Are Demonic or Democratic Forces at Work in the Middle East?

By Bill Salus

While “Doomsayer’s” worry the world ends December 21, 2012 and “Naysayers” scurry to scuttlebutt their claims, 2011 snuck in the calendar’s back door catching humanity by surprise. The first quarter of the new decade has been plagued by unprecedented Arab unrest. Peaceful protests have morphed into radical revolutions causing Israel and the international community grave concern about the instability of Arab governments.

Complicating matters, the precious oil lying beneath Arab soil is costing American consumers a pretty penny at the pump. In California the cost of gas rose 26 times in 27 days during February, 2011. In 2009 the average price per barrel of crude oil was $53.48. In 2010 it averaged $71.21. Lately, crude oil has jumped up to over $105 per barrel. Some analysts predict 2011 will see the price per barrel surpass the critical $150 barrier forcing already fragile world financial markets into further turmoil.

What is causing Middle East protests to spread like California wildfires? Some suggest it’s fueled by an Arab youth bulge discontent with the longstanding repressive regimes reigning over them. Social networks like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter have enabled them to see beyond the censorship of their State run media. According to many liberal pundits these Arabs supposedly seek nothing more than the noble American aspirations of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

On the surface their quests for democratic freedoms seem understandable, but apart from Israel, no model democracy has ever manifested in the Middle East. Historically power shifts occur in the region through assassinations, revolutions, rigged elections, and / or military coups. Peaceful protests and popular elections as a means to establish democratic rule is a new and untested Arab experiment.

At first the protesters achieved their goals relatively peacefully. In January, 2011 former Tunisian president Zine El Bidine Ben Ali stepped down from office. This marked the first time in history an Arab dictator was overthrown by popular revolution. Then in February, 2011 after 18 days of protests, Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak likewise removed himself from office.

However, since then Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi opted not to step aside from his presidential post, but to resist the protesters in his country. Gadaffi’s violent stand against them has created a civil war in Libya and set precedence for other Arab leaders to behave similarly in their respective countries, like Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria.

Arabs are now killing fellow Arabs across the Middle East, which is an unpalatable situation for the twenty-two member Arab League which was formed in 1945 in order to unite Arabs. Presently, the League’s goal to unite Arabs takes a back seat to simply stopping the brotherly bloodshed.



Interestingly, the bible tells us in Psalm 83 that a day will come when the Arabs will unite. However, this unity is not the result of democratic Arab governments succumbing to the social network needs of their respective societies. Rather, the nations and / or terrorist populations of Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinians, Syrians, Saudis, Iraqis, Jordanians and Egyptians will join in common cause to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. Their present disunity amongst each other gives way to a larger degree to unity against Israel.

The Psalm predicts they form a coalition expressly intent on wiping Israel off the map and reclaiming Palestine for the Palestinians. This predominately Islamic confederacy banners the plight of the Palestinians. Concern for the impoverished conditions of their Stateless Palestinian brothers causes them to set their internal disputes aside and formulate a joint military campaign against Israel.

Therefore, any and all events from this point forward regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which includes the Hamas terrorist organization, should be observed with a keen prophetic eye.

Amidst all the Arab unease, Palestinian terror is resurfacing again after a brief lull. Mideast peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians failed at the close of 2010. Subsequently Hamas, who fired 6300 rockets into Israel between 2005 and 2008, has resumed its rocket assault at an increased pace again in 2011.

Is this recent wave of Palestinian terrorism and Hamas rocket assaults purposely intended to provoke Israel into another war with Hamas? In December, 2008 Israel waged a 22-day campaign into the Gaza against Hamas. At the time Hamas and their Arab allies were unprepared to ally together in the fight which afforded Israel a lopsided victory. However, since December, 2009 Hamas has entered into bonafide war-pacts with Iran, Hezbollah, and Syria.

Could Hamas have been given the green light by its allies to provoke Israel into another conflict, one that they are all prepared to fight at this time? Hezbollah has 60,000 rockets. Syria possesses the most advanced scud missiles in the world, and Iran is on the verge of going nuclear.

The Psalm 83 prophetic scenario, which appears positioned to occur in the near future, is an attempt to cut Israel off forever from being a nation. However, the destruction of the Jewish people and the confiscation of the Promised Land of Israel is deeply rooted in the angelic conflict. It is a demonic campaign dating back to the time of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt approximately 3500-years ago. Pharaoh and his army attempted to commit Hebrew genocide at the Red Sea. (Exodus 14)

Furthermore, the biblical book of Esther tells us Haman of Persia attempted to do it subsequently during the reign of the Persian Empire. Hitler attempted Jewish genocide during World War II and the prophecy of Psalm 83 will amount to another genocidal attempt, at least as far as the Jews residing in the Middle East are concerned.

