The Flag Tells the Message
Flags serve as symbols of national identity, unity and pride. They represent a country’s history, culture and values.
Flags matter because they visually represent a group’s identity and values. They serve to unite citizens, reminding them of their shared identity. Flags are important in the world as they embody the spirit of a nation and serve as a unifying symbol for its people.
The flag of the Houthi movement (called Ansarallah), a Shiite Jihadist group in the country of Yemen, proclaims "God is Great, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory to Islam" on a vertical banner with a white background and green text for pro-Islam.
Who would have such a flag? Yemen is the most poverty stricken of all nations in the Arab world, and is many miles from the nation of Israel. Yemen was pretty much ignored until recent times when a group of terrorists began to attack shipping in the Bab al-Mandeb strait, a major chokepoint for worldwide shipping. Who are these “Houthis”?
Hussein al-Houthi
Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi was born in 1956 or 1959 in the Marran area, the ancestral home of the Houthi tribe in the mountains of northern Yemen. His father, Badreddin al-Houthi, was a prominent Zaydi cleric. Hussein al-Houthi lived part of his life in Qom, Iran where he reportedly developed close relationships with Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran, and Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader until he was killed in an Israeli air strike.
Hussein al-Houthi was strongly inspired by the Iranian Revolution and was devoted to importing it to Yemen. In one of his recorded lectures, Hussein al-Houthi described the Iranian Revolution as the best example to follow to confront America and Israel. He believed that Iran could lead the Arabs toward glory.
Hussein formed the Haqq Party but received less than 1% of the national vote in elections in the 1990s. Continuing their radical vision, the Houthis then built a loyal network of relatives and radical ideologues and fought the Yemeni government during the Saada Wars (2006-2010), eventually taking control of much of the country.
Using the misery of everyday Yemenis, the Houthis appealed to the Unitd Nations and other nations for aid. They received billions, which was siphoned off to purchase weapons and force the population into submission.
Political goals of the Houthis
The Houthis’ political ambitions are deeply rooted in a strong religious belief that only Ahl al-Bayt—a religious term that refers to the bloodline of the Prophet Muhammad—have a right to rule over Muslims. The Yemeni term for Ahl al-Bayt is Hashemites or Sadah, and Houthi leaders claim to belong to that caste. Arab leaders of other nations also claim to be Hashemites, which gives them credibility with their largely illiterate populations.
Iran—along with Muslim terrorist groups Hamas, Houthis and Isis—have issued calls for worldwide jihad against the West. After 15 people were killed and many injured by a man driving a white truck flying an Isis flag, Foxnews reported:
“On Sunday, a pro-ISIS outlet turned to Telegram and called on Muslims living in the US, Europe and Russia to conduct attacks on New Year’s Eve…the message proclaimed, ‘Oh monotheists in Europe, America, Russia and other lands of the Crusaders, we know that you are eager to join your brothers in the land of Jihad,…So, lie in wait for them, lie in wait, and seize opportunities and attack them like a hungry lion attacks its heedless prey,’ the message read. “Let none of you be cowardly or weak, and let the saying of Allah be before your eyes: Come and fight the polytheists all together as they fight you all together, so put your trust in God and repeat the days of terror against the Crusaders with killing, spite and torture, for the Messenger of God.’”
Will terrorist events in 2025 calm down or accelerate?
Perhaps leaders in the Western nations will start to be honest about the evil threat they are facing. Ever since the 9/11 attacks, willful ignorance, mislabeling, pretending and cowardice have ruled supreme in the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and other formerly Christian nations. A strong will is required to win any battle—a vital component that has been lacking except in the tiny nation of Israel. What a novel idea that our leaders would believe the message on the Houthi flag.
A great religion is soon to take hold of the world, but it likely will not be the result of Jihadis. God’s word is clear that a “beast” ridden by a religious system pictured as a “woman” (Revelation chapters 13 and 17) will take control of a world government for a few years. That system will be destroyed by the “stone cut without hands” from the sky as predicted by the Prophet Daniel:
“In the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure” (Daniel 2:44-45).
The return of Jesus Christ and his Kingdom is the only hope for mankind.
Course Content
Rex Sexton
Rex Sexton grew up in Illinois and graduated from Ambassador College in Big Sandy, TX in 1976. He began a career as a construction engineer in the Nuclear industry at Hanford, WA , and was hired full time in the ministry in 1982, and earned a Certified Financial Planner certification in 1994. He and his wife, Patricia, have served congregations in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. In addition to pastoring responsibilities, they have also taught at and directed youth summer camps for many years. Rex has authored many articles for church publications over the years and produced or appeared in several hundred Television programs.
