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Description: “The Mysterious King of the North”

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VOICEOVER: Welcome to End Times Today with Author, Speaker, and Bible teacher: John Claeys. This episode is entitled, The Mysterious King Of The North  We’d like to remind you what’s available at End Times Today Dot Org. You can sign up for notifications concerning upcoming episodes, watch previous broadcasts, get copies of John’s books, and even send in your own questions for John. All This and more is at EndTimesToday.org. We’ll take a look at The Mysterious King Of The North and answer some questions from viewers like you in just a moment, but first let’s see what’s happening in our the world right now. Here’s John Claeys

What in the World Is God Doing?

Viewer Screen: Israel's Deal with the UAE Could Be a Turning Point for the Middle East – Editorial (The Times-UK)

From The Times, UK, comes an editorial on the agreement recently struck between Israel and the United Arab Emirates to normalize their relations is. The editorial calls this agreement historic; and, indeed, it is! As the article puts it: “Acceptance of the Jewish state by its Arab neighbors has been a cherished objective of Israel's leaders since its foundation.”

    The editorial continues with these assessments: “The new agreement reflects how Middle Eastern security concerns have shifted. . . . It is [Iran’s] own interference in Arab nations from Lebanon to Yemen that is the driving force behind the Middle East's fracture into coalitions that stand against or for Iran.” We could also say it this way: The fear of Iran’s progress toward nuclear weapons is driving Middle East nations to align with Israel. And that, indeed, is historic!

Another recent article, published at Bloomberg by the former supreme allied commander of NATO, presents it this way: 

Viewer Screen: Israel-UAE Deal: Start of a Strategic Coalition to Check Iranian Aggression? - Adm. (ret.) James Stavridis (Bloomberg)

“Given the lack of demonstrations by the "Arab street" following the Israel-UAE deal, other Israel recognition deals may soon follow. Especially if the remaining Gulf Arab states join the UAE in recognizing Israel, the potential for anti-Iranian military and intelligence activity will grow significantly.” According to this assessment, other Middle East nations will follow in step, making public agreements with Israel to unify against Iran. 

I don’t doubt this at all. In fact, I have been saying for some time that, as part of the fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy, five Middle East leaders will be half of the ten-leader confederacy that will confirm the 7-year treaty with Israel that will kick off the 7-year Tribulation period. 

In another recent article, 

Viewer Screen: Saudi Journalist Praises Israel-UAE Normalization Agreement, Mishari Al-Dhaidi (MEMRI)

Saudi journalist Mishari Al-Dhaidi wrote in Asharq Al-Awsat on Aug. 14 that “Egyptian President 'Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi welcomed the [agreement] between the UAE and Israel.” 

And, in another article:

Viewer Screen: No Reason for Muslims and Jews to Be Enemies - Dr. Qanta Ahmed (Fox News)

The author wrote: “As a Muslim, I know there are no theological or historical reasons for Muslims and Jews to be enemies. . . . I know that many Muslims feel the same way as I do about the need to make peace with our Jewish brothers and sisters, although many stay silent to avoid criticism and threats of violence from some fellow Muslims.”

The writer goes on to say: “The UAE's decision to move forward to establish normal relations with Israel is a sure sign that leaders of other Arab nations will also come to the realization that it makes no sense to allow Palestinian opponents of peace with Israel to hold the future of the region hostage and require a perpetual state of hostilities with the Jewish state.”

Wow! Given the history of animosity of Arab states toward Israel, these statements seem to be miraculous! 

Finally, I believe that the title of the following article, published in the New York Daily News, shows how significantly God’s work in the hearts of Arabs is being revealed:

Viewer Screen: The Israel-UAE Agreement Offers a Chance for a New Peace Paradigm - David Makovsky (New York Daily News)

God is truly at work, moving the hearts of Arabs in the Middle East to align with His plan. As Proverbs 21:1 presents:

Viewer Screen: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, likethe rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (Proverbs 21:1).

What else can explain the miraculous transformation of the viewpoint of Arabs in the Middle East toward Israel? Clearly God is at work! While we in the U.S. are focused on, and consumed by, COVID 19 and political warfare culminating toward an election in November, I believe that changes in the Middle East are rapidly preparing for the fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy, specifically, the confirmation of a treaty of “peace and security” between ten national leaders and Israel. 

I believe we need to re-align our vision; we need see that God is arranging the actors on the stage of end-times Bible prophecy. And to prepare for what is coming, we need to keep looking up!

And that is: “What in the World Is God Doing?”

