Many may not understand the long war in Afghanistan. It is perhaps best seen in a continuation of hundreds of years of history, and the end times. The geopolitical intrigues to maintain great power roles in that part of the Middle East was called the great game, but what if the God of Israel played that Game and it's bigger than they thought?
Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: (Joel 3:9)
As China, Russia, Iran and others rise to the occasion, the ascent of the Taliban may signal a post-American world order. By Seth J. Frantzman, JPost August 15, 2021 israpundit
The fall of Kabul was shockingly fast and before the projected American pull out on 9/11 as only 4 days ago Forbes and Reuters reported, Kabul could come under pressure from the Taliban in just 30 days and could fall to the group within 90-days, citing an unnamed U.S. intelligence official.
Only a month ago US President Biden said, “The Taliban is not the South — the North Vietnamese army. They’re not — they’re not remotely comparable in terms of capability. There’s going to be no circumstance where you see people being lifted off the roof of a embassy in the — of the United States from Afghanistan. It is not at all comparable.” nypost.com
Faith in the great Power of God to interfere and help us in our lives is reinforced as we see God's word played out as he interferes in the nations in what seems their will. Yahweh Elohim the Mighty Ones of Israel gives success or shocking embarrassing failure.
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Proverbs 21:1)
The American led impulses to go to war in Afghanistan to spend trillions and yet to not fight it successfully seem confused, more so as over 20 years it covers many different governments and administrations - not just in America and close allies like the UK and Australia but also Europe and NATO including unlikely nations such as Denmark.
None of the nations that fought as allies of America in Afghanistan were near neighbours, and none managed to exploit any of the resources (except perhaps opium), so why? Why so unsuccessful (apart from any puppet government being bought with money being corrupt by definition, and therefore without strength)?
In simplicity, over 200 years of history, the Anglo Great Powers of the South pushed against the great growing power of the North, which is Russia, to frustrate southern expansion and prevent them from having power over the ancient nations of Persia and India - Pakistan.
As Russia was rising to power as a great nation from Peter the Great to the last Tzar, Britain's great empire was expanding in power over Iraq, Iran and India-Pakistan. This pattern translated in the modern age after WW2 that exhausted Britain and Europe to the great bipolar world of the Soviets versus the Americans, where the term '3rd world' referred any nation not benefiting by being in either of the two power camps. Many described this as 'East' versus 'West', but in terms of Afghanistan and the Middle East the axis was always 'North' versus 'South' as presented in Daniel's prophecy!
Wikipedia's summary covers the major factual points: In the late 19th century, Afghanistan became a buffer state in "the Great Game" between the British and Russian empires. In the First Anglo-Afghan War, 1839 to 1842, British forces from India at first seized control of Afghanistan, but then were decisively defeated. After the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 the country was able to become independent from foreign influence. It became a monarchy under Amanullah Khan. However, in 1973 King Zahir was overthrown and a republic was established. In 1978, after a second coup, Afghanistan first became a (Soviet ed.)socialist state, evoking the Soviet–Afghan War in the 1980s against mujahideen rebels. By 1996, most of the country was captured by the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban, who ruled as a totalitarian regime; they were removed from power after the US invasion in 2001 but still control a significant portion of the country.
Afghanistan itself is almost irrelevant in this, there are clear social currents there but the issue was never their will, or socialism, or even Islam; their location is relevant. God was playing the 'great game' and it is much bigger that a human lifespan, and it is much bigger in scope than just Afghanistan! This is about Zion and the kingdom of God, and who on earth has power over it.
Role of Afghan war in Daniel's prophecy
Daniel was told.
Thus shall he (the king) do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. (Daniel 11:39-40)
The Context of Daniel 11 is the history of the great empires from Babylon, to the Medes and Persians who ruled into the area of Afghanistan (Ahasuerus ruled from India to Ethiopia Est 1:1), to the Greeks who, under Alexander of Macedon, conquered nearly all of Afghanistan. When Alexander's Empire breaks into 4, a pattern of wars begin between the Power to the North of Israel and the Power to the South of Israel based in Egypt.
