The violence we are currently seeing in the Middle East and the hatred filling American and British streets both point directly to an important but mysterious biblical prophecy.

This is an end-time prophecy about a group of nations preparing for the largest, most brutal war in history. But it is an easy prophecy to overlook, in a biblical book that few people associate with prophecy: the book of Psalms.

The prophecy is in Psalm 83. Though some commentaries make strong statements about it, they don’t understand what it means.

Psalm 83 describes an alliance of nations filled with unspeakable hatred. Though the world doesn’t realize it, these nations are on the scene today—and are bracing for war.

The prophetic alliance of Psalm 83 is forming—and is about to strike! This will trigger events that will jolt and transform our entire world.

This prophecy reveals what will precede the “Great Tribulation” that Jesus Christ Himself warned about in Matthew 24.

We urgently need to understand this prophecy—because it is about to be fulfilled.

Watch Germany’s ‘Alliance’

On April 13-14, Iran directly attacked Israel with hundreds of drones. Just after, Germany’s Welt newspaper wrote that as pressure on Israel increases, “it will also become clear whether any of Germany’s political capital remains in the Arab world that can help forge an alliance against Iran and stabilize the region” (April 14; emphasis mine throughout).

For longtime Trumpet readers, that is an extraordinary statement. Germany is working to forge an alliance of Arab nations against Iran. This is a development we have forecast for years based on Psalm 83. But as we will see, confronting Iran is only part of the alliance’s goal.

This German-led “alliance against Iran” is the very precursor to the Psalm 83 alliance! Though they don’t realize it, geopolitical commentators are talking about this prophecy!

Germany, the most important nation in Europe, has worked hard in recent decades to increase its “political capital” in the Middle East. It has forged close relations with Israel, Turkey and many Arab countries. These relations are much more calculated than people realize.

The German military has sent deployments of up to a few thousand troops throughout the Middle East and further afield: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Turkey and Western Sahara. It has supported military missions in the Mediterranean and an ongoing operation against the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq with Jordan serving as a base.

Germany has also sold billions of dollars in weapons to nations like Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and the list goes on. Additionally, it upholds strong diplomatic ties with these and other countries in the region.

Recently, Germany stationed troops in Cyprus for a potential intervention in the Middle East conflict. It has contributed to a European mission in the Red Sea that acts independently of an American mission there. It is delivering weapons to Israel—and at the same time flying aid into Gaza. Germany has worked to present itself as an ally of Israel while maintaining good relations with its Arab neighbors. This strategy is paying off.

Following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany’s word in the Middle East is important “because Israel knows that Germany stands by it, but,” he added, “our country also has good connections to the neighboring Arab countries.”

With the support of this ad hoc Middle East power bloc, Germany is opposing Iranian hegemony—without Iran even knowing it.

Clashing Interests

“Northern Africa is turning into a battleground with enormously important prophetic implications,” I wrote in April 2013. “Iran has designs on being the strongest power throughout the region and is extending its reach throughout North Africa. But Iran isn’t the only one interested in Africa. Germany is making strong inroads as well. Both of these powers are racing to get as much control of North Africa as they can. They will inevitably clash with each other” (“Watch Algeria!”).

Two years later, in 2015, the German Federal Armed Forces Association chairman said an Islamic “ring of fire” extends “from Afghanistan via Yemen, Syria and Iraq to Africa.”

Germany is acutely aware of this battleground. It is working meticulously to safeguard its interests. Africa is a resource-rich continent, and Germany needs to tap into it more if it wants greater independence from Russian oil and gas. But Iran is growing more unpredictable, and its aggression is building.

Iranian proxies in the Middle East and Africa not only jeopardize Germany’s plans in the region, they are also creating large flows of refugees, and even terrorism, into Europe.

Most recently, Germany has suffered economically because Iran’s proxy is attacking Red Sea shipping. This hurts European-Asian trade. Yemen’s Houthi terrorist group announced on May 3 it would begin targeting Israel-bound ships in the eastern Mediterranean in what it calls its “fourth phase of escalation.” Just days later, a high-ranking member of Iran’s Quds Force told Kuwait-based Al-Jarida newspaper that Iran is building missile factories deep in Yemen’s mountains and has sent hundreds of military experts to help the Houthis use these weapons.

