While everyone’s eyes are on Syria these days, and for good reason, developments in another prophetically significant country are flying under the radar. That country is none other than Libya. According to Stars and Stripes, Russia could be preparing to intervene in Libya. Like Syria, Libya is the site of a multi-party civil war, and apparently Russia has picked a side. Stars and Stripes reported “What isn’t clear is whether Moscow’s public flirtation with secular strongman Gen. Khalifa Haftar is mere posturing or a prelude to a deeper intervention.”
Ultimately, it’s difficult to predict with any certainty what the next moves are in Libya. That said, the Antichrist is going to be the leader of Russia at the time of the end, and he will have a very complicated relationship with Libya. For starters, it’s likely that Libya starts out as an enemy of the Antichrist during the Daniel 11:22 War. Just to recap, the Daniel 11:22 War involves Israel and many nations from the Middle East and North Africa. They will attack the Antichrist in Syria, but he’ll win (Daniel 11:21-22).
Afterward, he’ll make a seven-year covenant with Israel and many nations (Daniel 9:27; 11:23). Although it’s not explicitly stated, these nations will be from the Middle East and North Africa because the international recognition of Israel as a state is a key part of the Antichrist’s seven-year deal (Daniel 9:27; 11:28, 30). Most nations in the world today that haven’t recognized the State of Israel are in the Middle East and North Africa. Many of them are members of the Arab League. Naturally, Libya is a member of the Arab League and they haven’t recognized Israel.
Halfway through this seven-year covenant, the Antichrist will break the deal by invading Jerusalem with a large, multi-national force (Ezekiel 38:1-9). One of the participants is called Put (Ezekiel 38:5). Is this name referring to a place or a people group? Well, Put was a son of Ham, one of Noah’s sons (Genesis 10:6). So, Put is referring to a people group, not a geographic location. Obviously, this invasion will happen in the final years before Christ’s return (Ezekiel 38:8). Consequently, it’s important to find out where this people group eventually settled. According to the intrepid Bodie Hodge, Put’s descendants mainly wound up in Libya, but they also spread throughout North African countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Mali.1 In other words, Libya and much of Northwest Africa will join the Antichrist in invading Israel during the end times.
Of course, trusting the Antichrist is a pretty stupid move. After successfully invading Israel, the Antichrist will begin conquering other countries (Daniel 11:31-45). Libya will be one of those countries conquered by the Antichrist (Daniel 11:43).
All in all, it’s difficult to gauge the immediate future of relations between Libya and Russia. Yet, it’s clear that in the long-term, it’s going to be complicated.
References
1 Hodge, B. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2013), p. 128-129, 182.