Union for the Mediterranean
(Map from Treehill via Wikipedia)
Blue: Members of the European Union
Brown: Other members (primarily from the African Union & Arab League)
Red: Libya is currently only an observer member in the Union for the Mediterranean
COGwriter
The latest item at PCG’s thetrumpet.com website is a link to Gerald Flurry speaking about Psalm 83. Here are a few quotes from it:
Psalm 83 … That prophecy we really need to understand. … You need to know who is the only one who delivers this prophecy. Who else is warning about Psalm 83? Do you know anybody else? I don’t. … The King of the South, Iran and its allies. https://www.thetrumpet.com/32298-psalm-83
While Christians should strive to understand prophecies, PCG does not understand this one as well as Daniel 11:40-43 about the King of the South. The fact that Gerald Flurry does not realize that others, like COGwriter, do teach about Psalm 83 is an embarrassment for him.
Back in 2015, Gerald Flurry came up with something about the prophecy of Psalm 83:
Psalm 83 Is Being Fulfilled
August 9, 2015 • 27 minutes
The first visible sign of this prophecy has now been manifested in the little Mediterranean country of Lebanon in the Middle East. …
Iraq and Iran are missing from Psalm 83.
In the above video (which probably originally was posted in 2014), Gerald Flurry indicated that a donation from Saudi Arabia to Lebanon of $3 billion to buy weapons from France is the first visible sign related to the prophecies in Psalm 83. He also improperly claimed that Daniel 11:40 shows a coming conflict between Germany and Iran.
PCG also taught:
June 17, 2024
An Israeli invasion of Lebanon would dramatically change the equation of the war. It’s too early to speculate as to which ways a hypothetical Lebanese war would turn. But supposing Israel does succeed, what would the future be? What does a post-Hezbollah Lebanon look like?
A prophecy in Psalm 83 gives us a glimpse. …
Daniel 11:40-44 shows Germany and Iran at war with each other. (See here for more information.) Iran will never be friends with Germany. Yet Lebanon will.
Based on these prophecies, the Trumpet expects Lebanon to break from Iran and side with Germany. Germany has already supported Israel in the war in an unprecedented way. War between Israel and Hezbollah could be the opening Germany needs to kick Iran out of Lebanon for good. https://www.thetrumpet.com/29670-is-hezbollah-ready-for-israels-invasion
While Lebanon will distance itself from Iran, the old Worldwide Church of God taught:
Once again fighting in Lebanon has grabbed the headlines. But what of the future of this battle — scarred region? …
Biblical prophecies focus on the various cities of Lebanon individually. The dismemberment of the country in recent years into separate enclaves thus fits perfectly into the overall picture anciently laid out in prophecy. …
Psalm 83. Here we find described a coming coalition of nations of the Middle East whose purpose will be to eradicate the name of Israel! They will say, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (verse 4).
This prophecy could never have been fulfilled until this 20th century. Why? Since ancient times (the 8th century B.C.) there has not been — until this century — a nation in the Middle East recognized officially by the name Israel. But there is an Israel today. This is clearly a prophecy for these latter days!
Among the participants in this wide-ranging confederacy revealed in Psalm 83 will be Gebal (ancient Byblos, modern Jubayl) and “the Philistines [Palestinians centered in the Gaza Strip] with the inhabitants of Tyre” (verse 7).
Here we see that it was anciently — and accurately — prophesied that Palestinian Arabs would in these tumultuous last days become associated in some way with the cities of Lebanon. The prophet Jeremiah (47:4) also speaks of the Philistines and their allies from Tyre and Sidon.
But this prophesied alliance in Psalm 83 will not endure long. The Bible reveals that meanwhile, in our time, a great European military dictator — known in the book of Revelation as the “beast” and in the prophecy of Daniel as the “king of the north” — will arise and ultimately descend upon the Middle East. (Stump K. LEBANON’S FUTURE Foretold in the Bible!Plain Truth, September-October 1982)
Again, another area where PCG differs from the old WCG prophetically.
