Events in the natural world are mirroring the political world. There is a curious juxtaposition of the Earthquake in Christchurch NZ and the almost unexpected political earthquake in Libya. It is very significant as Libya is mentioned in the Bible
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In Christchurch, New Zealand there is a tall building called 'the Grand Chancellor' teetering as Gaddafi is clearly in danger of falling from power. The parallel is striking
The hotel's owner, Frank Delli Cicchi, said the "overwhelming consensus" was the building would need to be demolished. "Most of the engineers...are of the opinion it will have to come down," nzherald.co.nz
A growing number of political leaders are urging Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi to step down after his strong response to the popular uprising against his rule.
The end of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's rule is "inevitable," the foreign minister (Franco Frattini) of Italy, his closest European ally, said. www.reuters.com
As Britain is sending people to help rescue efforts in Christchurch and to aid NZ and British nationals, they are also sending in people to rescue people from Libya.
Whereas the number of British in New Zealand is no surprise, the number of British in Libya was staggering. Not only was there a special rescue by British SAS to pull out over 150 from working in remote oil fields, in addition there were a staggering 3,500 Britons were to be evacuated (with 1,000 from Canada and 80 from Australia). This in company with 18,000 from India (as of 02.02.11 twenty percent of Indians had been evacuated gulf-times.com with an intent to bring all home www.dailypioneer.com. This number is only exceeded by Turkish, Thai and Philippine labourers! There were only 500 Russian foreigners, despite a long relationship previously with the Soviet Union. Top of the list of companies evacuating is BP.
The number of British & commonwealth nationals in Libya is staggering as in most people's living memory Libya was the most violent and active enemy of all that Britain (and America) stood for. Few could forget the 21 December 1988 Lockerbie Pan AM bombing. To understand why, we need a bit of history.
Libya to Gaddafi's Libya
Even before 1988, Libyan agents had killed a policewoman in London in 1984, and hijacked a plane in 1985. Libya had for years been carrying out world wide terrorism leading to US President Regan calling its leader Colonel Gaddafi “the most dangerous man in the world” and “the mad dog of the Middle East.”
Libya was formed as an independent nation on 24 December 1951 by the UN due to indecision and rivalry as to who should administer it, as it was then known as the poorest nation on earth. This was only 3 years after Israel was formed. During the 1950's Libya was pro-Western, and in 1953 signed a 20 year treaty of friendship with Britain, and in 1954 a 17 year treaty with the United States of America. This, with financial aid, allowed them both to maintain large military bases in Libya. In 1959 oil was discovered in Libya, so that that by 1968 Libya was producing more oil than Saudia Arabia, and supplying 20% of Britain's oil needs.
The nation that was made by the UN, which was built up with oil and by Britain, grew with Arab nationalism in the 1960's. When Israel won the Six Day War in 1967 Libyans rioted at British and USA embassies.
On this anti-Israel basis, on 1 September 1969 King Idris was removed in a coup taking Colonel Gaddafi to power. He nationalised banks and all foreign oil, and in 1974 signed a trade agreement with the USSR.
Such was the wealth and relationship with the Russian USSR, that Libya became the best armed nation in Africa, instigating confrontations with Chad,Egypt and Sudan and sponsoring terrorism. Even after the fall of the USSR, Libya was a force to be reckoned with in world politics, having risen from obscurity.
Such was the power of Libyan oil and their position, that after the fall of the USSR and the loss of Libya's allies, that by 2003 British PM Tony Blair paved the way for nations to court Gaddafi. By 2008 Gaddafi began to play them off against each other. In 2008 The New York Times reported his visit to Moscow on energy talks and,
Colonel Qaddafi, is well on his way to mending ties with the United States and other Western governments after renouncing terrorism and efforts to build weapons of mass destruction.
So well were the ties mended, or allegedly due to BP's Libyan trade deal, that the British were willing to allow the release of the Lockerbie bomber, despite recent allegations that Gaddafi had himself ordered the bombing.
Daily Mail comments on the connection between the then PM, Tony Blair, a MI6 agent, Lord Giddens, the London School of Economics, BP (Tony Hayward) & the Gaddafi family www.dailymail.co.uk (See also BP website www.bp.com)
Also
Shadow justice minister Chris Bryant claimed (Prince) Andrew had close links to Saif Gaddafi, the son of Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. ...
Former Foreign Office minister Mr Bryant said: "Isn't it increasingly difficult to explain the behaviour of the UKTI (UK Trade and Investment) special ambassador for trade, who is not only a very close friend of Saif Gaddafi, but is also a close friend of the convicted Libyan gun smuggler Tarek Kaituni? ...
Mr Cameron stuttered before replying: "I'm not aware of the particular connections he (Mr Bryant) chooses to make. "I'm very happy to look into them."
But Speaker John Bercow was forced to intervene, telling MPs: "References to members of the Royal Family should be very rare, very sparing and very respectful. www.smh.com.au
Britain is, for trade, as Tyre was of old, 'a harlot.'
The actions of 'western compromise' of Gaddafi the renouncing of violence and his sons in their pursuit of wealth are now being protested against. No-one should be in any doubt about what type of regime will please this warlike people, as in areas where the people are in control they seem violent against unwanted foreigners. Egyptians in particular report there is much danger faced on the route returning to Egypt.
