Frequently Asked Bible Questions

Where does Africa fit in Bible prophecy?

Is Africa under a curse? How will end-time prophecies affect the peoples of Africa?

The Bible is, in the main, a book about physical Israel, as well as spiritual Israel, that is, the Church of God (Galatians 6:16). Therefore, Scripture doesn't mention most other nations, except as they cross paths with Israel. God chose to use Israel to model His way of life, not to exclude other nations, but rather as a means of bringing all peoples to His way of life and His generous blessings.

Many end-time prophecies deal with terrible challenges of a worldwide scope, including Africa. Given the present condition of many African nations, one wonders if the fires of end-time disasters have already been ignited. God will send some terrible plagues just before Christ returns. But the world will suffer a great deal before that from disasters mankind brings on itself through sin.

Because it seems that most nations on the African continent have suffered unduly in past decades, some speculate that God placed a curse upon them. But people forget that there were prosperous black empires in ages past and that most of the continent prospered when it was part of the British Empire. A major cause of the current despair is the dictatorial rule of a few people who have enriched themselves instead of caring for their citizens. Additional problems, especially sexually transmitted diseases, can be traced to deeply entrenched customs that block needed education.

It would be difficult to overstate the damage these two factors alone have inflicted on the continent. These causes bring curses, not from God, but rather from man himself.

There are more specific references to northern Africa in conjunction with end-time prophecies about the Middle East, which principally appear to pertain to that region's Muslim population. We believe that the prophecies of the "king of the South" probably refer to an Islamic confederacy at the end of the age (Daniel 11). Our booklet The Middle East in Bible Prophecy outlines what the Bible foretells on this subject.

With the return of Jesus Christ to rule all the nations of the world, peace and justice will come to all peoples, including the peoples of Africa (Revelation 11:15; Isaiah 11:10-11; 42:1-6). Psalm 68 refers to the time when everyone will submit to God, and says that "envoys will come out of Egypt; Ethiopia [Cush, probably ancestor of more than just Ethiopia] will quickly stretch out her hands to God" (verse 31). Africans will respond to God and He will show mercy to them.

Related Online Resources

The Middle East in Bible Prophecy
This region is destined to become the center of the final global crisis that will usher in cataclysmic events leading humanity to the brink of extinction—and ultimately change our world forever.

The International Scope of Prophecy from the booklet You Can Understand Bible Prophecy
Though much of prophecy is focused on specific peoples, God's plan extends to all nations. He reveals how He will ultimately deal with all of humankind.

The Biblical Solution for Africa's Biggest Crisis
At the International AIDS Conference held in Bangkok, Thailand, delegates repeatedly condemned abstinence programs. The African continent has been particularly devastated by AIDS. Interestingly, abstinence programs are the only ones that are really working there.

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