PCG further teaches that the king of the South will be knocked off before the US, etc. will be:
This king of the north, after conquering and securing the resources of the king of the south, is prophesied to then turn its attention to the biblical nations of Israel—specifically the United States and Britain, in addition to the Jewish state located within its newly acquired Middle Eastern territory—and to swiftly demolish them! It will strip these subjugated nations of their wealth (Hilliker J. and Morley R. The Battleground. The Philadelphia Trumpet, March 2006, p. 19).
Gerald Flurry also preached this change a few years earlie than that. I verified with the late evangelist John Ogwyn around that time that this was not the order that was taught at HWA’s Ambassador Colleges. However, this was apparently the order that HWA felt may occur prior to WWII, but later HWA realized that the US, Britain, etc. would be eliminated before the King of the South would be (Psalm 83, as well as Daniel 11, supports the correct position).
Furthermore, PCG has taken this even further in 2011:
Psalm 83 is fulfilled almost immediately after a Germany-led Europe conquers Iran and radical Islam (Daniel 11:40-43).“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people [Israel], and consulted against thy hidden [or sheltered] ones” (Psalm 83:1-3).
These enemies are conspiring against biblical Israel. … The mystery of the Psalm 83 prophecy is being removed. (Flurry G. A Mysterious Prophecy. Philadelphia Trumpet, May-June 2011).
Partially, because Gerald Flurry falsely claims that Iran is the King of the South, he misunderstands Psalm 83 and Gerald Flurry has NOT removed its ‘mystery’ as he claims.
Since Herbert W. Armstrong believed that king would be an Egypt and/or an Arabic Muslim leader, and that Psalm 83 happens prior to the King of the South being taken over by the German-led King of the North, as that is what was published while he was alive by the church he was the physical leader of (see Is There A Future King of the South?), Gerald Flurry did not get this from Herbert W. Armstrong.
So where did he get this?
Well, not from the Bible. In my view, he got it from his own imagination.
In the May-June 2014 issue of the Philadelphia Trumpet the following was written by its leader Gerald Flurry in his article Why You Need to Watch Lebanon:
Prophecy Tells Us… the Bible specifically describes an alliance between Arab states (including the Saudis) and a European power…
And it is such European intrusion that will cause Iran to PUSH at the king of the north. Iran is going to strike back with a lot of power! However, as Daniel 11:40 states, that is going to lead to Iran’s destruction. A German-led Europe is going to conquer Iran and have controlling power over the other nations aligned with the king of the south, such as Egypt, Iraq, Libya and Ethiopia. Then, brimming with confidence following that victory, Germany will exploit its alliance with the Arabs to pursue even greater ambitions.
A Prophesied Alliance
Let’s look at a prophecy of what will occur immediately after the Daniel 11:40 prophecy. It has everything to do with Europe’s involvement in Lebanon. “They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance” (Psalm 83:4).. This is an end-time prophecy about Israel. But it is not talking only about the Jewish nation called Israel today. Anciently, Israel had 12 tribes; today there are 12 nations of Israel. We explain that truth thoroughly in The United States and Britain in Prophecy…
Verses 5-8 list a number of nations that will be allied to bring about Israel’s destruction…
Furthermore, considering that this is an end-time prophecy, there must be some people that God will give understanding to about who is who here—otherwise why even prophesy it?
While Gerald Flurry is correctly indicating that Psalm 83 will involve countries such as the USA being attacked, there are several issues with what he wrote in that article.
First, Iran which is basically straight east of Jerusalem is NOT the King of the South.
Secondly, Gerald Flurry is teaching that the deal in Psalm 83:3-8 occurs AFTER the destruction of the King of the South in Daniel 11:40. He is in error.
Gerald Flurry’s position also disagrees with what the old Worldwide Church of God taught. Notice the order in the following:
King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.
