Why does so much tension and violence trace back to the Middle East? Why can’t Jews and their Muslim neighbors have peace? Why has Iran and radical Islam swollen into such a global menace? Why is this volatile region an obstinate threat to the rest of the world?

The Middle East time bomb is ticking closer and closer to detonation. If Iran has its way, the explosion will be nuclear—and sooner rather than later.

Would you believe that an incredibly accurate description of this exact situation appears in the Bible? About 2,500 years ago, the Prophet Daniel recorded an extensive description of the major powers that would dominate this specific region. Then, over the course of four centuries, that description came to pass—in detail! (Prove Daniel’s prophecy out for yourself: Read our free booklet History and Prophecy of the Middle East.)

But there’s something else. Part of Daniel’s astonishingly accurate prophecy remains to be fulfilled “at the time of the end.” That period is the modern era we’re living in now!

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.He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps (Daniel 11:40-43).

History, prophecy and current events prove the modern identity of the king of the north.

The other big question then is who is this “king of the south.”

This prophecy discusses a Middle Eastern regional power that allies itself in some way with Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia—countries all recognizable by the same names today. The prophecy also shows the king of the south is aggressive enough to cause another major power to react against it with violence.

Could this prophesied king of the south be linked to modern Iran?

The Trumpet identifies the king of the south as radical Islam, led by Iran. Editor in chief Gerald Flurry first made this connection in 1994, just six years after Iran emerged from its devastating eight-year war with Iraq—a time when few paid any attention to this rogue Islamist nation.

Here are three reasons why Iran is the king of the south prophesied in the Bible.

1. Iran Is the King of Radical Islam

Since 1994, Iran has gone on to dominate headlines and destabilize the Middle East more than any other power—and it has done so by leveraging its influence over Islamic extremism.

Iran’s takeover of radical Islam goes back to 1979, when Islamists overthrew the shah of Iran. The country’s new leaders then developed Iran into the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism. In the name of Islamic fundamentalism, Iranian leaders have sponsored abductions, assassinations, bombings and other acts of violence. They have supported terrorists from Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestine Islamic Jihad, the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as Shia militants who attacked American and coalition troops in Iraq thousands of times. Iran also has propped up the regime of Bashar Assad in Syria, where tens of thousands of Syrian civilians have been killed. Iran has provided money, weapons, training and protection to terrorists and supported uprisings, coups and other violence in Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, Algeria, Afghanistan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Kenya, Mali, Somalia, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, India, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Germany, Thailand, Malaysia and Argentina.

Iran has achieved its objective of becoming the most belligerent and imperialistic nation indigenous to the Middle East. The “push” in Daniel 11:40 perfectly describes Iran’s foreign policy. It has appointed itself kingpin of radical Islamism, the mortal enemy of the West, and the head of the terrorist snake. Now it is racing to construct nuclear weapons.

Even an objective look at the map today reveals that no power south of Europe has more potency than radical Islam, led by Iran.

2. Iran and Its Allies Are Located to the South

Anciently, the king of the south was the Ptolemaic Kingdom located in Egypt, south of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The king of the north was the Seleucid Kingdom located in the territory north and east of the Holy Land. But much of this prophecy in Daniel remains to be fulfilled because it is dual.

Today, Iran’s radical Islamist alliance is forming around Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Yemen, Ethiopia, Egypt and part of Sudan. While some of this territory lies east of the Holy Land, most of it is located to the south. The Bible calls this power the king of the south, and Iran already strongly influences or is allied with these nations south of Israel. All of these countries lie south of the king of the north, German-led Europe.

3. Bible Prophecy Eliminates Every Possibility Except Iran

Daniel 11:40 says that the king of the south will direct its terrorist-backed foreign policy against the king of the north, and that the king of the north will mobilize against this southern alliance and destroy it like a whirlwind. Verse 42 indicates that the king of the north will also attack Egypt because it is allied with the king of the south. Therefore, Egypt itself cannot be the king of the south.

Egypt has recently experienced considerable political and social turmoil. But under the brief leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood, Cairo grew much closer to the Iranians and Washington has alienated the new military rulers. Watch for radical Islam to continue to spread among Egyptians and for the nation as a whole to ultimately ally with the Iranians.

Daniel 11:43 shows that the king of the north will also conquer Libya and Ethiopia, which will also be allied with the king of the south.

But what about the other nations in the Middle East? The Bible contains another key prophecy that reveals what these powers will do in the latter days, during the same period that the king of the south is pushing against the king of the north. This prophecy is found in Psalm 83.

Psalm 83 describes a mysterious alliance that forms to destroy the modern descendants of Israel.

No such alliance has ever existed in history. This prophecy discusses the same clash between the king of the south and the king of the north mentioned in Daniel, and adds additional details.

Psalm 83:6-7 list several Middle Eastern nations that do not ally with the king of the south, but with the European king of the north. Tracing the names of these ancient lands mentioned in Psalm 83 to their modern equivalents, you find that Edom is Turkey, the Ishmaelites are Saudi Arabia, Moab and Ammon are both Jordan, the Hagarenes are located in Syria and Gebal is Lebanon. This alliance actually forms after the king of the north destroys the king of the south. So none of these nations can be the king of the south. (Watch Gerald Flurry’s video “The Psalm 83 Prophecy” for more information.)

The prophesied king of the south is a power that has a pushy foreign policy; rules an area located south of the Holy Land and the king of the north; allies with Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia; and excludes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

When you carefully analyze world events against the scattered prophecies of the Bible, you can piece together the truth about whether there is, in fact, a modern king of the south and who that king is.

More and more, it is becoming undeniably clear that the king of the south is Iran!

When you understand Iran’s biblical identity, many of the confusing events in the chaotic Middle East become understandable. You can see how Iran is aggressively disrupting any peace and assembling an alliance based on radical religion. You can see how it is challenging the West. You can see how it will ultimately challenge a much more aggressive power to its north. You can see why the Iranians are pushing so hard for nuclear weapons, and you can even see how other Muslim nations that are fearful of Iran are already seeking alliances with European nations.

This is just the beginning of Iran’s role in end-time climactic world events. To understand more about Daniel’s prophecy and about the past, present and immediate future of Iran, read Gerald Flurry’s free booklet The King of the South.