the Arabs were idol worshippers . The great temple of Mecca overseen by the influential Koreish tribe - was said to have contained 365 idols.

Ironically, it was from the Koreish tribe that Mohammed arose early in the 7th century A.D. - six centuries after Christ. He succeeded in abolishing the idolatry long prevalent in Arabia and bringing his fellow Arabs a new faith, Islam (Submission to God), based on belief in one god, Allah. Moreover, Mohammed's teachings forged the divided Arab tribe into a social and culturally united people. Islam provided them for the first time with a powerful unifying force, making it possible for them to aspire to greatness as a nation.

A little history will be useful here to show how the stage has been set over the centuries for the prophetic events which be just ahead.

Following Mohammed's death in 612 the leadership of the Moslem nation passed to a succession of caliphs (Successors) ruling initially from of Medina. They completed the unification of the Arabian Peninsula and began to push upward, eventually bringing the entirety of the Middle East under their rule.

In the early 7th century, the near and Middle east were divided between two great rival powers, the Roman Byzantine Empire (called Rum by the Arabs) centered at Constantinople, and the Sassanid Empire of Persia. These two adversaries had exhausted each other by long and destructive wars, and thus were sitting ducks for the vigorous new Islamic power sweeping out of Arabia.

To the frenzied cries of Allah Akbar! (God is Great!), camel-mounted Arab tribesmen swept with lightning speed into neighboring territories, taking Syria in 635, Iraq in 637, Palestine in 640, Egypt and Persia in 641. Jerusalem was taken in 638. Not since the days of Alexander the Great had such swift and far-reaching conquests been seen. The Believers smote and slaughtered till the going down of the sun recorded one contemporary Arab historian, and the fear of the Arabs fell upon all kings.

The supreme office of caliph, originally elective, soon was made hereditary - first in the Omayyad family (from a-d, 661 to 750) and then in the Abbasid family (750 to 1258). The Omayyad dynasty, ruling from Damascus, was responsible for the conquest of the remainder of North Africa and rural of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). ln the East, Omayyad armies swept over Central Asia toward India and China in less than 100 years, the Omayyads had built an empire larger than that of Rome at it's height. Millions were added into the fold of the Moslem faith.

It was the great Omayyad Caliph Abdul Malik. incidentally, who constructed the great Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem in 691-692 on Mount Mortah, the former site of the illustrious Temple of Solomon

The Abbasid dynasty, ruling from Baghdad, consisted of 37 caliphs, among them the famous Harun alRashed (786-809) Arabian Nights fame.The first two or three centuries of Abbasid rule marked the Golden Age of Islamic culture and literature. While Europe lay engulfed by the Dark Ages the Arabs kept the torch of knowledge burning through their far flung domains.

lncreasingly, However, the Abbasid caliphs grew soft, succumbing to the ease of sedentary palace life and losing their martial vigor. internal weaknesses resulted in a gradual breakdown of the political solidarity of the Moslem Empire and it's disintegration into autonomous or semiautonomous states. Eventually Baghdad itself was conquered by invaders, and the Abbasid caliphs became mere figurehead puppet rulers. In addition, the Islamic faith itself became split and fragmented into dozens of sects sub-sects and off­shoots, as it remains to this day. In fact, modern Islam is as divided as modern Christianity!

War and independence

Early in the 16th century the majority of Arab lands came under the sway of the Ottoman Turks ruling from Istanbul. For the following four centuries there was no independent Arab state. The Arabs bristled under the corrupt and Despotic rule of the Ottomans.

During World War I the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) sided with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria - Hungary against Britain. An opportunity thus presented itself to Britain, The British believed that a rebellion of Arabs against their Turkish overlords would enable Britain, while fighting Germany, simultaneously to defeat Germany's ally Turkey. Britain consequently encouraged and gave assistance to a rebellion of the Arab tribes.

The rebellion was proclaimed in June 1916 by Hussein ibn Ali the illustrious Sheriff of Mecca (a descendant of Mohammed) and self proclaimed king of the Arabs. In exchange for his revolt against the Turks Hussein received at promise from Britain to recognize the independence of the Arab countries after the war.

Assisted by the legendary T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) in the field, the Revolt in the Desert was successful. With Turkey's defeat, Ottoman rule in Arab lands came to an end.

But the free and united Middle Eastern Arab empire promised by Britain did not materialize. The majority of Arab lands were instead given to Britain and France to rule as mandates. The Arabs felt betrayed, claiming Britain had duped them, had made false promises and had shown bad faith. After centuries of Ottoman rule, they were now to be ruled by Europeans!