“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…
But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11–the leader of the German-led European union–will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,”…Daniel 11:40-41: And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)
Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8 … the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe…Egypt…will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the “king of the north” in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the “glorious land” of Palestine (verse 41). “And the land of Egypt shall not escape”(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)
The deal of Psalms 83:3-8 happens while the prince/King of the North is still on speaking terms with the King of the South, though they both lie to each other:
27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:27)
PCG’s Gerald Flurry is not leading the group that is properly explaining this prophecy. The deal of Psalm 83:4-8 takes place before the destruction of the USA, which happens in Daniel 11:39. It is AFTER the USA is knocked out of the way that the King of the South will feel emboldened enough to push against the King of the North.
The King of the South will likely think that the King of the North has enough to deal with related to the destruction of the USA and some of its allies, so that he will not be prepared for an attack. The King of the South probably also thinks he knows enough about the military strengths and weaknesses of the King of the North to push against him. This will be an error, and the King of the South will be eliminated.
Perhaps it should be noted that perhaps many of the European and Arabic nations associated with the Union for the Mediterranean will be involved in the deal of Psalm 83. If the nation of Israel is not consulted on this (and they would not be), then there already is a semi-confederation of nations that are consistent with those in Psalm 83.
Gerald Flurry’s prophetic sequence is in error. He has many prophetic errors and people should not rely on his prophetic interpretations on many matters.
So notice carefully that the deal in Psalm 83 was under taught under Herbert Armstrong’s leadership to occur BEFORE the King of the North overpowers the King of the South. So, once again, we have another improper change of doctrine by PCG.
Related to Gerald Flurry’s statement about no one else teaching about Psalm 83, that is nonsense.
For one example, back in 2008, I posted:
Is there anything that indicates that a deal leading to the fulfillment of Psalm 83 is happening in the 21st century like the old WCG used to teach? …
Back in December 1979, there was a Plain Truth article by Keith Stump titled The Arab World in Prophecy. It contained some insights into who may be the future king of the South as well as who may be involved in Psalm 83, perhaps in partial fulfillment of Daniel 11:27:
The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events…But who is the “king of the south”?…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”–called in the Bible symbolism “the beast”–who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi. And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation–possibly over oil–which will ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East!
King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.
“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan[, and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…
But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion.
So, that was the position of the old WCG … Notice the following:
New York Times – July 14, 2008
PARIS — Leaders of 43 nations with nearly 800 million inhabitants inaugurated a “Union for the Mediterranean” on Sunday, meant to bring the northern and southern countries that ring the sea closer together through practical projects dealing with the environment, climate, transportation, immigration and policing.
But the meeting was also an opportunity for President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to exercise some highly public Middle East diplomacy...
The union has northern and southern co-presidents — to start, Mr. Sarkozy and President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt…
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who insisted that the Sarkozy project include all European Union members, called the session “a very, very good start for a new phase in the cooperation” between Europe and the south. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/14/world/europe/14france.html?em&ex=1216094400&en=bfad08e20a1536e6&ei=5087%0A
This is a HUGELY important step as it leads the way for future cooperation between the Europeans and those of Northern Africa. This group now essentially has a presidency of the North (currently represented by the French President) and the presidency of the South (currently represented by the Egyptian President).
And while the intentions of this “union” may be good, notice the following prophecies:
27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time (Daniel 11:27).
2 For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. 3 They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. 4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot (Psalm 83:2-8).
The “kings” in Daniel 11:27 are the kings of the North and the South. In Psalm 83 we see that a predominantly Arab block of nations (thus I believe that more Arab nations will likely be added to this Union) will conspire to destroy the descendants of Israel (most likely the nation of Israel and the Anglo-American nations), yet Assyria (modern Germany) will get involved.
Thus, this Union for the Mediterranean may be an important first step in the fulfillment of these prophecies.