The Bible Promises Israel an Eternal Future!

Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon
and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD
of hosts is His name): “If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD,
Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever.” Thus
says the LORD: “If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth
searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have
done, says the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:35-37, nkjv)

Numerous passages, like Jeremiah’s above, inform us that God has put His holy name upon Israel. Even though Jewish history is riddled with idol worship and apostasy, it isn’t about Israel; it’s about the God of Israel who promised there would always be an Israel.

The elimination of Israel is the one certain way Satan and his fallen angelic cohorts can discredit the God of the Jews and Christians. If they can orchestrate the complete destruction of the Jews, they can claim God’s covenant making character is flawed. If they can prove the Lord lied about Israel, they can also adversely affect Christianity.

Ultimately, accomplishing this feat enables Satan and his minions to declare they were right to depart from God’s supposed perfect plan for them within creation. At that point the rhetorical question could justifiably be asked; “Why should we, or anyone for that matter, be forced to serve the promise breaking God of the bible?”

Certainly one can assume Satan, who somehow manages to exert enormous influence over the whole world according to 1 John 5:19, must be observing all the present Arab unrest closely. He, like the Arab League, ultimately seeks Arab unity. However, in Satan’s case his reasons are primarily focused on the destruction of Israel rather than the plight of the Palestinians. They appear to be used merely as pawns in the grander scheme of the Arab States and the angelic conflict according to Obadiah 1:7.

Present Arab protests could be at odds with Satan’s master campaign against the Jewish State. Unstable Mideast events could force Satan’s Arab trump cards into play sooner than later. It is doubtful internal Arab schisms can continue unabated much longer lest the Arabs destroy too many of themselves and in the process delay his end game attempt of Israel’s destruction. Likely very soon we can anticipate at least the Psalm 83 Arabs will be caused to shift much of their focus from internal strife toward support of the Palestinian plight and hatred of Israel.

It is possible something potentially big is about to occur in the Middle East that shifts Arab eyes on the Palestinian prize of possessing an Arab State. Israel will continue to be viewed as the obstacle to Palestinian Statehood and need to be eliminated as far as the Arab confederacy is concerned. It’s entirely possible that the fallen spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realm alluded to in Ephesians 6:12 realize they have to act now to prevent further Arab unrest and unite the preponderance of Arabs against Israel.

Below are some related comments from good friend and biblical expositor retired Lt. Col. Don Mercer (Pic of Bill Salus (left) & Don Mercer (right) at pre-trib conference in Dallas 2010)

Don’s View of the World

Most of you are already familiar with the recent bombing at the bus station in Jerusalem. As of this writing one British tourist was killed and about 30 other people were injured. I believe we will see more and bolder terrorist attacks against Israel soon. I will tell you why.

Numerous Arab nations are in turmoil today and there is no end in sight. Even Syria is experiencing it and they seem to be almost as repressive as Libya in killing their own people. As described and prophesied in Genesis, we should expect Arab to kill Arab and Muslim to kill Muslim as we see the approach of the end time’s wars of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39. However, do not be deceived. They share the hate for Israel and will unite (perhaps very loosely) against Israel, perhaps soon.

There is a spirit of jihad sweeping the Middle East under the guise of pro-democracy revolts. While we in the west have an immediate affinity for democracy, the issue is the replacement system. In many of these cases it appears that more radical Islamists will gain control. The Muslim Brotherhood, for example, is seen by the west and many Arab countries as the human guiding force behind the turmoil or, at a minimum, the primary beneficiary.

The spirit of jihad is demonic and it will eventually take on the form of anti-Israeli actions. The new bombing at the bus station is an example of the beginning and that is why we will see more soon accompanied by Israeli counter attacks.

I am certainly not a prophet and I have no divine revelation that I know of into the current events. Nevertheless, remember that Satan is a master at deception even when he stirs up real fighting among Israel’s enemies. But Satan cannot fool God. God already knows Satan’s plan and He will allow it to progress only along a path that fulfills His plan which is the total fulfillment of the prophecies we study. So then, as Watchmen on the Wall, we should be searching the horizon to see through current events and find those things coming upon the earth. Is all this turmoil destined to result in the prophesied end time’s wars? Keep watch and find out.

