Obama Overtures and the Book of Daniel 11:43-45

Koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Visiting Professor

Department of Liberal Arts Education

Kyungpook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

Conjoint lecturer of Avondale Colllege

Australia

 [Caution:  The following views are the views of this writer only and the official Seventh Day Adventist church or their affiliates as well as the provider of this homepage do not view it the same since it is experimental interpretation. Caution is called for]

The last three weeks had the president of the USA, or as he hinted in his UN speech, the leading empire, changing course or following through that was actually forseen in the book of Daniel chapter 11 from verses 43-45. Seventh Day Adventists, like Uriah Smith came to these verses in his times and thought the King of the North and South is France and the Ottoman Turks. Very literal and historical nations in his own time. He turn out to be wrong and the church took the other route: allegorize the last verses and make the nations symbols of power. It became then the populist position since 1954 and detail of that transition can be seen in the descriptions of McGready Price’s book of Daniel. But think about it, can you connect as a historicist faithfully nations and individual with history from verses 1 to 39 and then suddenly switch to symbols and globalize these symbols and powers and let words like Egypt, Jordan [Ammonites, Edomites, Moabites], Lybia, Ethiopia, just slide out of relevancy? Historicists cannot be blamed for doing this since history has not happened yet. Or has it? I tempt to believe it did. The old interpreters like Jerome and even James White warned us the 29^th of November 1877 that  “In exposition of unfulfilled prophecy, where the history is not written, the student should put forth his propositions with not too much positiveness, lest he find himself straying in the field of fancy”. Gerald Pfandl cited it in his Sabbath School lesson quarterly for us also.

My own approach as an historicist is more in the line of the modus operandi of Uriah Smith: if the Bible says Egypt, it is Egypt and if it says Libya, it is Libya. So where do we start? The papacy ended in 11:35 with the time of the end at the appointed time 1798. Thus, what follows here is a transit of one empire, the Holy Roman Empire to the USA. The king of verse 36 is the USA and one can assume the USA is involved until verse 45. On the 14^th of June 1974 Nixon met Sadat to set up a peace iniative with Egypt, namely military budget that almost bought Egypt every year until Obama’s Speech at the UN 24^th of September 2013. He mentioned that the military budget is under review with conditions. It is the budget control that is mentioned in Daniel 11:43 in Egypt. The allies of this budget controller of Egypt in this verse will have the Libyans as their allies and the historic meeting of Tony Blair and Ghaddafi took place on the 25^th of March 2004. Despite occasional ups and downs, Libya is basically at peace with the USA and its allies. Ethiopia will also be an allies of the USA. Parts of Kenya, Nairobi perhaps, Somalia, Ehtiopia and Sudan were all part of the Ethiopian empire in Daniel’s day in 560 BCE. If they are not allies in our day and age, as we speak, Daniel says they will be. Whether the Westside Mall in Nairobi is just a wake-up call of an unfinished task in North Africa, remains to be seen. But, finally, the whole of North Africa will see themselves linked in a positive way with the USA and its allies. Thus, Daniel 11:43 from an Uriah Smithian-modelled  historicist analysis. Obama made an overture to the Syrians about their chemical weapons with the assistance of Russia and this nation, like Iraq, is also North of Shushan where Daniel the prophet was located at the time of this prophecy. The King of the North of Daniel 11:40 was Saddam Hussein in the days of George Bush of the American “prophetic empire following the Holy Roman empire since 1798”. So the King of the South was Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, regarded as South of Shushan, perhaps, by Daniel. This is also 11:40. But these are all history and fulfilled, in our view. We are now in verse 43 and it seems also getting fulfilled. Obama makes two overtures in three weeks: Syria and the chemical weapons verification with military action “on hold” and a second overture to Iran ordering his Secretary of State Kerry to go and negotiate with them. Israel is the fox-terrier in this drama that keeps barking with suspicion. Guarantees and calm down motions from the First World countries do not seem to change their mind. Are they wrong? We will soon look at this issue from the book of Daniel. Obama’s speech at the UN on the 24^th of September 2013 also included some key elements that is touched upon in verse 45. An international community initiative is called upon to help Israel being recognized and the Palestinians to get their own state. Jerusalem was mentioned. Obama would be more than happy to get out of the military solution for Syria (North) and Iran (Teheran = East) and his second overture at the UN speech to Iran for working together is also another wish to leave the military option behind. But is it going to work? Against all odds, I have to look at Daniel with my modus operandi and say, thumbs down. Daniel 11:44 says that “News from the east [Teheran = east of Shushan] and the North [Syria = north of Shushan] will disturb him [USA and allies]” and the rest of the verse predicts a military activity. Is Netayahu correct that the President of Iran, Rouhani, is not sober in his talkings and rhetoric? It appears from Daniel 11:44 that the overture will be played for some time but at a certain point a shocking surprise “kicks in” and at that point the USA and allies resorts to military action. With this over, according to Daniel 11:44, the international community and USA comes to Jerusalem to set up his embassy there in recognition of Israel and the temple mount is a big issue in verse 45. At the UN speech on the 24^th of September 2013, Obama hinted as to what the result will be if the USA thinks that politics at home is more important than politics in the global arena and pull out of Syria and Middle East back to the USA. Interesting since Daniel 11:45 ends with the words that the USA “he will come to his end and no one for him”. Maybe this is exactly what is going to happen? The USA is going to get back to USA soil as far as focus is concerned and with the policeman of the world out of the global way, what is the result? Daniel 12:1 = a Time of Trouble. It is during this Time of Trouble that the Messiah or Christ comes.

What is the solution? To suddenly jump and use the Book of Daniel as a superstitious book that can help you on earth? No. It is about God and His eagerness to save humanity from this hostage situation on this earth by Satan, even if there is no imminent war. It is the war of sin and its results. Conversion and listening to God’s Torah or revelation, is what is needed and a heartfelt relationship with Him. That is the survival secret.

End item.