Here is some information related to Psalm 83 from my article Is the Future King of the South Rising Up?:
In 1966 and 1979, the old Radio/Worldwide CG taught that the King of the South would arise and make a deal with the King of the North as shown in Psalm 83:
But who is the “king of the south”?…in verse 40 we skip to “the time of the end”…The verse undoubtedly found partial fulfillment in the offensive of 1896…But Mussolini did not finish the prophecy…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”…there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi…a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations…But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived…And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…Daniel 11:40-41…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 11-12).
They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation] and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan] and the Hagarenes [anciently these people dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinian Arabs] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979).
Turn to the astounding prophecy found in Psalm 83:1-8 … the coming time when ALL of Israel’s enemies would join together in an effort to crush out even the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! (Verse 4) “For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee…” (verse 5). Notice the nations making up this confederation. “Edom [Turkey], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; Moab [Jordan], and the Hagarenes [they anciently dwelt in the land known as Syria today]; Gebal {Lebanon}, and Ammon [Jordan] and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur [whose descendants migrated to Germany] is joined with them; they have helped the children of Lot” {Moab and Ammon in modern Jordan). Here we see that the Arab nations mentioned are allied with Germany (Assur) which we know from other prophecies will be the military leader — naturally so — of a United States of Europe…Egypt…will provoke the prophesied United Europe (Dan. 11:40). This European power — called the “king of the north” in Daniel 11 — shall invade and occupy the “glorious land” of Palestine (verse 41). “And the land of Egypt shall not escape”(Boraker R. SYRIA RAIDS ISRAEL – Where Is It Leading? Plain Truth. November 1966)
The above quotes shows that the WCG under the late Herbert Armstrong’s leadership taught that there would be a future fulfillment of Daniel 11:40 involving an end-time King of the South and North and that WCG believed it would involve some type of Arab-Islamic confederation. And that is consistent with Ezekiel 30:2-8.
In the 21st century, former WCG member Craig White had a slightly different identification of the nations in Psalm 83:
“Keep not Thou silence O God …
For lo, Thine enemies make a tumult …
They have taken crafty counsel against Thy people …
They have said, ‘Come and let us cut them off from being a nation: that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.’
They are confederate against thee:
The Tabernacles of Edom [Turkey and Central Asia], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia], Of Moab [Jordan, with some in Syria and Iraq] and the Hagarenes [Saudi Arabia]:
Gebal [in Lebanon] and Ammon [Jordan], and Amalek [Central Asians]: the Philistines [Berbers and possibly the Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [southern Italians, symbolic also of the United Europe]
Assur [Germany] also is joined with them” (Ps 83:1-8). (White C. : Rise of the King of the North. Email, received September 12, 2015)
Psalm 83 is very likely to involve terrorism–taking “crafty counsel” sounds like plotting terrorism (see also Why Terrorism? Is Terrorism Prophesied?). The Europeans will make a destructive deal with those of the Middle East and North Africa. It would seem that the King of the South will employ some type of warfare and terrorism against the descendants of Israel. The Bible specifically warns about “terror” as a curse for the descendants of Jacob (Leviticus 26:16; Jeremiah 15:8; Deuteronomy 32:25) and since terrorism has often been used by Islamists, this may be part of how they will contribute to the destruction of the nation of Israel and the Anglo-descended peoples that Psalm 83 and Daniel 11:39 alludes to. Some Muslims want a leader called the Imam Mahdi, while others call for a Caliph, to lead them and create some type of Islamic empire in the 21st century (see also The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation. This deal in the 83rd Psalm will affect the USA, Canada, UK, and possibly Australia and even New Zealand. …
The Bible shows that King of the North will invade the USA (Daniel 11:39) and in conjunction with the terrorism from King of the South (Psalm 83:3-8) will cause the end of the USA. Notice also the following:
25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25).
12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)
Deuteronomy 32:25 talks about a time of destruction that comes from an outside invasion and internal. That is also consistent with what Ezekiel warned. Because of much terrorism involves people in the lands that are prophesied to be associated with the King of the South, these prophesies are consistent with terroristic actions from those regions in the future.