Japan – Apple of God’s Eye, or Thorn in His Side?

By Bill Salus

“Japan’s Prime Minister says country facing worst crisis since World War II”

It has been warned, “It’s not good to kick a man when he’s down,” but when it comes to the Jews, the Japanese just keep on kicking. Jewish blood has stained Japanese hands since World War II when they participated with Germany as part of the “Axis Alliance.” This terrible miscalculation achieved for them the atomic accolade of being the first world nation ever nuked!

A careful study of the World War II and Holocaust timelines reveals that by the time Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Hitler’s Jewish genocidal “Final Solution” had been introduced, Jewish Ghettos established, and tens of thousands of Jews already massacred. In a single operation in September of 1941, an estimated 33,771 Jews were killed by the hand of the Nazi’s in Ukraine as part of the “Babi Yar” massacres.

A nation steeped in paganism, Japan is out of touch with biblical precepts and divine foreign policy. Rather than understanding the heart of man is desperately wicked and in need of a savior, the predominant Japanese religions of Shintoism and Buddhism teach that man’s heart is inherently good and on route to godhead.

Shinto was made Japan’s state religion during the Meiji period (1868-1912). During that period Shinto priests became state officials, Shinto shrines government buildings, and a constitution promoting an emperor cult was ratified. Shinto is a polytheistic religion absent of absolutes. It is as old as Japan itself.

Shintoism epitomizes what the bible warns against in Romans 1:18-23, which is the failure to recognize that creation has a Creator. "Shinto gods" are called kami. They are sacred spirits which take the form of things and concepts important to life, such as wind, rain, mountains, trees, rivers and fertility. Humans become kami after they die and are revered by their families as ancestral kami.”

Interestingly, at the closing stages of World War II a select group of Japanese fighter pilots, called Kamikaze's, flew suicide missions against American warships stationed in the Pacific Ocean. Kamikaze' is usually translated as "divine wind" (kami is the word for "god", "spirit", or "divinity", and kaze for "wind"). At the time the Japanese were heavily influenced by Shintoism and emperor worship. Further evidencing the stronghold of Shintoism on Japanese society, these forerunners of today's Islamic suicide bombers believed it was there religious duty to die for their cause.

Zephaniah 2:11 teaches the God of the bible will someday reduce to nothing all the god’s of the earth. This includes Allah, the Kami, and all other false deities. For Japan that downward process appears to have begun in the aftermath of World War II. On May 3, 1947, just five months prior to the adoption of the U.N. Partition Plan calling for the creation of a Jewish State, Japan enacted a new constitution that replaced the old Meiji constitution of 1889. Japan should have said Sayonara to Shinto at that point.

Unfortunately, they didn’t and haven’t learned from their modern day mistakes. The March 11, 2011 earthquake and devastating Tsunami may be a sobering reminder that at this point on the end time’s line, the God of Israel means business.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a flurry of anti-Israel comments leading up to their 9.0 earthquake. White House Correspondent Bill Koenig of World Watch Daily, and author of top-selling book “Eye to Eye,” tracks natural, economic, and geo-political disasters routinely to see if they have God’s fingerprints upon them. He does this to demonstrate that the divine foreign policy plainly spelled out 4000 years ago in Genesis 12:3 is still effectually intact.

Koenig’s outstanding chronological monitoring of Japan’s recent Anti-Israel and / or Pro-Palestinian statements and actions can fully be viewed here, or by dates below.

January 11, 2011
February 8, 2011
February 10, 2011
March 8, 2011
March 9, 2011
March 11, 2011

“I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3, NKJV)

This Genesis 12:3 principle, still in place, alludes to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and includes their Jewish descendants today. According to prophecies penned in Ezekiel 36:22-24, 37-11-12, Isaiah 11:11 and elsewhere, Israel clearly exists today in fulfillment of bible prophecy. These, along with other assorted biblical prophecies, not only foretell God’s end time’s goals through Israel, but consequentially forewarn against opposing His providential plans for Israel.

Israel is the “Apple of God’s Eye” we are told in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Zechariah 2:8. Conversely, in Japan’s case it is possible that their plague of paganism coupled with their continued indignation toward Israel has made them a sharp thorn in the Lord’s side.

It appears national action against Israel followed by prompt providential reaction against the perpetrator gauges mankind’s whereabouts on the end time’s line. The hypothesis is; the closer the Lord is to moving through Israel, the shorter the retaliatory fuse is for nations acting against Israel.