Iran already has control of the Red Sea, and it wants control of the Mediterranean! History shows that to win a war in this part of the world, control over the Mediterranean is crucial.

The power that gains control over the Mediterranean will rule the Middle East!

What Iran does not realize is just how important this region is to Germany—and how extensively it has prepared for a confrontation. Germany has a geostrategic vision, and has had it for a long time.

Germany tried to take this region in World War ii and failed. Ever since then, it has prepared to avoid making the same mistake.

This crisis has drawn German intervention in the Red Sea. But it refused to join the international United States-led mission. Instead it spearheaded an independent European Union naval mission: eunavfor Aspides.

We are seeing this trend more and more: Germany pursuing its own strategic operations—and these revolving around confronting Iran!

Thus, escalating tension in the Red Sea is bringing Germany into direct confrontation with Iran.

About this mission, Welt noted, “[T]he German armed forces would also be caught in the crossfire. The German Navy is already securing commercial shipping as part of an EU mission in the sea area that could soon become a hot battlefield” (op cit).

Yes, the Red Sea is ready to explode! Germany knows this and has coaxed several European nations to enter this battlefield.

The French defense minister, in an interview with his German counterpart, said, “An extraordinary European military mission is taking place [in the Red Sea], safeguarding our common commercial interests by using our frigates to protect maritime traffic. In some respects, more is being done today than a European army could ever achieve by establishing tailor-made missions.”

No doubt Germany is leading such joint European military missions to further its own ambitions. Yet France is enthusiastic. It thinks this is “extraordinary.” It seems to have no clue about Germany’s true aims. (I explained this in last month’s cover story, “France’s Deadly Ignorance About Germany.”)

Germany also participates in the eunavfor Mediterranean Irini mission, the nato-led maritime security operation Sea Guardian and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon Maritime Task Force, as well as a nato mission in the Aegean Sea. On top of that it has taken virtual control of the Balkans, Cyprus and Malta! (Read my 2016 article “Mediterranean Battle Escalating Into World War III!”)

Germany and its European partners have been monitoring these waters for years using hundreds of sailors and a couple of warships. They have ports and military bases close by. They know the sea well and are ready to expand their mission at any time.

Iran is no match for the combined power of Germany and its allies! It is only a matter of time before Germany uses this power.

War is developing between Iran and Germany for control of the Mediterranean Sea! Germany is not about to let Iran control this area!

Germany wants control of the Middle East. Biblical prophecy shows it will get it, and Psalm 83 details how.

Strategic Planning

In some regions, Germany has actively pushed for military interventions; in others, it has abstained—to the bafflement of allies. Back in 2011, the United States, Britain and France wanted military intervention in Libya. Germany refused. This caused international outrage; some believed it even cost Germany its chance for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

Understand: This wasn’t about military reluctance but about strategic planning.

Remember, Germany showed no such reluctance in the Balkans in March 1999. There Germany, in its first military action since World War ii, participated in nato’s brutal aerial bombing campaign against Yugoslavia. In fact, behind the scenes, Germany was orchestrating the strikes. (I explain this in my free booklet Germany’s Conquest of the Balkans.)

The Balkans are a crucial access point to the Mediterranean Sea that connects Europe to the Middle East and Northern Africa. Germany tried unsuccessfully to conquer this area in two world wars. Today, it virtually controls it.

So Germany has tasted success in such interventions. It correctly calculated that it could make inroads into the Balkans at the time—but it also recognized that, regarding Libya, the resulting turmoil would help Iran. For similar reasons, Germany abstained from intervening militarily in Iraq in 2003.

Its Western allies don’t realize it, but Germany is pursuing its own independent strategy in the Middle East. It staunchly opposes some missions of its supposedly closest allies, while adamantly pursuing its own. Though there is some overlap with what the U.S. and other European countries want, there are also many seemingly perplexing differences. Back in 2012, for example, Germany was far more interested in Syria than in Libya. That fits its larger ambitions for the region.

No one seems to understand what Germany is doing in the Middle East.

This nation that started the most brutal wars in history has its own agenda. We need to understand this agenda, because it will impact our world far more than World War ii did!

