Big diplomatic moves show a Middle East bracing for an Iran nuclear deal
With the US having taken a step back from the Middle East, new alignments are taking shape
At the end of last week, there were reports in Lebanon that the Gulf states would soon be returning their ambassadors to Beirut, information that Lebanon’s Prime Minister appeared to confirm on Saturday. The ambassadors had been withdrawn in October, following the release of a video showing the then Lebanese information minister, George Kordahi, criticising the Saudi intervention in Yemen.
The video predated Mr Kordahi’s appointment as minister, and within a matter of weeks he had resigned. Yet the ambassadors remained away. Many observers regarded this as a broader move to change how Lebanon, a country several governments see as being under Iran’s control, would deal with its Arab environment.
Cut to 10 days ago. Syrian President Bashar Al Assad was received in the UAE, the first time the Syrian president had been invited to another Arab country since the Syrian uprising in 2011. Shortly after that visit, Egypt hosted a summit in Sharm El Sheikh between Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
One could reach several conclusions about what is happening between Arab countries and the Syrian government. First, the thawing of relations is probably happening with Tehran in mind. Numerous reports indicate that the nuclear deal with Iran will soon be signed in Vienna, and this would constitute a major challenge for the Arab states and Israel.
For the past decade, Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has forecast that Lebanon will leave Iranian control and side with European and moderate Arab nations.
Mr. Flurry based this forecast on a mysterious prophecy found in Psalm 83. The psalm describes a confederacy formed to fight against Israel. “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” (verses 4-5).
Which nations are to be part of this alliance? Verses 6-8 answer: “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: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.” As Mr. Flurry documents in his free booklet The King of the South, the modern Middle Eastern nations included in this alliance are Turkey, the Gulf states, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon (mentioned in this passage as Gebal and the inhabitants of Tyre). The alliance also lists Assur, which is modern Germany (for proof, read “The Remarkable Identity of the German People”).
A search through history shows that no such alliance against ancient Israel or its descendants has ever existed. This shows that this is an end-time prophecy.
Based on this prophecy, we can know for certain that Lebanon is going to side with a German-led Europe.
But we also know, based on another prophecy, in Daniel 11:40-43, that Lebanon will no longer be allied with Iran. This passage describes an epic clash between two great end-time powers: “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 ….” As Gerald Flurry proves in his booklet, the king of the south in this prophecy is radical Islam led specifically by Iran. The other power, the king of the north, is a German-led Europe—which Psalm 83 reveals will be allied with several Arab states, including Lebanon.