A few sovereign examples are listed below:

1. America pressures Israel to evacuate Jews from Gush Katif out of Gaza. In turn, Katrina, America’s costliest disaster, strikes in the immediate aftermath forcing many Americans to evacuate out of New Orleans and surrounding areas.
(August, 2005)

2. U.K. tourism watchdog ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) prohibits Israel’s Ministry of Tourism from placing pictures of the Western Wall on solicitations to promote travel to Israel. This decision was made because it implied Israel possessed legitimate sovereignty over East Jerusalem where the wall is located. In turn, the Eyjafjoll volcano in Iceland erupts sending ash throughout European skies causing all air travel to halt and adversely affecting U.K. tourism for a prolonged period.
(April 2010)

3. In a major shift of U.S. policy the Obama administration threatened to use its U.N. veto power against Israel if Israel failed to comply with U.S. incentives toward Mideast Peace. In turn the BP oil spill occurred resulting in the world’s largest oil disaster.
(April 2010)

If this above hypothesis proves correct, then humanity could be on the verge of witnessing something prophetically huge happening in the Middle East. Genesis 12:3 appears to have shifted into turbo mode. Japan’s recent anti-Israel statements and actions evidence an adversarial sentiment toward Israel that is intolerable and insensitive to the pressures presently placed upon the Jewish State. In light of their March, 2011 disasters they have, at least temporarily, been forced to keep their nose out of Mideast matters and mind their own business.

The Arab unrest plaguing 2011, coupled with the breakdown of Middle East peace talks at the end of 2010, have put Israel in an unenviable position of isolation and insecurity. No nation, not even America as evidenced above, appears exempt from the divine rule of Genesis 12:3, especially those with recent Jewish blood on their hands.



Presently, several of Japan’s nuclear reactors are severely damaged and the nation finds itself facing nuclear fallout once again. According to a March 13, 2011 Jerusalem Post article, “Japan’s Prime Minister says his country is facing its worst crisis since World War II.” Could this be a sobering reminder that Israel’s protector is the Lord and all who would try to poke out the apple of His eye had better be prepared to face the consequences of their actions?

We are informed in Matthew 24:7, Mark 13:8, and Luke 21:11 that significant earthquakes will become commonplace in the end time’s. In light of Japan’s recent episode, humanity may have to face the possibility that sometimes they are strategically located to prove a divine point. It appears the best message for the nations is to be on the safe side and start blessing Israel.

What Generation Will Not Pass?

By Bill Salus

Q. - Dear Bill - the 2nd to the last sentence in your article dealing with the 40-year Egyptian Deportation, creates a nagging question in my mind that I need your help with. You make the following statement: "I could easily see humanity existing several more decades." How does that fit in with the commonly held belief that Israel’s rebirth was the fulfillment of Matthew 24:32 and that Matthew 24:34 states that generation that sees all the things of the preceding 32 verses of Matthew 24, including Israel’s rebirth, will not pass away before Yeshua returns - 2nd Coming.

A. Dear Brother Mark thank you for your question– Yes, I did conclude the article by writing; "I could easily see humanity existing several more decades. However with that said, I believe Christians should be fervently watching for the Rapture and Psalm 83 to occur very soon."

First let me state that I’m not sure of the expiration date of this present earth. All prophetic signs indicate the end is extremely near. However, many biblical prophecies are still forthcoming and they will require time to find final fulfillment. One event builds upon another like birth pangs with each subsequent event appearing to overshadow the prior.

Secondly, I believe you answered your “nagging question” with your own quote; "Matthew 24:34 states that generation that sees all the things of the preceding 32 verses of Matthew 24...will not pass away before Yeshua returns…"

This includes the "beginning of sorrows" (Matt. 24:7-8), the reestablishment of the nation Israel, the "fig tree" (Matt. 24:32) the rise of the Antichrist to perform the "abomination of desolation" (Matt. 24:15), the fleeing of the faithful Jewish remnant "to the mountains" of Bozrah/Petra (Matt. 24:16-20) the "great tribulation" period (Matt. 24:21) the deceptive "great signs and wonders" probably akin to 2 Thessalonians. 2:9 & Revelation 13:13 (Matt. 24:24).

Many attempt to interpret Matthew 24:34 by attaching the length of a biblical generation to the fig tree prophecy of Matthew 24:32. I wonder what they are going to say if 2049 rolls around and the 40-year, 70-year, and 100-year generational interpretations no longer apply? Assuming that by then, "all these things take place," which is actually what the NKJV text says.

