Clash of Kings, Biblical Prophecies, & Islam

(COGwriter directed illustration)

We just put out the following sermon:

Clash of Kings, Biblical Prophecies, & Islam

Is there a coming King of the South as foretold in Daniel 11? If so, could it be Islam’s Imam Mahdi? Was/is the King of the South the USA and UK like the Jehovah’s Witnesses teach or will it be an alliance of peoples in the Middle East and North Africa like the Bible teaches? Does the King of the South attack the King of the North “At the time of the end”? Could that have involved Benito Mussolini and Ethiopia in 1936? Did the Roman Catholic saint Jerome teach that the passages involving the King of the South in Daniel 11 have future application and involve Egypt, despite many modern Roman Catholic scholars saying it was fulfilled during the time of Antiochus Epiphanies. Will the kings of the North and South make lying deals with each other? If so, could Psalm 83 be involved? Will these kings have a massive military battle? If so, who wins? Do both biblical and Islamic prophecies point to some type of a seven-year (one week) peace deal with European and Islamic nation leaders that will be broken in the middle (after 3 1/2 years)? Is Gerald Flurry right that Iran could be the King of the South? Have Protestants, Greco-Roman Catholics, Jews, and Church of God Christians sometimes accepted improper prophetic and other traditions? Should the Bible be the determinant? Do most Churches of God misunderstand the sequence of Daniel 11? If so, will this mean that unless they change they will not know when the Great Tribulation will begin until after it has started? Could Daniel 11:23-24 be referring to World War I, WWII, and WWIII? Could Daniel 11:40-43 be referring to WWIV? Could passages in Ezekiel 30 and 32 be referring to the King of the South? Will allies of the King of the South betray him? Will Turkey, Jordan, and some Arab nations escape the coming clash with the King of the North? Might the Kurds and Sudanese be involved? Does the Muslim Brotherhood want a leader and an alliance similar to that the Bible prophesies for the coming King of the South? Do Roman Catholic prophecies support the view that “a great prince of the North” will defeat an Islamic empire? Does the Bible show that the King of the South will have a great and mighty army? Are talks of an Islamic/Arab NATO consistent with working on the formation of an alliance or coalition that will one day be headed up by the King of the South? What are some of the reasons YOU would want to know more about the coming King of the South? Dr. Thiel addresses these and other issues in this sermon.

In it, I go over a few points that no other Church of God (COG) seems to fully teach (including several points that some may teach or partially teach).

Specifically I have taught (most of which began to be espoused prior to the formation of the Continuing Church of God as a separate entity):

There has to be a future King of the South as the “appointed time of the end” (Daniel 11:40) has not happened yet, nor did it happen over 90 years when Benito Mussolini temporarily conquered Ethiopia.

Daniel 11:24 refers to WWI, WWII, and the coming WWIII and looks to also have relevance related to the Middle East and North Africa.

Iran, which is basically east of Jerusalem, is not the King of the South. PCG insists on this, a few others (including in a UCG document from a leader now in COGWA and ICG‘s Mark Armstrong) have speculated that it could be. While Iran is NOT the coming King of the South, it may at least partially support it. UCG has also pointed to Egypt or other Muslim lands.

The term Ethiopia is not in Daniel 11:43. The actual word is Cushim, which refers to dark skinned peoples such as in Sudan and Ethiopia, hence the nation of Ethiopia is not clearly identified.

That the Imam Mahdi that Muslim prophecy points to looks to be the biblical King of the South. Several COGs recognize the possibility, though none seem to have gone into as much detail as the CCOG has–see also our free eBook: Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century.

The King of the South will use Arabic and possibly be from Egypt. Arabic is the main language of Muslims in North Africa and the Middle East. Ezekiel 30, as well as the old Radio Church of God, points to a coming leader in Egypt, but Daniel 11 is not completely specific, though it does directly mention Egypt.

The King of the South will have “a very great and mighty army” as Daniel 11:25 teaches. Other groups do not seem to tie that verse specifically in with the final King of the South, though some may imply that.

The proper sequence of Daniel 11:39-43 (see also Commentary on the Book of Daniel), with the Great Tribulation beginning with Daniel 11:39. LCG and many other groups have this wrong, despite the late John Ogwyn (in 2004), Richard Ames, and Roderick Meredith all agreeing with me. Plus, Dr. Meredith stated on December 16, 2011 that he would have LCG’s statement of beliefs changed by the end of January 2012 to reflect this (see also December 2011 Proposed changes to LCG’s Official Statement of Fundamental Beliefs)–but that still has not happened.

The word of God teaches:

7 Surely the Lord God does nothing,
Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared!
Who will not fear?
The Lord God has spoken!
Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8)

Related to point 8 in the list, unless other COG groups will accept that the Great Tribulation begins with Daniel 11:39 and not 11:40, they will NOT know when the Great Tribulation will begin until after it starts. Therefore, those with them will not have possibly fled to a place of protection in the wilderness as taught in Revelation 12:14-16 for 3 1/2 years–but instead will be subject to the devil’s wrath per Revelation 12:17.

While many believe that all COGs are the same, there is only one that best represents the Philadelphian remnant (see Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God?).

There is one church that has restored the most truth (see Continuing Church of God, Elijah, and Restoring All Things).

There has been one church that has had the most Divine confirmations (see Does the CCOG have the confirmed signs of Acts 2:17-18?).

God will use one man to issue the decree to flee, and the most faithful are told to be gathered together before that happens per Zephaniah 2:1-3.

Would that man not be in the church with the best prophetic understandings?

If you have not already done so, should you not gather together and support the work of that church?

The Continuing Church of God also posted the following about this sermon on its ContinuingCOG channel:

Here is a link to the sermon video: Clash of Kings, Biblical Prophecies, & Islam.

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