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Good things are in store for Egypt

Reader comment on item: Is Sisi Islam's Long-Awaited Reformer?

Submitted by Michael S (United States), Jan 20, 2015 at 17:51

Hello, Daniel

It's interesting, how you continue to hold out hope that Islam can change for the better. Here's my take on the matter:

1. The Bible does talk about Egypt and Iraq-Syria ("Assyria") changing for the better; but of course, it says nothing about Islam because Islam is a recent invention. Here is the passage:

Isaiah 19:
[17] And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts, which he hath determined against it.
[18] In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction.
[19] In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD.
[20] And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them.
[21] And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it.
[22] And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them.
[23] In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.
[24] In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land:
[25] Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Concerning fikr, Judaism and Christianity also have plenty of fikr.("wrong ideas"). I will not elaborate on these, because some of them are responsible for the breach between Judaism and Christianity (which many on both sides hold sacred). In our case, these wrong ideas can be reconciled by a correct reading of the Scriptures that harmonizes seeming contradictions. In the case of Qur'an, it's a futile effort to try to achieve such harmony. What one needs to do in this latter case, is actually cut out whole sections of Qur'an, Thomas-Jefferson-style; to end up with not a rightly understood Qur'an, but an entirely new book.

Islam is a false religion; and until the Muslims of Egypt and Iraq realize this, Fortunately, both countries have significant Christian minorities, and a long and deep history of association with Torah; so they have a readily-available alternative to Qur'an. Also, Christians are being actively persecuted in both places; and history tells us that the persecution of Christians tends to increase their numbers. That is the avenue which I expect those peoples to follow, on their way out of darkness.

Concerning the Isaiah 19 prophecy, which is unique for such pre-Exilic prophecies in that it seems to speak specifically to our time and none other, one passage has certainly come true already:

[17] And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt, every one that maketh mention thereof shall be afraid in himself

I believe that happened in 1948, 1956, 1967, and once and for all, in 1973.

It is highly unlikely, that Egypt will make war against Israel again, though Ezekiel 38-39 speaks of an attack on Israel by Turkey, Iran, Sudan and Libya (specifically, Cyrenaica, or Eastern Libya). Those are all "next-nearest-neighbor" states, whereas Israel's traditional enemies were Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt, their "nearest neighbors". (Rebel-held) Libya and Sudan already coordinate with Turkey and Iran, in supplying weapons to Hamas and Hizbullah; so the Ezekiel alliance already exists sub rosa. Interestingly, Egypt and Israel face common enemies in this struggle (Hamas/ Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda and the Islamic State).

Perhaps Sisi's arguments will find receptive hearts, and lead to a good thing. I certainly look forward to such an outcome.

Submitting....

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