I believe Matthew 24:34 is an event sensitive, rather than time sensitive, prophecy. The generation that can truthfully say the historical fulfillment of "all these things" above has "taken place," will be the generation that "will by no means pass away." This is because they are the generation that lives in Daniel's 70th week and they are those who will witness the Second Coming of Yeshua.

Matthew 24:22 declares; “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened…” During Daniel’s 70th week there will be divine “Trumpet and Bowl” judgments unleashed upon mankind, and probably nuclear warfare occurring within mankind. No flesh would survive if those days were prolonged. However, we know they will be limited to 7-years, which in the scheme of things is a very “shortened” time span.

The 40-Year Egyptian Deportation Discussion

By Bill Salus

Comment from a friend regarding the 40-year Egyptian deportation of Ezekiel 29:12 -
Considering its only vindicated sheep (Matthew 25:31-46) entering the Millennial Kingdom and the earth will be restored on the onset, I find it very highly unlikely an overlap of punishment for Egypt or anyone else into the Millennium could happen. It just doesn’t seem to fit the Millennial picture at the onset.

Bill's Response - I concur that it is difficult to fathom the 40-years overlapping or commencing inside the Kingdom period for the reasons stated above. However, if you've read my recent related articles and listened to my recent radio shows posted at Prophecy Depot, the pivotal passages that probably connect and give us clues about Egypt's future are Isaiah 19:16-18, Ezekiel 29:12-15, Ezekiel 30:1-5, Psalm 83:1-8, and Daniel 11:42-43. Egypt appears to experience Psalm 83 first and subsequently Daniel 11:42-43.

In part, Daniel 11:42-43 appears to result because the Antichrist wants to kill the Jews living in 5 or more Egyptian cities at the time in fulfillment of Isaiah 19:16-18. The language of Canaan (Hebrew) is probably being spoken within these cities because Jews migrate there in the aftermath of the I.D.F. victory over the Psalm 83 Arab confederacy.

Personally, I remain uncomfortable with the historical fulfillment argument(s) regarding the 40-years of Egyptian deportation. The Jews we're captive for 70 years and it is clear biblically and historically when it was, and why it was. One of the reasons the Jews knew it would be limited to 70 years was so fellow Jews dwelling 5 to 6 decades in Babylonian captivity could be comforted in knowing their punishment was nearing an end.

Additionally, Abraham was told in Genesis 15:13 that his descendants would spend 400 years in what turned out to be Egyptian captivity. You can imagine Moses, Joshua, and Caleb were emboldened by the realization that the 400-years ended on time, at the time of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt. Furthermore, I believe Simeon in Luke 2 knew that his generation would witness the fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies intended to be fulfilled in Daniel’s 69th week.
(Daniel 9:24-27)

The Lord issues specific times for specific purposes and the 40-years of Egyptian captivity is a very specific prophetic period. Should Egyptians be exiled into deportation in the near future, it should comfort them to realize its not a permanent condition.

Lastly, I caution against the presumption that this present world will pass away in the next one to two decades. Perhaps it will. However, the remaining unfulfilled end time's prophecies will take time to stage set and occur. I could easily see humanity existing several more decades. However with that said, I believe Christians should be fervently watching for the Rapture and Psalm 83 to occur very soon.

Egypt's 40-Year Desolation

Dear Mr. Salus, Greetings in the Name of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. In reading some of your articles it is clear you believe Psalm 83 precedes Ezekiel 38. I’m puzzled about some prophecies regarding Egypt in the end time's. Could you please answer the following questions?

Q. Ezekiel 29:12-13 says Egypt is made desolate for 40 years, has this happened in history?

A. I believe Egypt's 40-year desolation period, which corresponds with the 40-years of Egyptian deportation into world nations remains, an unfulfilled prophecy. However, some expositors believe this has already been fulfilled. To argue their point they often refer to the writings of the Jewish Historian Josephus in “Antiquities, Book 10, Chapter 11, Section 1". Book 10 is titled, "From the Captivity of the Ten Tribes to the First of Cyrus" and Chapter 11 is titled, "Concerning Nebuchadnezzar and His Successors, and How Their Government was Dissolved by the Persians; and What Things Befell Daniel in Media; and What Prophecies He Delivered There".