Put & Lubim: Libya, ancient warlike people
There are many tribal groups in Libya. The Hebrew Bible has at least two names but Egyptian history tended to lump them together. Josephus wrote:
"Phut also was the founder of Libya, and called the inhabitants Phutites (Phoutes), from himself: there is also a river in the country of Moors which bears that name; whence it is that we may see the greatest part of the Grecian historiographers mention that river and the adjoining country by the appellation of Phut (Phoute): but the name it has now has been by change given it from one of the sons of Mezraim, who was called Lybyos." (AotJ Book 1:6/2)
Put was a son of Ham, and the Hebrews called that region after his name as it appears his descendants first settled there. In Nahum 3:9 another name emerges as they are “Put and Lubim.” Unger is of the opinion the people the Hebrews called Lubim were the Lebu of the Egyptian monuments appearing fair but of a Semitic type. By the time of Darius 1 a stele shows 'Puta' in Babylonian equalled the Egyptian “Libya.” The Ancient Greeks called the Berbers 'Lybians.' Both Put and Lubim had a reputation for military skills being listed as mercenaries for Egypt's armies in 2 Chronicles 12:3 and Ezekiel 30:5 and Phonecia (Ezekiel 27:10) They are also associated with the warlike Ludim or Lydians (Ezekiel 30:5) and
Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow. (Jeremiah 46:9)
The Lydians might have been African, or might have been mercenaries from the isles of Asia Minor (later the kingdom of Lydia), in any case they were in the region adjacent to Egypt and were associated with Put and were also warlike. After Put and Lubim's ancient might is lost the people are ruled by a succession of invaders, Greece, Carthage, Rome, the Vandals, Byzantines, Arabs, Turks, Italians and Germans. The people were in political confusion with both inter-tribal and dynastic warfare with eras of piracy, encouraged or quelled by the power which held the region.
That Libya emerged as a nation at all is remarkable. That they are fighting now is not remarkable. Britain (and the USA) are unlikely to play a continuing role in Libya.
The earthquake
Possibly of all cities in the world Christchurch most represents the power of the British Empire. Christchurch is named after a place which was key to Britain's identity (Christchurch was named after a college and Cathedral of Oxford. The college has produced 13 of England's Prime Minsters.
NZ's Christchurch was to be self governing, a mirror of an ideal Britain). Britain is therefore being shaken at once in two places, and in both there are questions as to whether they will be rebuilt. Many are questioning whether some parts of Christchurch can be rebuilt.
In Libya the same question may be asked as to whether after all the British and Commonwealth nations (including the Indians) are evacuated from trading industry and the oil fields they will go back. And if the companies evacuate, will they ever go back. It won't be the same ever again. Of all the directions of Libya's history, clearly it seems likely to fall into the pattern prophesied at the 'end times' of the power of the nations.
What the Bible says about Libya
Libya is a remarkable player in the stirring events about to unfold. The Hebrew for Libya, Lubim appears in an end time prophecy, as associated with the “king of the North”
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. He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 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. But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he 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 11:40-45)
As Britain was "King of the South" until WW2, and appears again to be taking a lead in that role, it seems unlikely that Britain will prosper in Libya. The Libyans will be 'at the steps' or following instead the “king of the North.” Already Russia is being very cautious, and will not interfere
According to Putin, “it is necessary to respect what is happening in other parts of the world…Any interference from outside is unacceptable.” www.businessinsider.com
For this they will be rewarded. Britain and the USA have never learnt that even if they help an Arab state, the people of that Arab state will resent it, even if they favour the outcome.
Daniel says the king of the North (the successor to the Greco-Roman Empire, and it is to be noted Russian has a Greek based script) will come down overthrowing nations as they come, by passing Israel, overflowing and overthrowing Egypt, but will not bother Jordan (Amman is Ammon, and it rules the territory of Edom & Moab). When they of the North have “power over” the treasure or resources of Egypt, the Libyans first and then the Ethiopians will follow the forces of the king of the North. There is no love lost between Egypt and Ethiopia. North Sudan (Nubia) has traditionally been an ally with Egypt. Historical Ethiopia included South Sudan as over time the border moved South.
The parallel of Daniel is recorded in Ezekiel, with some more detail,
And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, Rosh prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. (Ezekiel 38:3-7)
And thou (Gog) shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: (Ezekiel 38:15)
In this scenario the focus is the action of Gog who is from “the North” and who, with his confederacy parallels Daniel's empire like the King of the North. Added to the core of Gog, Russia which rules Meshech and Tubal, there is first Persia (Iran) then Ethiopia (Cush) then Libya (Put). This might indicate that Libya is first to follow the Northern forces after they come down into Egypt but is behind Ethiopia (Cush) in troop commitment.
Already we see Russia being 'a guard' to Iran in that they prevaricate and protect them from USA's inquiry into their nuclear program and now Russia is not seeking to be with those who sanction Libya.
Though some events in Libya's history seem to go against the prophesied alliance with Russia, these have all been short eras that helped to build up Libya, to give it a more important place. The trend overall since 1951 has been Russian influence over Libya. The short exceptional era when Blair reached out mid 2003, with a deal signed in 2007 with British Petroleum BP, and recent economic ties led possibly by Gaddafi's son has led rapidly to events, where Britain has been forced to exit.
As an aside there is Providence in Britain's BP involvement in Libyan oil not prospering (detailed here www.trefis.com,
Slated to begin drilling in early 2010, the project was delayed again due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Just days ago, the company announced that it was preparing to begin its offshore drilling operations at Libya by June 2011. ((BP after delays eyes start of Libyan drilling, Reuters, Feb 17 2011)) Its onshore rig was also set to begin operations in a couple of weeks.
Tony Hayward who had signed the deal with Libya's state oil company, loses his job over Deepwater Horizon, and Deepwater Horizon delayed the Libyan project, Providentially.
For more on Britain predicted in 2007 for reasons of trade to begin to be a 'Harlot' to the nations. In this case Britain had no doubt as who they were 'allying' themselves with. See Tyre, Singing as a Harlot
For more on Britain in Saudi Arabia Queen of the South
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