The old WCG taught:
Many nations make no bones about their connections to terrorist groups. Syria, Libya, Iraq and South Yemen all see no objection in directly aiding terrorism. (Taylor D. TERRORISM the Worst Is Yet to Come! Plain Truth, May 1984)
The old WCG also taught that some of those nations would be part of the King of the South (“And when you see the Abomination…” Plain Truth, July 1963, p.22; The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979, pp. 11-12) as well as the confederacy of the confederacy of Psalm 83 (The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979). …
Psalm 83 tells of a time when a confederation will form.
Psalm 83:4-8 states:
4 They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.” 5 For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: 6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8 Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot.
Note that this passage of scripture is suggesting that the descendants of Israel (which not only includes the modern state of Israel, but also much of the English-speaking world, cf. Genesis 48:13-16–see a discussion of this in Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel) will be bothered by a confederation of basically Arabic/Islamic peoples from the Middle East (not Ethiopians), who will also somewhat align with a European power (see Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History and Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy).
A December 1979 Plain Truth article by Keith Stump’s titled The Arab World in Prophecy provides insights into who may be the future king of the South as well as who may be involved in Psalm 83, perhaps in partial fulfillment of Daniel 11:27:
Mahdi, the expected end time messiah who is to cleanse and restore the Islamic faith…to usher in a seven-year golden age just before the end of the world…The expectation of a coming Mahdi (in Arabic, “the divinely guided one”) is prevalent among virtually all Moslem sects, though they often differ in the specifics of the concept…
The prophecy of Daniel 11 details events…But who is the “king of the south”?…Just as there is yet to be a final “king of the north”–called in the Bible symbolism “the beast”–who will arise as superdictator over an end-time European confederation, there may very well emerge in the same manner a final “king of the south”–an overall leader of an Arab-Moslem confederation, possibly bearing the very title Mahdi. And these two individuals will eventually find themselves in a head-to-head confrontation–possibly over oil–which will ultimately lead to devastating war in the Middle East!
King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.
“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…
But in the end, this European-Arab alliance will prove short-lived. As shown earlier, the “king of the north” of Daniel 11–the leader of the German-led European union–will ultimately turn against the Arab “king of the south,”…Daniel 11:40-41: And the king of the north shall come against him [the king of the south]…The Arab-Moslem Confederation will, of course, be thrown into chaotic disarray in the fact of invasion. (Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. Plain Truth, December 1979)
So Bible prophecy in the books of Daniel and Psalms suggest that there will be some type of strong Arab-based confederation that will make a deal with a future European power for the purposes of eliminating “Israel.” These quotes make it clear that WCG’s written position was that there would be a future King of the South–and that it would be mainly an Arabic-Islamic confederation.
As far WCG’s position on identities go, here are excerpts from a chart titled Countries and Their Biblical Names with the caption Presented by – The Worldwide Church of God:
| Country |
Biblical Name |
| Afghanistan |
Joktan |
| Arabia |
Ishmael |
| Jordan |
Ammon & Moab |
| Kashmir |
Joktan |
| Liberia |
Phut |
| Libya |
Ishmael & Mizraim |
| Pakistan
|
Joktan
|
South Palestine
Sudan |
Philistines
Canaan, Cush, Phut, Mizrain |
| Syria |
Uz [Aram] |
| Tadzhik |
Joktan |
| Tunisia |
Ishmael, Canaan, Lud |
| Turkey |
Esau [Edom] |
|
|
| Presented by – The Worldwide Church of God |
Now, although the above chart is not necessarily 100%, it can help with the understanding of some biblical identities.
It probably should also be mentioned that some others consider that the Syrians are better identified as Ishmaelites as opposed to being Hagarenes (but either way, Syria is facing problems, see the video Damascus and Syria in Prophecy). Descendants of Ishmael’s eldest son Nabajoth/Nebajoth–Genesis 25:13–seem to have been identified with Syria in the Zenon papyri which dates from 259 B.C. (some consider that the Hagarenes are better identified with Iraq–yet since Ishmael’s mother was Hagar–Genesis 16:15–they would all tend to be related). Whether they are identified better as Hagarenes or Ishmaelites, Syria and other Arabic peoples are prophesied (along with others) to be part of a confederation that will decide to eliminate Israel.