In this section Josephus appears to quote Berosus from "the third book of his Chaldaic History" that a young Nebuchadnezzar was sent by his father to conquer Egypt due to rebellion by the Egyptian governor appointed by Nebuchadnezzar's father. Deportation is spoken of as follows, "...the captive Jews, and Phoenicians, and Syrians, and those of the Egyptian nations, and having committed the conveyance of them to Babylon..." (i)

The Egyptian 40-year captivity could have been fulfilled at this time; however it is hard to find historical or archaeological proof that this past deportation spanned 40-years. Thus Ezekiel 29:12 may still be a pending prophetic event.

I recently emailed the following comments to a friend regarding the 40-year Egyptian deportation. "There is the inference of Egyptian deportation by Josephus but it seems to be for an unspecified time. Some estimated dates of importance in considering the length of the Egyptian deportation are Nebuchadnezzar invaded Egypt in 568 B.C. and Cyrus of Persia, defeated Babylon in 539 b.c. From these dates it is difficult to determine if the 40-year deportation was fulfilled.

Portions of Ezekiel 29-30 seem to find connections with Nebuchadnezzar's time; however Ezekiel 30:3 alludes to the "day of the Lord," which is commonly associated with the Tribulation period. Additionally, Ezekiel 30:5 speaks of more than Egypt being attacked. It alludes to Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, and Chub. The expanse of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom seems to not have included all these countries. Therefore, this part of Ezekiel's prophecy seems to connect better with Daniel 11:42-43, which is also often taught to be a Tribulation event.

Thus, we have to consider the possibility that Ezekiel 29-30 contain both near (fulfilled during prophets lifetime) and far (to be fulfilled after the prophets lifetime) prophecies. Some events Ezekiel describes clearly found fulfillment during Nebuchadnezzar’s time (near), whereas others seem to be reserved for future fulfillment.

Isaiah 19:16-18 and Daniel 11:42-43 are far prophecies and could trigger the forty years of Egyptian deportation. If so then forty years could commence after either Psalm 83 or Daniel 11:42-43. In either instance the deportation could carry over somewhat into the Messianic kingdom.

It is hard to imagine how 82 million Egyptians today, minus those slain and those who remain in Egypt after both Psalm 83 and Daniel 11:42-43, could be deported in the future. But, that could be what the Ezekiel 29:12 implies."

Additionally the widely respected eschatologist, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum discusses these topics briefly in his Footsteps of the Messiah. The pertinent pages to study regarding Isaiah 19 and Ezekiel 29 are 497-509. In a nutshell, he states that because of Egypt's longstanding hatred of Israel ... they will suffer desolation similar to that of Edom according to Joel 3:19. This desolation will lead to the 40-years of Egyptian deportation.

However, at the end of the deportation an Egyptian remnant will be regathered and Egypt restored. But, Egypt will be a lowly kingdom throughout the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom. Arnold believes the first 40 years of the Messianic Kingdom could find the land of Egypt in a desolate condition and Egyptians dispersed throughout the world. Thus, he appears to believe the 40-year deportation is still a pending prophetic event and could overlap into the Messianic Kingdom.

I agree with Dr. Fruchtenbaum that the deportation could extend into the Messianic Kingdom, but if the deportation commences after Psalm 83, then I don’t believe there will be a full 40-year overlap. If Israel's victory over Egypt in Psalm 83 begins the 40-year Egyptian deportation process, then I believe much of this 40-year period could elapse before the Messianic Kingdom even commences.

Q. Isaiah 19:23 says there will be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt. When do you believe this finds fulfillment?

A. I believe this finds fulfillment during the 1000-year Messianic Kingdom period.

Q. Isaiah 19:18 says 5 cities in Egypt will speak the language of Canaan. Has this happened in history?

A. The language of Canaan was Hebrew. I believe this remains an unfulfilled prophecy. Contextually, these five cities speak Hebrew after Egypt has a terrorizing encounter with Judah (Israel). I believe this encounter has to do with Egypt's participation in the climactic concluding Arab - Israeli war described in Psalm 83. Egypt is identified in Psalm 83 under the banner of the "Hagarenes." Hagar was the Egyptian matriarch who mothered Ishmael to Abraham.

However, some teach this may have already found fulfillment. Here is what the "New Commentary on the Whole Bible; Old Testament" says - "By Jeremiah’s day, 130 years later (Jer. 44:1), four places are addressed by the prophet as having Hebrew speakers: Migdol and Tahpanes, both in the northeastern delta; Noph (Memphis), located at the base of the delta; and Pathros, upper Egypt. Elephantine Island, at Egypt’s southern border, was inhabited by Jews in the sixth century b.c."
......
(i) Research provided by Danny Isom of Moriel Ministries