When Two Alliances Clash

Daniel 11:40 speaks of a “king of the south.” As my free booklet on this subject explains, this refers to an alliance of Islamists led by Iran (request The King of the South; all of our literature is free).

Psalm 83, however, shows some major nations that will not ally themselves with Iran but join an opposing alliance—led by Germany.

Daniel 11:42-43 indicate that Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia will ally with Iran—and then be conquered by a German-led Europe. These nations are missing from the Psalm 83 alliance.

Psalm 83:5-8 list 10 peoples in this alliance: “The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them ….” Commentaries agree that this alliance has never formed in history. That is because this is a prophecy for this end time! What would be the point of listing these ancient peoples otherwise? It is to be fulfilled only in this end time.

We must know who these peoples are. Otherwise, we could never understand this prophecy! They include modern-day Turkey (Edom and Amalek), Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states (Ishmaelites), Jordan (Moab, Ammon), Syria (Hagarenes), the Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank (Philistines), and Lebanon (Gebal, Tyre).

Assur was once the capital of Assyria, and it refers here to modern-day Germany.

This alliance is forming now! Look at how Germany is actively cultivating these relationships. Turkey is a favored trading partner, and Germany’s president calls it a “valuable friend.” The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are Germany’s most important Arab trading partners. Germany is Jordan’s most important European trading partner. There is a little-known history of Nazi officials building up Syria’s intelligence services. Germany gives significant material and political support to help the Palestinian Arabs create their own state. It is also the third-largest donor to Lebanon after the U.S. and the EU, though Germany isn’t happy with the current government and advocates for “fundamental reforms.” (Read about these efforts in “Germany Courts Its Allies,” page 2.)

Daniel 11:40 is clear that Germany is about to strike militarily against Iran: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.”

The EU’s Red Sea mission, its military deployments, its diplomatic and reconnaissance missions, its weapons exports to Iranian enemies—all these activities are part of meticulous preparations for this attack!

Note, though, that it is an Iranian “push” that triggers this whirlwind attack. We are seeing a great deal of provocative activity from Iran in recent months. It green-lighted the October 7 Hamas attack. After Germany and other Western nations showed solidarity with Israel, Iran tried to punish them by using its proxies to attack merchant ships in the Red Sea. Lately Iran has been speaking openly about attaining nuclear capability and sharing it with other nations.

Germany sees that this conflict could explode at any time. It is actively preparing for it and positioning itself for its “whirlwind” attack!

These events are about to trigger a whole slew of end-time prophecies.

As Germany prepares, it is laying the groundwork for the prophesied Psalm 83 alliance with Arab states.

This prophecy gives us penetrating insight into the true intent of this alliance, which poses a hidden danger that no analysts recognize. Its primary goal is not to confront Iran!

Armies of ‘Peace’

The war described in Daniel 11:40 can be better understood in tandem with Jesus Christ’s famous Olivet prophecy. Christ warned of a time when Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies (Luke 21:20-21). The parallel account in Matthew 24 calls this military deployment “the abomination of desolation” (verse 15; see also Daniel 12:11). Why? Because “the desolation [of Jerusalem] is nigh.”

Who are these destructive armies that will make the capital of the Jewish state desolate?

Note that this event marks the beginning of a time of “great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matthew 24:21). The armies that execute this horror in the Holy City will go on to commit even greater atrocities on a grand scale.

Many dozens of other biblical prophecies describe this period of unparalleled suffering! God warns repeatedly of this nightmarish end-time world war because He wants to protect us from it. Those prophecies make clear that the fiercest warmaking power in that world war will be a united Europe, led by Germany. You can read all about this in our free book The Holy Roman Empire in Prophecy.

The armies that will surround Jerusalem are European armies. This occurs after a united Europe has conquered Iran. It will then deploy troops into Israel.

Christ’s warning that these armies surrounding Jerusalem will bring about its desolation is significant. Why? Most people will fail to recognize what is about to happen, because these armies will be disguised as peacekeeping forces.

