One of the more “positive” news topics these days is the independence referendum in Southern Sudan. Voters in Southern Sudan currently have an opportunity to determine whether Southern Sudan will secede from the northern part of Sudan and form their own, independent country. The following video provides some background information on the independence referendum which will continue through Saturday: Link
The independence referendum in Southern Sudan has caught my attention because it may potentially have some Bible prophecy implications if voters in Southern Sudan approve the referendum, which remains to be seen since 60% of registered voters must participate in the referendum to pass it. Today I’ll explain why this event may potentially have some Bible prophecy implications.
Ezekiel 38:5 identifies “Ethiopia” as one of the nations who will join Gog (the Antichrist) in his invasion of Israel.
- Eze 38:2 Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,
- Eze 38:3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:
- Eze 38:4 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:
- Eze 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:
At a first glance people might think that modern day Ethiopia is country that Ezekiel 38:5 is referring to when it says “Ethiopia”. However, the actual Hebrew term used in Ezekiel 38:5 is “Cush”, which was a nation listed in the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:6 and the name of a kingdom during biblical times. According to archeologists, the kingdom of Cush or Kush was located in modern day Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt; approximately spanning from Aswan, Egypt to Khartoum, Sudan-Sudan’s capital.
The significance of this referendum-if it is passed-is that it may eventually lead to the reemergence of the kingdom of Cush. I would not be surprised if the country that forms out of the northern part of Sudan ends up being the area that represents Cush in Ezekiel 38:5…
Notes of Caution:
Even if the referendum passes, there is no guarantee that Southern Sudan will gain independence without a fight. Link
People who claim to have Cush heritage exist in Southern Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. There is even speculation by a senior government official in Southern Sudan that the people of Southern Sudan could name their new country the “kingdom of Cush”. Therefore, the possibility exists that the Cush mentioned in Ezekiel 38:5 is not limited to just Northern Sudan. However, Northern Sudan is more likely than not going to be an ally of the Antichrist in the Ezekiel 38 invasion.