Notice also Daniel 11:27 which involves the kings of the North and South:
27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:27)
Since Daniel 11:27 suggests some type of deal between the king of the North and the king of the South and Psalm 83 shows an Arabic/Turkish confederation that will make a deal with a northern representative, it appears that the idea of an Arab-Moslem confederacy representing the king of the South also has a biblical basis. The nations in Psalm 83 all tend to be Arabic or Turkish, hence the position that the king of the South is likely to be Arabic has biblical support.
It is of interest to note that Iran is not part of Psalm 83 (and this is something that PCG admits, though it will not change its view because of this). Let me address this:
Since the early 1990s, we have believed and taught that Iran would lead the radical Islamist world and be the king of the south. Today Iran is “king” in the Middle East…
Iraq and Iran are missing in the prophecy of Psalm 83. And clearly, Egypt is not a part of this alliance…
“And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them” (Ezekiel 33:33). They finally learn that there was a prophet of God in their midst after the Tribulation has struck. Not several prophets—only one!
There is only one safe way. We must get God’s perspective—see through His eyes. (Flurry G. The King of the South, PCG booklet. Copyright © 1996, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008).
Now while people should look to God and not Gerald Flurry, too many within PCG are looking to him. Herbert W. Armstrong did not teach that Iran was going to be the future King of the South.
Now, why are these places not mentioned in Psalm 83?
It is because the Psalm 83 is listing the ethnic groups, not physical locations, of the conspirators. The ethnic groups in Egypt have changed over the years and does include the peoples of Psalm 83 (as well as Iraq, but not Iran). To demonstrate this more clearly, note that the land of Iraq would tend to be called Babylon, but end time Babylon will be led by the final King of the North power. Furthermore, Herbert W. Armstrong never taught that Iran would be the final King of the South. Although Gerald Flurry does refer to the fact that in his 1972 Middle East in Prophecy booklet, Herbert W. Armstrong did mention Persia–but never as a potential candidate for the King of the South. And although in the 1972 booklet states that Egypt was not the final King of the South, scriptures (Daniel 11:5, 8, 35-43) other published writings from the old WCG are consistent with this change (apparently that change did not make the editorial process). But Iran really is not.
In addition to its policies supporting the nation of Israel, changes in USA policy to support the homosexual agenda via foreign aid (TW: US Foreign Aid for Homosexual Agenda) is upsetting many Muslims in the Middle East (Egypt and USA’s Homosexual Agenda). These and other factors may well lead to the formation of the temporary confederation in Psalm 83 to destroy the USA, Israel, and their Anglo-allies.
And, as mentioned earlier, both Daniel 11:40-45 and Ezekiel 30:1-9 show that this confederation will be destroyed.
Anyway, PCG is wrong about Psalm 83, PCG is wrong about Iran being the King of the South, PCG is wrong about the sequence of Daniel 11, and PCG also does not represent the Philadelphian remnant of the Church of God in the 21st century
Several items of possibly related interest may include:
PCG: Teachings Unique to the Philadelphia Church of God Simply calling oneself ‘Philadelphia’ does not make one so (see Revelation 3:7-9), nor does Gerald Flurry calling himself “that prophet” make it so. This article provides many quotes from this group which tries to look faithful.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? Two videos of related interest are: The Future King of the South is Rising and The Rise and Fall of the King of the South. Here is a version the Spanish language: ¿Esta Surgiendo el Rey Del Sur?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Why is there a Philadelphian remnant of the true Christian Church of God? Did the old Worldwide Church of God essentially predict a Philadelphian remnant? Is a Philadelphian remnant needed for end-time prophecies to be fulfilled? Here is a link to a related sermon: The Philadelphia Remnant.
