NOTE: The following post gives more details on the topics covered below: “The Daniel 11:22 War”, “Sheep/Goat Nations”, “Satanism”, “London = Babylon the Great?” https://dangreenup.com/geopolitics-and-bible-prophecy/
The Daniel 11:22 War
Supposedly, Cyprus recently blocked “European Union sanctions against several officials from Russia-annexed Crimea in a bid to secure EU backing for tougher action against Turkey in a separate row over drilling for hydrocarbons.” Obviously, Turkey doesn’t want to miss out on the eastern Mediterranean energy boom. Along with Libya, they may “work with international companies to search for oil and gas in the eastern Mediterranean.” In early January, Greece, Cyprus and Israel signed an agreement to build the EastMed pipeline, which will take natural gas from the eastern Mediterranean to Europe. The United States publicly supports the EastMed pipeline from Israel, through Cyprus to Greece and Italy. The United States also lifted its decades-old arms embargo on Cyprus a little while back. Clearly, the eastern Mediterranean natural gas boom is going to turn countries like Israel, Cyprus, Greece, Italy and Egypt into significant players in the energy market.
Without question, this new arrangement will turn the world’s energy markets upside down and it could explain why the Antichrist invades Jerusalem during the end times to take plunder. He later conquers Egypt. Of course, it should be noted that the Antichrist’s clashes with Israel and Egypt are merely a continuation of the Daniel 11:22 War, which begins his rise to the top in the Middle East.
As for Cyprus, well, Daniel 11:29-30 prophesies that “ships of Kittim” will prevent the Antichrist’s first invasion of Israel. Kittim’s descendants mainly settled in Cyprus, but they also settled throughout many countries along the Mediterranean Sea.* Incidentally, the Antichrist’s second invasion, described in Daniel 11:31 and Ezekiel 38, won’t be stopped by Israel’s immediate neighbors. Ezekiel 38 prophesies that “the merchants of Tarshish” will helplessly ask the Antichrist “Have you come to capture spoil?” Tarshish was a son of Javan, who was a son of Japheth. The descendants of Tarshish were originally in Asia Minor, modern Turkey, but they eventually settled along many Mediterranean coasts, like Greece and southern Italy.** Putting it all together, Italy, Greece and Cyprus may stand with Israel and resist the Antichrist. Let’s hope so!
*Hodge, B. The Tower of Babel: The Cultural History of Our Ancestors (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 2013), p. 169, 180.
**Ibid., p. 165, 168, 180
Sheep/Goat nations
The United States is now the world’s third-largest seller of liquified natural gas (LNG). The American LNG boom has been surprisingly rapid, considering the global gas market is oversaturated and China is avoiding American energy in a desperate attempt to pressure President Trump into lowering tariffs. In other words, America isn’t just energy independent. We’re energy exporters. After all, the US is also a net exporter of oil. Consequently, the US doesn’t need to protect global shipping lanes and give everyone unlimited access to our consumer market anymore. Our withdrawal from the world stage is already underway. U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper has suggested that the Pentagon will begin repositioning troops worldwide in 2020, redirecting “forces to Asia” while sending “others back to the United States from overseas.”
Naturally, as we gradually withdraw from global affairs, the next several years are going to be a mad scramble for resources and influence amongst the world’s regional powers. That’s why several countries are getting into the policing business themselves. For instance, the French are going to head up “a European security alternative in the Strait of Hormuz.” France will oversee operations from its naval base in the United Arab Emirates, with the Netherlands and Denmark having already signed on to help. Japan plans to send naval forces to the Middle East to protect its vessels in the region because nearly all of their oil imports come from the Gulf. Meanwhile, South Korea is planning to “expand the deployment of an anti-piracy unit now operating off the coast of Africa to the area around the Strait of Hormuz.”
Ultimately, without unrestricted access to the American market and without the US Navy to guarantee the safety of international shipping, get ready for a more chaotic world, in particular a more chaotic Middle East. For years, people have complained about America’s alleged imperialism. They wanted us to stop intervening around the globe. Well, with the US done protecting the world for free, an old saying comes to mind: be careful what you wish for.
Satanism
On the surface, Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most Christian places in the world. If that were true, however, why doesn’t it feel that way? Why did Christianity have such a civilizing influence on Europe, but has extremely little impact on African culture and politics? Simply put, many African Christians don’t have a biblical worldview. Unfortunately, the practice of mixing traditional religions with certain Christian practices remains common.
In 2010, in a study on Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa, Pew Research pointed out, “many of those who indicate they are deeply committed to the practice of Christianity or Islam also incorporate elements of African traditional religions into their daily lives.” The study also found that “in four countries (Tanzania, Mali, Senegal and South Africa) more than half the people surveyed believe that sacrifices to ancestors or spirits can protect them from harm.” Incredibly, “Sizable percentages of both Christians and Muslims – a quarter or more in many countries – say they believe in the protective power of juju (charms or amulets).” On top of that, it appears that syncretistic movements from the African diaspora have made their way back to the continent.
In January of this year, Malawi legally defined Rastafarianism as a religion and overturned a ban on dreadlocks, a popular Rasta religious symbol. Rastafarianism is a cult of Christianity which teaches that Haile Selassie, the one-time leader of Ethiopia, was the true Messiah. That’s blasphemy, plain and simple. Sadly, blasphemous beliefs are only going to increase in the coming years. Regarding the end times, Jesus warned, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.” He added, “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” Stay alert, remain focused, bind and loose when appropriate, test everything and hold fast to the Word of God.
LINK: https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN1ZQ0LT-OZATP
London = Babylon the Great?
Speaking of Africa, the combination of raw materials, corrupt governments and tribalism has made the continent as vulnerable as ever to foreign armies. A new Scramble for Africa is coming and it won’t be pretty. In January, Reuters reported, “UK government-owned finance agency the CDC Group has signed $400 million worth of African investment deals, part of a wider drive by Britain to develop new trade ties as it prepares to leave the European Union.” Investment like that is bound to come with strings attached.
For now, countries like Russia and China are content to invest in Africa and send a few soldiers to help cooperative governments. It’s just the beginning. Indeed, the Antichrist himself will conquer much of the Middle East, North Africa and parts of East Africa. For the United Kingdom, much of Africa used to be under their direct control. In the coming years, as Britain reinvests in the Commonwealth of Nations, expect member countries like Nigeria, South Africa and others to receive a lot more British attention. In search of resources, new trading partners and different supply chains, British imperialism is going to make a comeback. Instead of the British Empire, however, it’ll be called the Commonwealth.
That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading and Godspeed!