Eventually, however, various independent Arab states did at last emerge. Iraq became independent in 1932, Syria and Lebanon in 1941, Transjordan in 1946, Egypt in 1951. In Arabia, King Ibn Saud of Nejd (central Arabia) succeeded in conquering the Hejai in 1925, and in 1932 - after uniting other areas under his control - formed the soon- to- be oil rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Calls soon began to issue forth from various quarters for these newly independent Arab states to unite into one giant Arab Nation. Many Arabs began to look back with a sort of nostalgia to the first few centuries after Mohammed when Islam was politically united as a single world empire, extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indus River. Why not, they asked, seek to recreate the political and theological unity of the early Islamic caliphate - beginning with the unification of the Arab world? The possibilities would be tremendous, they suggested.

Elusive Dream

This idea (called Pan-Arabism) of a single united Arab Nation with one flag and one capital was not new. Throughout the centuries the goal of a single political entity embracing all Arabic-speaking peoples has been a Widely held dream among Arabs. But it has proved to be as collusive as the mirages of the desert. Indeed, the pages of Arab history brim with stories of tribal feuds, national conflicts and personal rivalry among Arab leaders.

The common historical origin, common faith, language and culture of the Arab peoples -factors that would seem at first glance to provide an excellent basis for Arab solidarity - prove to be mere facade of unity. In actuality, the Arab people are deeply divided by often fierce political, ideological, economic, theological and territorial rivalries. Though the desire for unity is strongly felt, there are wide and almost irreconcilable differences among Arab nations over the manner in which that goal is to be achieved.

Even more hopeless has been the centuries-old quest for the wider-scopc ideal of Islamic unity. Multiple millions of non-Arabic speaking peoples also follow the Moslem faith, including those of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Indonesia, and parts of India and Africa. In fact, one person in six in the world today Is a Moslem. The concept of the unity of the entire Islamic world - both Arab and non-Arab is called Pan-Is­lam. Though all Moslem recognize the tremendous possibilities that might be realized through greater cooperation, such ideals often clash with the pragmatic interests of individual Moslem nations. Like the lesser-scope concept of Pan-Arabism, Pan-Is lams chances for success in the estimation of most observers - are small.

Religious Upheaval

What hope remains, then? Will the long-sought unity of the Arab and Moslem worlds ever be realized? If so, most observers feel, it will probably have to come through swift and possibly violent change - in the wake of tumultuous political or religious upheaval.

The Moslem world today is ripe for something new After centuries of divisive religious and political infighting and frustrating ambition's. Moslem sentiments are coming to a head Moslems are ready for a new Concept to, provide the catalyst toward realizing their long-thwarted dreams. They want to again become a powerful force in world affairs, in a role befitting their size and glorious past.

Increasing numbers of Moslems - Arab and non Arab alike believe it is time, for a rekindling of the fires of their faith, time for a wide scale religious and spiritual revival in the face of growing secularization, materialism and Westernization (witness world events) From Morocco to Indonesia, back to the Koran sentiments are growing along with calls for a united fundamentalist Islam.

The lacking vital ingredient is leadership. There have been many attempts at a Pan-Islamic policy, none of which has made much progress observes Bernard Lewis, a British Scholar of the Middle East. One reason for this lack of succcess is that those who have made the attempt have been so unconvincing.

This still leaves the possibility of more convincing leadership, and there is ample evidence in virtually all Muslim countries of the deep yearning for such a leadership and a readiness to respond to it.

Moslems in general and Arabs in particular have historically responded like no other people to the charismatic personality. Since the founding of Islam, men have periodically arisen in various parts of the Moslem world claiming to be the long awaited Mahdi, the expected end-time messiah who is to cleanse and restore the Islamic faith to its original purity, unify the Moslem world and usher in a seven year golden age just before the end of the world.

Many of these individuals - often melt of considerably eloquence and extraordinary personal magnetism - gathered great armies and attempted to unify the Moslem world by religious wars. Some gained thrones; others ; the majority - died bloody deaths on the field of battle. But none were to be ignored.

One of the most recent Mahdis was Mohammed Ahmed; the Sudanese Mahdi, who united numerous tribes against British and Egyptian control of the Sudan and succeeded in capturing the strategic Nile city of Khartoum from General Charles George Garden in I885. His goal of a single united Moslem nation however, went unfullfilled.

A Thing Of The Past

Nearly a century has passed since the Sudanese Mahdi's victory at Khartoum. To many observers, militant Mahdism is a thing of the past. A major flare-up or radical messianism is deemed unlikely by some, even impossible But is it really?

The expectations of a coming Mahdi (in Arabic, the divinely guided one) is prevalent among virtually all Moslem sects, Though they often differ in the specifics of the concept. Moslems today yearn for a guide, a teacher, a deliverer one who embodies their innermost hope and dreams, who will breathe new life into Islam, give new direction, and set about healing the schisms which divide the Moslem world.

