Prince of Persia on the Loose

Prince of Persia on the Loose
By Terry James

Those of us who examine world issues and events of our time from a Pre-Trib eschatological viewpoint consistently pronounced that the uprisings that began months ago in the Middle East would result in an expansion of Islamist control over the region. Mainstream news pundits of the secular ilk proclaimed it a great day for democracy's spreading among the tyrant-laden nations of the Middle East. Mainstream religionists, at the same time--including, sadly, many of the neo-evangelical sort such as Saddleback's Rick Warren—declared it a new day for all faiths to come together in peace and understanding. The Arab Spring, as it has come to be called, was to bring in a kind of Mideast utopia, it was gleefully expected by the uprising's cheerleaders.

Soon Egypt's president-dictator, Hosni Mubarak, was forced out as the nations surrounding Israel on three sides fell one by one into the hands of peoples that are under the control of…well…that's another matter into which we will have a look. No matter what news network or outlet, the talk has centered on something peaceful and good coming out of the so-called Arab Spring. The movement is a supposedly righteous rebellion to oust dictators that will bring the installation of democracy to most if not all of the nations in the region that has been the most volatile on earth since Israel was reborn in 1948.

But a funny thing happened on the way to all of that promised freedom to choose. The following news item provides enlightenment:

Egypt's military rulers say that the next parliament will not be representative enough to independently oversee the drafting of a constitution, and that they will appoint a council to check the influence of religious extremists on the process.

The announcement followed a surprisingly strong showing by Islamist groups who took the overwhelming majority in the first round of parliamentary elections. The outcome caused concern among the liberals who drove Egypt's uprising and the military, which took power from ousted leader Hosni Mubarak…

Liberal groups and the military--a secular institution that has traditionally controlled access of Islamists to its ranks--are concerned that religious extremists will exert too much influence and could try to enshrine strict Islamic law, or Shariah, as the only guiding principle for state policies.

Voters chose both parties and individuals in the complex electoral system. The Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic fundamentalist group that was the best known and organized party, and the more radical Al-Nour party--ultraconservative Islamists known as Salafis--took about 60 percent of the vote for parties together, according to official results…

The result was a devastating blow for the mostly secular and liberal youth who drove the uprising. ("Egypt's Military Leaders to Appoint Council to Oversee Drafting of New Constitution, Telegraph.co.uk, 12/8/11)

We have watched and reported on the unrest that began many months ago and continued until the time of the Egyptian elections just reported. Since December 18, 2010, there have been revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt; a civil war in Libya; civil uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen. Major protests have been launched in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, and Oman, as well as on the borders of Israel. There have been minor protests in Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara.

Moammar Gadhafi of Libya has met his fate, and Bashar al-Assad faces the same in Syria, as the Islamist uprisings build toward a fever pitch in that tyrant's kingdom. It is interesting that Satan has trouble controlling his own diabolist minions within the Mideast madness, even as some rebellious leaders infesting Christianity fight against the good the God of heaven wants to get done during this dispensation. Of course, this shouldn't surprise. The fomenter of both incendiary actions is one and the same.

In the case of things going on in the Israel-hating nations that surround the tiny Jewish state, the fingerprints are obvious. The same satanic general that instigated and carried out warfare in high places during the prophet Daniel's time has been turned loose today to stir the boiling Middle East cauldron. His most visible involvement is evidenced within the Islamist fury that rages under the guise of democracy on the move. The most overt evidence of the immediate danger this general poses is the nuclear threat Iran presents against Israel.

The prince of Persia (Daniel 10:20) is on the loose in these last of the last days.

Terry