The outworking of the Verse 39 Prophecy as history begins at the end of the Jewish state in 70AD; we see the Roman power as a 'king' that dispersed the nation and divided and renamed the land Palestina. That Roman power ruled all the North via the Papacy and Holy Roman Empire for over a millennia.
Daniel is shown the history of the Holy Land and Daniel's people so for the long years of Islamic ruled desolation, where the land was mostly barren, the prophecy is silent.
Then it begins gain 'at the time of the end', which is not a day but an era. We can date the beginning of this era from the dramatic political changes and the invention of the car and aircraft, that also saw the first return of Jews to their ancient Homeland. It is often called the 'Modern Era' with it's most significant point being World War 1.
At that time the allies of Britain 'pushed' at the Ottoman Empire in the most remarkable military campaign of history - both in Palestine (which included Syria as there was no border) and from Iraq into Syria. They used the term 'push' for any military offensive. At this time Britain still ruled India. At the same time Britain had stood against Afghanistan, which resulted in a war in 1919 that allowed Britain a tactical win to form a firm border with India.
Strong's notes the Hebrew word translated 'push' means to push with the horns and 'gore'. We argue that the Anglo-allied 'push' was begun against the Turkish Ottoman Empire but was ongoing over a long time and not one action, as the Hebrew word is causative and active (Hifil), imperfect tense (a continuing action). As Brown Diver Briggs notes of Daniel 11:40 it is like a male horned animal that always has to fight to maintain herd supremacy, 'to engage in thrusting with; wage war with.'
Map Afghanistan in 1888 showing Russia, Persia and India
At the same time Britain begins to rise in global power, with growing power over Egypt, after the end of the Napoleonic wars, it also begins from 1839 to seek to expand into Afghanistan until 1919. Britain is characterised as John Bull (from the political cartoons in Punch). Bulls push with their horns. Britain may not have led the pushing after the second world war, but was certainly involved in every bullish military push into the Middle East in the modern era, including the American-led 2001 'war on terror' invasion of Afghanistan, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 2011 intervention in Libya to depose Gadaffi. In a prophecy that spans over 2 millennia, the ongoing 'push' action may well be over more than a generation. But the pushing action of the Anglo-Allies may well end in a day of defeat.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had also called NATO’s North Atlantic Council to meet on the burgeoning crisis that has captured the world's attention. jpost.com
The day could be August 16, 2021, nearly exactly 20 years from the judgement of 9/11 2001 on American-led Anglo World Trade. As Seth Frantzman in the Jerusalem Post points out, America not only faces enemies of Russia, Iran and now China, it has been struggling as its 'allies' of NATO Turkey, Pakistan, and the Saudis have in effect been harbouring and abetting destructive enemies, including in Afghanistan.
This leads us to the woe pronounced on the land of the overshadowing wings in Isaiah
Isaiah's prophecy of Woe to the land of Ambassadors
Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia (Cush): That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. (Isaiah 18:1-3)
We show how the UN did send out American flagged reed boats.
There are two Biblical Cush; one south of Egypt and one to the East of Ancient Israel. The term Afghan is from the Assakan, ancient inhabitants of the Hindu Kush (Wikipedia). Isaiah's prophecy came into effect when Jews began to settle on the Mountains of Israel when the Anglo-American led League of Nations, that overshadows the Middle East with air power, oversees the implementation of the Mandate for Palestine the 'ensign on the mountains' from April 1920 to 24 July 1922, 100 years ago. The subsequent years saw the British betray the Jews and the beginning of the end of the British Empire and the end of the League of Nations. A reluctant isolationist America is drawn into Britain's wars, and then into being global policeman. As America also betrayed the Jews, woe is now poured out there.
The Ambassadors of the United Nations are based on American soil, and as they spend most of their time 'Israel bashing' with anti-Israel resolutions abounding, with only a slight reprieve under Donald Trump, the woe that was begun to be poured out is poured out still in a humiliating defeat in Afghanistan.