FULL STOP. WAIT FOR MUSIC AND VOICEOVER

VOICEOVER: Thanks John! It’s amazing to see what’s going on in the world right now. Now, let’s take a look at what God is saying to us about upcoming events in our world through his word: Here’s John to fill us in on that mysterious king of the North.

What in the Bible Is God Saying?

“The Mysterious King of the North”

Viewer Screen: Grover Cleveland: Unbelievably Lucky?

Grover Cleveland experienced a meteoric rise to power. He went from being a moderately successful Buffalo lawyer in 1881 to being elected president of the United States in three years! One of Cleveland’s biographers, Horace Samuel Merrill, explained his political rise in this way: “He was lucky—almost unbelievably lucky!” 

It may have seemed that he was “unbelievably lucky,” but the Bible declares that luck has nothing to do with anything—including a rise from seeming obscurity to great power. Instead, the only real explanation for anything of that sort is that God provided for it to happen.

But, Grover Cleveland’s amazing rise from obscurity to power will seem as nothing compared to the rise of a man from the seeming obscurity of a Middle Eastern country. Certainly, luck will have nothing to do with that rise. Satan will be behind it, but the same prophet of God who declared that God “removes kings and raises up kings,” and who prophesies of this future king, indicates that his rise will be part of God’s plan for the world. 

Viewer Screen: “Peace & Security” > Sudden Destruction

Previously, we have seen that when the world believes it has achieved peace and security, sudden destruction will hit, from which there will be no escape. 

Viewer Screen: The Rapture

Immediately prior to this unexpected devastation, Jesus will remove all believers from the earth, an event referred to as the rapture of the church. 

We have also seen that the rapture will occur on the same day as the sudden destruction. 

Viewer Screen: The 7-Year Treaty > The 7-Year Tribulation Period

At the very moment the rapture occurs, a seven-year treaty, brokered between ten national leaders and Israel, will go into effect. This treaty will begin the 7-year Tribulation period, a time when God will pour out his judgments upon a rebellious world. 

Viewer Screen: The 2 Prophets of Revelation > 144,000

In addition, we have seen that on the very first day of this future tribulation period, two prophets will begin their three-and-a-half-year prophetic ministry to Israel. The fruit of their ministry will include 144,000 Jews who believe in Christ for eternal life and who will take the gospel worldwide to reach a multitude of Gentiles. 

Viewer Screen: The King of the North

At the very mid-point of the Tribulation period, Satan will release from the abyss a man who had previously lived upon the earth, a man who will be Satan’s world ruler for the last 3½ years of the Tribulation period. But, before this man becomes the beast, he is known as “the king of the North.” 

Six hundred years before the time of Christ, the prophet Daniel received an amazing vision of the future. This vision included the revelation of the death of Alexander the Great and the breakup of his empire into four distinct kingdoms (Dan 11:2-4; cf. 8:20-22). 

Viewer Screen: The Seleucid Empire = Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, part of Iran, part of Turkey

One of these four kingdoms is referred to as the Seleucid Empire, which covered an area including modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, part of Iran, and part of Turkey. Daniel’s prophetic revelation traces the succession of Seleucid rulers, each of whom is known as the king of the North. 

Viewer Screen: The King of the North, Past & Future

Daniel’s vision takes us through a continuous set of rulers, until the end of the rule of Antiochus IV (who died in 164 BC). Then, the vision leaps ahead more than two thousand years to a king ruling “at the time of the end” (verse 40). The description of this future king begins in verse 36 of Dan chapter 11: 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.’ ” 

The description of this king is eerily similar to a description found in 2 Thess 2. If we look closely, we will that the two passages—Dan 11:36-45 and 2 Thess 2—describe the same individual. Both portray one who exalts himself above every God, including the God of gods. 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘Then the king shall . . . exalt and magnify himself above every god , . . .’ ” (Dan 11:36).

“. . . the man of sin . . . the son of perdition, who . . . exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, . . .” (2Thess 2:3-4).

Verse 36 of Daniel 11 announces that the king will rule “till the wrath has been accomplished”—that is, until God is finished pouring out his wrath upon the earth duringthe day of the Lord. 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘Then the king . . . shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done’ ” (Dan 11:36).

As 2 Thess 2:8 reveals, the king’s reign will end with his destruction at the return of Christ, which will put an end to the tribulation period.

Viewer Screen: “And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming” (2Thess 2:8).

The description of the king of the North continues in Daniel 11. Then, in v 40, we are informed of a new development: 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘At the time of the end the king of the South [Egypt] shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through’ ”(Dan 11:40).