There has always been magic in the name Mahdi. Were a revolutionary new religious figure to suddenly appear the Moslem world - a dynamic, charismatic leader who could capture the imagination of Moslems everywhere and effectively capitalize on their hunger for greatness - the Middle East picture could be transformed overnight!

The appearance of a 20th century Mahdi as fantastic as the prospect might appear to Western minds; cannot be quickly dismissed In Islam, politics and religion are inextricably mixed. There is a close relationship between the spiritual and civil power.

Islam waits to be united. The role of Mahdi - the great Unifier of Islam awaits a player, Mahdis have marched in their dozens and scores through the pages of Moslem history. There is no reason to believe the day of Mahdism are past. Indeed, circumstances in the Moslem world appear riper than ever for a Mahdist flare-up. Even now a Mahdi may be Waiting in the wings for the opportune moment.

Prophesied in the Bible?

As the Bible so clearly demonstrates, it is God who makes and unmakes nations. The prophet Daniel declared that God removes kings and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21. RSV) And it is God who declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done (Isaiah 46:10). God reveals the future before it happens!

The Bible is not silent about the Arab world. Among other prophecies for this region, it strongly suggests the emergence of a coming Arab-Moslem Confederation, possibly under the overall leadership, of one powerful individual!

In chapter 11 of the book of Daniel Is found the longest prophecy in the Bible, The prelude is found in the tenth chapter. There, the archangel Gabriel appears to Daniel: Now I am come, to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days (verse 14).

The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events at that time, still future from the remaining days of the Medo-Persian empire, through the reign of Alexander the Great and his successors in Syria and Egypt, and on through to the second coming of Christ!

Beginning in verse 40 we read of a conflict between two great powers: 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..,,

This is an important end-time prophecy. Following the chronological progression of the chapter, it becomes apparent that the phrase king of the north had at first referred to Syria under the Seleucid dynasty, and later, in the New Testament times to the emperor of the Roman Empire, (For a detailed, verse-by-verse examination of Daniel 11, check out The Middle East in Prophecy. Thus in its final end-time application the king of the north is the prophesied strong man who will lead a coming union of ten European nations-;the seventh and final revival of the ancient Roman Empire prophesied by Daniel and in the book of Revelations (Rev. 17:12-13).

But who is the king of the south? In the earlier portions of Daniel 11, the phrase refers without Question to ancient Egypt under the role of the Ptolemaic dynasty, later including Ethiopia, which was annexed to Egypt. But in verse 40 we skip to the Time of the end - our present century. The verse undoubtedly found at least partial fulfillment in the offensive in 1896 of Emperor Menelik ll of Ethiopia (king of the south) against the Italian armies of King Humbert l (king of the north) and in the air, land and sea invasion of Ethiopia 40 years later by Mussolini's forces.

But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy. He did not for example enter into the glorious land or Palestine (verse 41), Its greater fulfillment is yet future. Just as there is yet to be a final king of the north called in Bible symbolism the beast - who will arise as super dictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final king of the south - an overall leader of an Arab- Moslem confederation, possibly even bearing the very title Mahdi. And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation, possibly over oil which wll ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East.

Crisis in Palestine

What does prophecy reveal, then about the succession of events in the Middle East in the coming months and years? And what part will the Arab world play in them?

The Bible does not give an exact sequence of coming events. We must watch world events to discover how and when the prophecies will happen (Luke 21:36) . But in piecing together prophecies scattered throughout the Old and New Testament, a general picture becomes clear.

As all students of Bible prophecy the city of Jerusalem is the focal point of all prophecy. Since the Arab-Israeli War of I967 old Jerusalem has been in the hands of the State of Israel. It is with that nation that we must begin our overview prophesy for the region.

An important key to understanding prophecy is to realize, first, that the present Jewish suite in Palestine is not the triumphant final return of Israel to the promised land mentioned so often by the Old Testament prophets.

Anciently, Israel was composed of 12 tribes, descended from the 12 sons of the patriarch Jacob. Following the death of King Solomon, the nation of Israel split into two separate nations (l Kings 12): the southern house of Judah composed of the tribes of Judah. Benjamin and part of Levi, with capital at Jerusalem - And the larger ten-tribed house of Israel to the north, with capital at Samaria.

The House of Israel conquered and carried away into captivity by Assyria in 721-718 B.C. (ll Kings 18:9-12) never to return. The house of Judah (the Jews) was carried off in slavery to Babylon over a century later, in 604-585 BC (ll Kings 25). Judah was laid waste. Thereafter, no independent Israelitish nation existed anywhere in Palestine for over 2500 years, Though a remnant of the house of Judah returned to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel 70 years later in 534 B.C.. Judah remained under subjection as a Persian and later a Roman Province. Finally, in AD 70, Judea was invaded and Jerusalem destroyed by Roman troops. The Jews were forcefully driven from their homeland.

