Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is now 75.
He has ruled Egypt since Anwar Sadat's assassination in 1981. Much has happened in the Middle East in those two decades. Mubarak is aging. He has tried to groom his son to replace him, but many Egyptians disapprove of any modern-day pharaonic dynasty. Clearly, a succession crisis looms in Egypt while a 30-year "cold peace" may give way to ethnic, cultural and religious heat to ignite another war between Egypt and Israel.
Egypt has stockpiled chemical weapons and purchased Scud missiles from North Korea. There is a strong Muslim fundamentalist movement in Egypt motivated by hatred of Israel.
The Bible speaks of Egypt's involvement in a future confederation of Arab nations, led by an individual it calls "the king of the South," who will be overrun by an invasion from the north (Daniel 11:40-43). Thus, leadership changes in the Arab and Muslim world should draw our attention. The next just might be the one who helps inspire a confederation among the Muslim Arabs and bring about the fulfillment of these prophecies. But a lasting peace will eventually come. God will solve the Middle East crisis in due time (Revelation 19:11-21; Daniel 2:44).