This king will be attacked by Egypt. Because there is no mention of an invading army from Egypt, most likely, there will not be a ground invasion in the attack upon the King of the North. The Egyptian attack will probably not include a bombing run, since the king’s likely response would be to shoot down those planes; and there is no indication in the text of this occurring. Since we have ruled out ground forces from Egypt and an attack by planes, it seems Egypt’s aggression against the king will consist of a missile launch from Egypt.

The leader of Egypt may attack the King of the North because he believes that the growing power of the King of the North looms as a threat to the Middle East. If so, Egypt may believe the king must be dealt with by an offensive strike against him.

One thing we clearly see in the context of Dan 11 is that the King of the North will retaliate with a powerful military response. On his way toward Egypt, he will conquer other Middle Eastern countries. 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘He shall also enter the Glorious Land [Israel], and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape’ ” (Dan 11:41-42).

On his way to retaliate against Egypt, he will pass through Israel, but he won’t conquer the Jewish nation at this point. We can see this by the description in Daniel 11:41 which reveals that the king will “enter” Israel rather than overwhelm or overthrow it, as he will with other Middle Eastern countries. In addition, when Jesus warns of international warfare occurring in the first half of the Tribulation period, he indicates that Israel will not be affected by it.

A passage that seems to explain why the king of the North will enter Israel without going to war against the Jewish nation is Isaiah 28:14–15:

Viewer Screen: “Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who arein Jerusalem, Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves’ ” (Isa 28:14-15).

This passage reveals a future scenario describing a treaty the leaders of Israel will make with another party. They will make this agreement in order to seek protection from the “overflowing scourge.” 

The Hebrew word for “overflowing” in the verses above is the same word that is translated as “overwhelm” in this statement in Daniel 11:40: 

Viewer Screen: “ ‘At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.’ ” 

This same Hebrew word seems to connect Isaiah 28:15 and Daniel 11:40 to the same person who will invade Israel—the king of the North. 

Viewer Screen: “Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, who rule this people who arein Jerusalem, Because you have said, ‘We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves’ ” (Isa 28:14-15).

Isaiah 28 prophesies that leaders of Israel will attempt to seek protection from the military force of the king of the North, who will pass through their land on the way to conquer Egypt. Apparently, these leaders will realize that the king will feel the need to pass through Israel to counter-attack Egypt. Therefore, they will sign a protective treaty with the king. 

This treaty will not be the same one as the treaty Israel will sign with ten nations initiating the day of the Lord. Instead, the treaty mentioned in Isaiah 28 will be used by the leaders of Israel to take refuge in lies and falsehood. Though the lies and falsehood could refer to lying to the king of the North when making this treaty with him, it is not likely they would risk lying to such a powerful force; thus, this will more likely be a secret treaty that will be hidden with lies. Due to the overwhelming power of the king of the North’s military force, leaders of Israel will believe there is no recourse for the nation. They will try to protect themselves with this treaty.

Isaiah 28:15 uses typical Hebrew synonymous parallelism to emphasize the extremely troubling nature of this treaty. After the leaders of Israel have cut this covenant with the king of the North, they will soon realize their mistake. They will see this is a treaty of death; it will be an “agreement with Sheol,” the place of the dead. These leaders will recognize too late that they cannot trust this man of Satan. This treaty, that was meant to provide protection, will end up costing Jewish leaders their lives and the lives of many others in the land of Israel. 

Viewer Screen: A Treaty of Death

Zechariah 13:8 reveals that two-thirds of all the Jews living in the land of Israel will lose their lives. Since the context of that prediction is within the last half of the tribulation period, then, in some way, the king of the North—who will become the beast by that point—will be responsible for their deaths. This means that the secret treaty of Isaiah 28 will become a treaty of death many times over! 

Based on the same Hebrew word that connects the secret treaty to the king’s conquest of many countries on his way to conquer Egypt, it seems this treaty is the agreement that allows the king to move his military machine through Israel in order to invade Egypt by ground forces.

We have much more to cover regarding this mysterious King of the North—his origin, his Middle East conquest, his invasion of Israel, his surprising god, and his eerie pathway toward becoming the beast of Revelation, the ruler of the world. But that will all need to wait till next time. Please join us next time here at End Times Today as we learn about “The King of the North: His Eerie Path toward Becoming the Beast.”

FULL STOP. WAIT FOR MUSIC AND VOICEOVER

VOICEOVER: Thank you John for helping us understand this incredible character of Bible Prophecy. Before we go let’s take a look at some questions from viewers just like you.

Questions / Answers

This question comes from Chris in Pennsylvania.

Q: Are Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17 one and the same war? Thanks, very much for your help. ---Chris Karpinski, PA

A: Psalm 83 and Isaiah 17, each of which depicts an invasion of Israel, do not refer to the same event. 