In 1948 - after nearly 19 centuries of being dispersed - a part of the tribe of Judah forged a new nation in Palestine, calling it the State of Israel. Though this end-time physical restoration of the Jews as a nation was forecast by many Old Testament prophets, it was not the much-prophesied great restoration of the entire nation of Israel. The vast majority of the Israelitish tribes - the so called Lost Ten Tribes have not yet returned!

See Jews are a Nation Again - Prophecy fulfilled? by Herbert W, Armstrong in the February-1979 Plain Truth... If you don't have it email me and I'll mail it to you in a DVD set.

The prophesied return of all Israel to the promised land in peace and security is yet future.

But what does prophecy say of the present Jewish State of Israel?.. Will the Arab nations make further efforts to drive it into the sea? Will there be a fifth Arab- Israeli war? And if so, what will the consequences be?

Numerous prophecies speak of various calamities yet to befall Judah in the months and immediate years ahead. A great crisis is yet to occur in Palestine. TheArab armies are today better equipped, and better coordinated for the waging of war than at any time in the past three decades. A future Mideast war could very well place in danger the very existence of the State of Israel, Moreover, the most sacred religious shrines of the world's three major religions, located in Jerusalem could become jeopardized. The Big Blowers may be forced to intervene, Troops may even be dispatched to Palestine as a peace-keeping, force to patrol and police the volatile region. King David of ancient Israel, in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the coming Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Biblical prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations - a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name Israel from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned king of the south of Daniel 11 - a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic-world.

They have said Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.

The tabernacles of Edom

[Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non Arab but Islamic nation]
and the Ishmaelites (Saudi Arabia) of Moab... (part of Jordan)
and the Hagarenes ... (anciently these people dwelt in the land known as Syria today)
Gebal.... (Lebanon)
and Ammon (modern Jordan)
and Amalek (part of the Turks)
the Philistines ... (the modern Palestinian Arabs)
with the inhabitants of Tyre... (Lebanon)
Assur.... (whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany)
also is joined with them: they have holpen (help) the children of Lot... (Jordan and western Iraq).
(Psalms 83:4-8)

Amazingly, such an alliance is already in the making! Europe Germany in particular is vitally dependent on the Arab world's oil. It cannot afford to appear overly sympathetic to the Jewish state. Even now, a special relationship is developing between the major Arab oil producers In the Middle East and the industrial oil-consuming powers of Western Europe. Europe is seeking long term guarantees of oil supplies to meet it's needs.Moreover,the Arabs, fearful of Soviet inroads in the Middle East and corresponding lack of firm U.S. resolve to counter-balance them have expressed interest in developing closer Military ties with Europe. There have even been reports of a suggested collective security pad in the Middle East under European guarantees. Meanwhile while Israeli leaders arc becoming concerned about what they perceive to be a growing European pro Arab tilt.

MidEast Invaded

But in the end this European-Arab alliance will prove short lived. as shown earlier the king of the north in Daniel 11 - the leader of the German led European union will ultimately turn against the Arab king of the south with disastrous consequences for the entire Middle East - both Jew and Arab alike. The entire region will be subjected to armed invasions.

Europe's end could well be precipitated by a cutoff of vital oil supplies by the Arabs. Whatever the provocation, Europe will act swiftly to protect it's interests - sending troops in the Middle East...

Daniel 11:40-41: And the king of the north shall come against him (the king of the south) like a whirlwind... and he shall enter into the countries.... He shall enter also into the glorious land (Palestine), and many countries (Arab countries of the Middle East) , shall be overthrown.

The modern State of Israel will be conquered. Jerusalem will be besieged and taken. The prophet Zechariah also speaks of this capture of Jerusalem, revealing that eventually, half the city will he taken into captivity by the European power (14:1-2).

Zechariah 14:1-3 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

In addition, Daniel's prophecy specifically mentions that Egypt will be conquered by the German-led European forces. Isaiah shows that Syria, too will become a ruinous heap (17:1-3)

Isaiah 17:1-4 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.

The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the face of invasion. Some of it's component countries will be directly occupied by European , troops. However as revealed in Daniel 11:41, Jordan (the present-day descendants of Moab and Ammon) and Turkey (Edom) will escape occupation. Other Arab countries may also avoid full occupation, possibly remaining in some sort of limited alliance with United Europe, Libya (or Put, the North African Arabs) along with Ethiopia (or Cush, certain black African nations) shall be at his [the king of the north's] steps or following him as some translations render it

He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he 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.But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:41-45)