The conflict described in Daniel 11:40 is European armies militarily destroying Iran in a show of solidarity with Israel. At that point, the German-led Psalm 83 alliance will be recognized only for conquering Iran. Hosea 5:13 describes the Jewish state (“Judah”) asking for help from the Germans (“the Assyrian”). And Daniel 11:41 says of this European power: “He shall enter also into the glorious land”—speaking of Israel. The Hebrew for “enter” indicates a peaceful entry, not forced. The Germans will undoubtedly be invited in as a peacekeeping force—to militarily secure Jerusalem from the engulfing violence. (This is further explained in my booklet Jerusalem in Prophecy.)

But all along, behind the scenes, the most sinister plot is developing—and it is revealed in Psalm 83!

Unknown to the Jewish state and indeed the whole world, this alliance is plotting a most deceitful and evil plan. Read it there, in verse 4: “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.”

A Coming Siege

To understand how this prophecy will unfold, we must know who is meant by “Israel.” Anciently, the nation of Israel split in two. The northern kingdom, composed of 10 tribes, retained the name Israel; the southern kingdom was called Judah. These kingdoms later went into separate captivities—Israel to Assyria, Judah to Babylon—and remained apart. The primary descendants of the northern Israelite kingdom are today the United States and Britain, from the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim. They are primarily who “Israel” refers to in biblical prophecy. (This is proved in The United States and Britain in Prophecy, by Herbert W. Armstrong; we will gladly send you a free copy.)

Hosea 5:5 shows that America, Britain and the Jewish state share the same terrible fate: They are going to fall together. These nations are in deep trouble! God is warning them, as well as others.

Psalm 83 reveals that there is a secret plot against them! The nations in this alliance harbor such hatred that they don’t even want to hear the name Israel ever again; they seek to blot it out!

This is a profound truth that explains so much about what is happening in the world today. You will need to take time in study to truly grasp it—but such study will profoundly repay your efforts.

This hatred for Israel has a spiritual source. God’s plan to save all humanity revolves around His chosen nation, Israel. The descendants of Israel were supposed to proclaim God’s message to the world and show them how to live God’s way. But throughout their history, these peoples have repeatedly engulfed themselves in sins like other nations. In some respects, their sins today are worse than the rest of the world!

Nonetheless, our merciful God has a plan for them—and for any nation and individual willing to repent.

This Psalm 83 alliance is trying to interfere with God’s merciful plan! By seeking to eradicate the name of Israel, these nations show their hatred of God! Such hatred is inspired by Satan the devil himself.

Stoking Hatred Toward Jews

A survey from a respected Palestinian polling institute found that 52 percent of Gazans and 85 percent of West Bank respondents believe Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel was justified. Overall, almost 3 in 4 Palestinians believe the brutal butchery, rape, torture and captivity of Jews is justified!

Polls show that since October 7, support for Hamas has risen in Gaza and more than tripled in the West Bank!

The same is true of the wider Arab world. A February poll by the Arab Center Washington, D.C., and the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies asked thousands of people across 16 Arab countries—including Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia—about their view of Israel after the October 7 attack. Overall, 89 percent of respondents oppose relations with the Jewish state. This opposition dramatically jumped in some nations: In Saudi Arabia it surged from 38 percent in 2022 to 68 percent.

Some of these nations helped thwart Iran’s April attack on Israel. Jordan took part in air operations to destroy the Iranian drones, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates shared intelligence with Israel regarding Iran’s plans. Israel may well feel positive about its relations with these nations and be willing to invest more trust in them. But the reality is, these Arab populations overwhelmingly hate the Jews. And Psalm 83 reveals where that hatred is leading—and shows that Israel’s trust is misplaced.

Hatred toward Jews has also drastically increased in Europe. A Tel Aviv University report shows that since October 7, anti-Semitic attacks have risen faster than at any time since World War ii. Even before October 7, attacks were up compared to the same period the year before. “The war in Gaza helped spread a fire that was already out of control,” the report states. In Germany, there were 1,365 anti-Semitic incidents from January to September 2023; from October to December it was 2,249. In France, the number jumped from 434 to over 1,200. The report warned that “if current trends persist and continue to deteriorate, the curtain will descend on the ability of Jewish identities to be manifested with security and freedom in the West.”

But it’s not just the West: In places all over the Earth, Jewish people are not safe!

We need to see the link between this hatred spreading in the world around us and the relentless enmity described in Psalm 83.