Woe is poured out on the land of the Ambassadors as America's leaders partake of the UN spirit, including taking God-given land from Israel, from the time of the Camp David Accords of 17 September 1978, woe is begun as American power wanes and Iran is dramatically lost to America on 11 February 1979. Much more woe was poured out after the deadly Oslo accords of 13 September 1993 as the US divides the mountains of Israel. Saddam had invaded Kuwait in 1990, but the Middle East order begins to crumble after Saddam's violations of the cease fire beginning from 1993, building to the American-led invasion of 2003 where America won the war, but lost the 'peace' to Iran. Woe was poured out on American soil on the 9/11 2001 attacks. The woes continued with the Arab Spring of 2011 which saw the utter disintegration of Syria with gains for Russia and Iran but no gains for America at all. We saw also the fiasco of the 9/11 2012 attacks on the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya, and the end of American power in Libya. And now we see that the America leadership is both weak and silent in this fiasco, including on the evacuation of its own people, and it is the UK leading now and calling for action from NATO and the UN.
We see the woe poured out. Biden means the judgement of God in Hebrew. Harris means destruction.
How Anglo American failure in Afghanistan fits Ezekiel 38
Daniel said that the ruler of the South would actively push, and keep on pushing, until the King of the North comes.
This king of the North is associated with two other nations: Cush and the Libyans.
But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (Daniel 11:43)
Cush is thought to be Ethiopia by the translators of the Bible in the 1700s but ancient Cush included Sudan, which has now given a base to Russia. Libya is clearly still modern Libya and since the woe poured out on America of the 2011-12 upheavals begun by US president Obama, Russia has increasingly gained power there.
This mention of Cush and Libya then connects us to a prophecy of today's news - that of Ezekiel 38. It is located after Ezekiel 37 which speaks of the return of Jews to the Mountains of Israel and political revival from dried bones and dust. The prophecy speaks of a great leader of the North parts (v15). With him is not only Cush and Libya as Daniel mentions, but also Iran.
Iran is known to be Persia. It was not long ago that Iran was called Persia and since the Americans and British began to push at Iraq (from 1990 even before the 2003 invasion) we here believed that Iran would expand and have power over Iraq as a revived greater Persia. Ezekiel says first with the leader of the North's army are
Persia, Ethiopia (Cush), and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: (Ezekiel 38:5)
We have always considered that this Cush is the ancient Cush South of Egypt in Sudan, and there are reasons to consider that this will be the outworking, due to Russian moves there. But it is then of more than passing interest that it is it believed that the Afghans are also 'Hindu Cush' and that the Russians are set to move into the vacuum left by the American fiasco and connect to Iran (Persia).
We may indeed look up for our salvation draws near. There are now more Jews in Israel than outside it, and those Jews outside it seem culturally weak. The 200 years of a holding pattern where Jews are gathered to the Holy Land and the great powers of the South pushed at the Middle East like a bull, goring in bloody wars, to establish supremacy, seem over.
Just like that. Over. In a day. Kabul the great fortified city of the Americans fell.
The king of the North is revealed in power.
The great game of 200 years to prevent the power of the North of Russia connecting with Persia, India and Israel is over. The long 'war on terror' of 20 years is over.
Egypt is not an ally due to US president Obama's policy failure. Sudan has sold a port to Russia. Libya was lost by Obama in 2012. Iraq was lost and is finally lost now. Syria is in Russia's hands. Turkey was lost by Obama in 2016. Pakistan will have to look well to itself now the Taliban has power and will seek yet more power. Iran was long lost, it became an implacable deadly enemy of America from 1979.
India stands, but not with the current American Administration, because it is strengthened with Israel. Britain stands because it has removed itself from the EU, but only as a voice. America is the blank eyes of a man who cannot remember and who is absent and silent when the corruption of Kabul crumbles.