Viewer Screen: Psalm 83 = Ezekiel 38 = Revelation 20:7-10

Psalm 83 refers to an invasion of Israel in the future, which is the same event described in Ezek 38 and Rev 20:7-10. Rev 20:7-10 clearly shows this invasion will occur at the end of the Millennial Kingdom (the thousand-year rule of Christ on the earth following His return). 

Viewer Screen: Ezekiel 38: When Israel experiences unprecedented peace and security.

The invasion of Israel, described in Ezek 38, will occur when Israel is experiencing great prosperity and such peace and security that Israel needs no protection, not even walls or gates. 

Viewer Screen: Psalm 83: Occurs while Israel is protected by God as His treasure.

Psa 83 occurs at the same time as the occurrence of Ezek 38, as indicated by the Hebrew word for “sheltered” (NKJV) in v 3. The verse speaks of God’s “sheltered ones,” using a word which also means “hidden” or “treasured.” Thus, at the time this invasion occurs, Israel is protected by God as His treasure. The only time Israel will be so protected is during the Millennial Kingdom. 

“Treasured” may be a word play indicating the wealth or “treasure” possessed by God’s valued people. If so, it fits perfectly with Ezek 38, since the invasion of Ezek 38 is motivated by Israel’s prosperity.

Viewer Screen: The invasion of Ezekiel 38: Motivated by Israel’s prosperity.

Clearly, Israel is not now dwelling in the kind of security described in Ezek 38. Israel is certainly not dwelling without walls; for it has a 403-mile wall around it for protection against the threat of terrorists and suicide bombers. Israel certainly is not now dwelling “without walls,” “bars,” or “gates”; and the nation will not exist in that type of peace and security until the arrival of the rule of Messiah during the Millennial Kingdom. 

Viewer Screen: 

Psa 38, Eze 38, Rev 20:7-10:

An invasion of Israel at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

Thus, Psalm 83, which is linked with Ezek 38 and Rev 20:7-10, refers to an invasion of Israel at the end of the Millennial Kingdom.

Viewer Screen: Isa 17 will also occur in the future.

Isa 17 contains elements which clearly have not taken place. Damascus has not ceased being a city (v 1), and Israel has not turned back to the Lord as indicated in v 7. 

The predicted judgment on Syria (“Damascus”) in this passage is shown to occur in the same period of time as God’s discipline of Israel in this same context. A significant key to this timeframe is found in v 7 which announces that the people of Israel will turn back to God. Bible prophecy shows this will occur by the end of the future seven-year Tribulation period, but not before. It will be then that “all Israel will be saved” (Rom 11:26) as believing Jews prepare to move into the Millennial Kingdom. 

Viewer Screen: Judgment on Syria (Damascus) during “desolation.”

But before all surviving Jews of that horrific era turn to the Lord, there will be “desolation” (v 9). The Hebrew word used for “desolation” in this passage is the same one utilized in Dan 11:31 and 12:11, which refer to “the abomination of desolation,” cited by Jesus in Matthew 24:15. The “abomination” refers to the act of “the man of sin” who abominates the future Jewish temple at the very mid-point of the Tribulation period.

Viewer Screen: Israel: To be invaded by the armies of the nations prior to Christ’s return.

Israel will be invaded by the nations, as their armies gather in preparation for the war they intend to wage against Jesus at His return (cf. Rev 16:12-16). As Zech 14:1-4 reveals, Jesus will return to deliver Israel; and when He does, He will “fight against those nations” (Zech 14:3) which will be gathered in, and around, Jerusalem (Zech 14:2).

This is the timeframe in which Isa 17 is fulfilled. 

Viewer Screen: 

Psa 83: at the end of the Millennial Kingdom;

Isa 17: toward the end of the Tribulation period.

Psa 83 and Isa 17 do not refer to the same Biblical event; and neither portrays an imminent occurrence.  Psalm 83 portends an invasion of Israel at the end of the millennial kingdom (see Rev 20:7-10), while Isa 17 pictures an aggression occurring shortly before the return of Christ. 

I hope this answer helps to clarify those prophesied events.

FULL STOP. WAIT FOR OUTRO VOICEOVER. 

VOICEOVER: Thanks so much to John, for the information in today’s fascinating program. Don’t forget, If you’d like to sign up for notifications, see recent episodes, get copies of John’s books, or even ask John a question you can do that and more at ENDTIMESTODAY.ORG. In addition if you are interested in becoming a financial pattern with this or any of the shows produced by Free Grace International, you can donate at endtimestoday.org. Thanks for watching and we will see you next time on End Times Today, With John Claeys.