Assyria the Strong Arm

Right now, the political party in Germany rising faster than any other, and at times has proved to be the country’s second-strongest party, is the Alternative für Deutschland. The Wall Street Journal calls it an “extreme right-wing political party.” In some respects, it shares great similarities with the Nazi Party and is equally disruptive of democracy. There is a real appetite in Germany right now for the extreme.

While Germany is allying with the Middle East and becoming politically more extreme, it is also spending billions of dollars on its military. The Germans are rising so fast that people don’t realize they are already a superpower! And considering their all-out military expenditure, they are about to be much stronger. Meanwhile, people are gaining a romantic view of the same military that started two world wars!

Will they really do it again? Yes, they will! So says your Bible.

Luke 21:24 reads, “And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” “Times of the Gentiles” is another term for the “great tribulation” of Matthew 24:21. This warfare will be directed most of all against America, Britain and the Jewish state.

Prophecies in Deuteronomy 28:52-53 and Ezekiel 4-6 show that this attack on America, Britain and little Israel will begin with an economic siege. Once these nations are brought down economically and are engulfed in unrest and chaos, Germany will strike militarily.

The other Psalm 83 nations may play a secondary role in that invasion. Note that Turkey has the second-largest armed forces in nato and hosts U.S. nuclear weapons. The book of Obadiah shows that Turkey, biblical Edom, will play a specific role in Israel’s destruction. But whatever role these nations play in the military attack, the Bible is clear that Germany is the tip of the spear. As Psalm 83:8 reads, “Assyria also has joined them; they are the strong arm of the children of Lot. Selah” (Revised Standard Version). Germany is the “strong arm” of the whole army, or armies, you could say.

Deuteronomy 28 speaks of this same siege caused by a “nation of fierce countenance” (verse 50). Isaiah 10:5-7 reveal that God is actually using Germany, biblical Assyria, to correct His own people that should be repenting and are not.

Psalm 83 is a powerful warning against a large part of the Western world. God wants people to heed His warning so we won’t have such a devastating end!

The God Family

Psalm 83 warns of this dangerous alliance against Israel. But it also shows that these horrific events lead directly into the Second Coming of Christ! That is the good news!

The psalm concludes, “O my God, make them like whirling dust, like chaff before the wind. As fire consumes the forest, as the flame sets the mountains ablaze, so do thou pursue them with thy tempest and terrify them with thy hurricane! Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be put to shame and dismayed for ever; let them perish in disgrace. Let them know that thou alone, whose name is the Lord, art the Most High over all the earth” (verses 13-18; rsv).

That passage describes Christ’s return to supplant the kingdoms of this world with the Kingdom of God!

This truth is underscored in an inspiring way in this psalm. In verses 1, 12 and 13, the psalmist uses the word Elohim for God. Why this word?

Mr. Armstrong defined Elohim this way: “a noun or name, plural in form, but normally singular in grammatical usage. It is the same sort of word as family, church, group—one family consisting of two or more members—one church composed of many members—one group of several persons” (Mystery of the Ages). This word highlights a crucial biblical truth.

The first chapter in John’s Gospel describes God and the Word—two God Beings. In Genesis 1:26, these two God Beings said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness ….” The truth of the Bible is that God is a Family and that God is expanding that Family—re-creating Himself in human beings! (Request a free copy of our inspiring booklet God Is a Family.)

Psalm 83 shows that this alliance is fighting against not only God but the God Family and His marvelous plan to re-create Himself!

God is a Family! He wants everybody in the world to understand this—even the enemies of Israel!

Hebrews 2:8 states, “Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.” This says that we are going to be given the whole universe!

“For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory …” (verse 10). It starts with God the Father and the Son, and He wants to bring many sons to glory! That is His beautiful master plan!

God is going to teach the whole world this truth—even those violent attackers—and if they will repent and submit to Him, He will bring them into His eternal Family! This is God’s ultimate solution to these terrifying events.

Everything I am telling you is the truth, and it is provable from your Bible. I urge you not to ignore or neglect it. Watch Germany and the Middle East and you will be able to see the prophecies I have been explaining come to pass! That should increase your faith in God’s Word. Deeply study these trends, pay heed to God’s warning, and invest your hope in the inspiring conclusion to these prophecies!