Kabul
Kabul is what Hiram king of Tyre called the places Solomon gave him- and it means 'a limitation sterile' (1 kings 9:13) Kabul was the place of the sterility and limitation of the Bull of the South that pushed with its horns.
But we ought not be dismayed! The great power of the North is not given anything. They seek Zion and world power, as that is the true centre of the Great Game of word power, but they will not obtain it.
And he (King of the North) shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. (Daniel 11:45?
Meek inherit the earth as heirs of God's Great Game
Yahweh Elohim of Israel is the winner of the great game of powers pushing at each other! He decides who has power over the Middle East- not for 20 years or 200 years but for all the 6,000 years. He told Daniel who he would give it to, and none can hold power in the Great Game.
Because already all power is given to Christ and his servants.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (Ephesian 1:18-21)
Now the last block against Russian expansion has fallen, which was the Southern alliance's possession of Kabul, the limits are reached. The end of the great game is the world war begun with the Northern-led invasion of the Holy Land. A war like never seen before - a time of trouble as never before.
Then the One like El, The Prince, the Anointed king-priest, Messiah, Christ shall stand for the Jewish people against the king of the North. Then the world will rejoice in peace as the wise will shine as stars
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:1-3)
Addendum some key news items of a world that was, and is now gone:
"When I announced our drawdown in April, I said we would be out by September, and we’re on track to meet that target," Biden had said. "Our military mission in Afghanistan will conclude on August 31st."
Clearly the Taliban are on the cusp of declaring victory in Kabul far ahead of that date marker, and certainly very far ahead of the initially conceived September 11 symbolic 'mission accomplished' date (without doubt whatever plans were laid for an optimistic sounding 9/11 "we're out of Afghanistan" or even "mission accomplished" speech will be scrapped).
Here's the exchange from a bit over a month ago:
REPORTER: Is a Taliban takeover of Afghanistan now inevitable?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it is not.
REPORTER: Why?
THE PRESIDENT: Because you — the Afghan troops have 300,000 well-equipped — as well-equipped as any army in the world — and an air force against something like 75,000 Taliban. It is not inevitable.
Perhaps this utter failure to grasp or predict anything close to reality on the ground in the conflict is a failure also shared by US intelligence.
George W. Bush warns US withdrawal from Afghanistan will have ‘unbelievably bad’ consequences Former US president George W. Bush has issued a rare public warning, saying one of Joe Biden’s decisions will have “unspeakable” consequences.
China 'Ready' To Recognize Taliban If Afghan Government Ousteda
In a nationwide offensive that has taken just over a week, the Taliban has defeated, co-opted or sent Afghan security forces fleeing from wide swaths of the country. Ghani, who spoke to the nation Saturday for the first time since the offensive began, appears increasingly isolated. Warlords he negotiated with just days earlier have surrendered to the Taliban or fled, leaving Ghani without a military option. Ongoing negotiations in Qatar, the site of a Taliban office, also have failed to stop the insurgents’ advance.
Bitter blow: UK's former hub in Afghanistan taken by Taliban. Confirmation that the Taliban captured the capital of Afghanistan's Helmand province has particular resonance in Britain
Denmark and Norway to shut embassies in Afghanistan, evacuate staff
Reported US airstrikes hit Taliban as battle for Afghanistan continues
Biden Mobilizes 5,000 Troops For Urgent Afghan Evacuation. There's been reported growing frustration and anger even within the Democratic administration itself over President Biden's being utterly silent Friday into Saturday while for much of the past week the Taliban has steamrolled Afghan forces as it prepares to lay siege to Kabul. He's even vacationing this weekend at Camp David; Axios described the president as "relaxing".
Joe Biden betrays another US ally as he leaves Afghanistan to be conquered by the Taliban
Critics slam Biden’s long-weekend silence as Afghanistan falls to Taliban
The consequences
Former Israeli Ambassador Warns: Fall of Afghanistan Shows Israel Must Rely on Itself
Biden failed to understand the capability of Taliban, retired US Army Major says
