Are Diabolical Forces Undermining Egypt?
by Roland Clarke

Egypt has been embroiled in its worst crisis in thirty years. What does all this bloodshed mean? It seems significant numbers of Egyptians have woken up to the fact that their aspirations for freedom have been hijacked by radical religionists. They have been deceived by the Muslim Brotherhood who campaigned as so-called moderates and narrowly won the election. After enduring a year of broken promises under Morsi it seems the majority of voters concluded they don't want an Islamist regime. Many are waking up to what the Islamist agenda really is. They are seeing the real face of the MB and they don't like it.

Under Morsi's sharia-driven regime Muslims attacked churches and Christians with impunity on a scale never seen before. Not only so, as soon as the current regime started disbanding obstinate camps of MB protesters a series of attacks broke out against Christians. No one denies it was the MB protesters and Islamist allies who perpetrated these attacks. Within a week 5 dozen churches were burned, vandalized or attacked. MB supporters also attacked several dozen Christian schools, businesses and institutions. Among these were two Bible Society shops (Assiut and Minia) which were completely destroyed.

Interestingly, a number of Egyptian Muslims are objecting to these attacks against Christians. In fact, several dozen boldly stood on the street in front of the Bible Society performing namaz (prayers) asking Allah to protect Christians from such senseless attacks. (see attached photo)

During this same week of rage an article was published showing pictures of Islamists vandalizing a church. What makes this incident so astonishing is that it evoked a backlash within the MB ranks and caused them to be deeply embarrassed. The article is entitled, This is What it Looks Like Just Before the Muslim Brotherhood Jumps You and is available online here:

http://the-eyeontheworld.blogspot.com/2013/08/this-is-what-it-looks-like-just-before.html

There is another even more blatant expose of MB deceit and lies, entitled, Egyptian Churches burn as the Muslim Brotherhood shows its true face. This article quotes a Twitter statement by the brotherhood spokesman, Gehad El-Haddad: 'We will always be non-violent and peaceful.' However, the burning and looting of dozens of churches reveals a different story. Check this blog for photos and some insightful analysis: www.joelstrumpet.com

On August 16th I received a letter voicing similar concerns from an evangelical leader in Egypt. Speaking as an insider, he gives a very different picture to reports in the mainstream media,

"I speak with absolute certainty when I say that, for the vast majority of Egyptians, the military are finally doing what the people have been asking—this is not part of a military coup, but rather, a restoration of control to the majority of Egyptian people. Although the huge number of mortalities is both tragic and regrettable, they could have been avoided, had the MB (Muslim Brotherhood) entered into peaceful productive dialogue with the transitional government, as the military so often invited them to over the past 6 weeks."

Another voice from respected Egyptian leader, Ramez Atallah, (General Secretary for The Bible Society of Egypt) underscores my friend's perspective. Atallah says:

Many of us involved in Christian ministry in Egypt are appalled at the misunderstandings about the situation in Egypt being propagated by even normally balanced international media like the BBC, and the way it has, in general, portrayed the Muslim Brotherhood as the victims of injustice...

In November 2012, he [Morsi] illegally gave himself new sweeping powers to act without censure, and rushed through a new pro-Islamic constitution despite the protests and boycotts from liberals, moderate Muslims and Christians, and then he refused to call for new elections - as had previously been agreed to do after a new constitution had been adopted.

http://crossmap.christianpost.com/news/sat-7-ceo-commentary-understanding-the-present-situation-in-egypt-4703

 

It is important to see deception and lies for what they really are - traits that resemble the Devil. Jesus accused the Jewish religious leaders of being like their father the Devil who is a liar and a murderer. (John 8:31-59) Elsewhere I suggested that Christ's rebuke applies not only to the hypocritical Jewish religious leaders of his day, it also applies to modern day religious hypocrites. For example, look at the near epidemic levels of sectarian bloodshed which are tearing the Ummah apart. Even in Ramadan when the Devil is bound, and you would expect a lower death toll, you find it has escalated! One cannot help but wonder whether the Devil is at work behind all this anger and bloodshed. Consequently, it is not surprising that some (many?) ordinary, peace-loving Muslims feel embarrassed by the atrocities and deception perpetrated by Islamists in the name of Allah. The turmoil and bloodshed we are seeing in Egypt, indeed, across the Muslim world is causing many to feel confused, perplexed and even disillusioned. Is there any hope of peace?

Following is a list of some other relevant articles.

Egyptina Amabassador inverview on clashes

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/raymond-ibrahim/muslim-brotherhood-kills-its-own/

http://frontpagemag.com/2013/raymond-ibrahim/inside-egypts-terrorist-camps-torture-rape-mass-murder/

 

Feel free to ask me any questions you may have which are relevant to this article.

All biblical quotations are taken from the New Living Translation.

 

Appendix 1

John 8:31-59

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

"But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free'?"

Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message. I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father."

"Our father is Abraham!" they declared.

"No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. No, you are imitating your real father."

They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father."

Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."

The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?"

"No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!"

The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!' Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,' but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad."

The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!" At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

Question for deeper reflection

What is the significance of the title "I AM" which Christ applied to himself? (compare Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:13)  Also see The Divine Claims of Jesus: "I AM"

Christian Debater™ P.O. Box 144441 Austin, TX 78714