By Mike Exton
Edition 1.0 — June 2011
Discover the biblical roots of today's Middle East conflict. Trace the history of Jews and Arabs from Abraham to modern times, and understand what Bible prophecy reveals about the future of this troubled region.
Begin ReadingThe Middle East conflict and Bible prophecy
Hebrew and Arab genealogy from the Patriarch
Muhammad, Islamic expansion, and the Sunni-Shiite divide
WWI, British promises, and modern Arab-Israeli conflict
Bible prophecy and the future of the Middle East
Final thoughts and contact information
The Middle East remains the most contentious region on Earth—a land where ancient rivalries, religious devotion, and modern politics collide in an ongoing struggle that affects the entire world.
The conflict between Jews and Arabs over the land of Israel has dominated international headlines for decades. But what are the roots of this ancient rivalry? And what does the Bible reveal about its ultimate outcome?
This book traces the history of both peoples from their common ancestor Abraham, through the rise of Islam, the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, and the tumultuous events of the 20th century that shaped the modern Middle East.
More importantly, we will examine what Bible prophecy reveals about the future of this troubled region—prophecies that are being fulfilled before our very eyes.
The story begins with Abraham (originally Abram), whom God called out of Ur of the Chaldees around 2000 BC. God promised to make him the father of many nations and to give his descendants the land of Canaan.
Both Jews and Arabs trace their lineage back to this patriarch—the Jews through Isaac, and the Arabs through Ishmael. Understanding this shared ancestry is essential to understanding the conflict that continues to this day.
When Sarah remained childless, she gave her Egyptian handmaid Hagar to Abraham. Hagar bore Ishmael, Abraham's first son. God prophesied that Ishmael would be "a wild man" whose hand would be "against every man" and that he would dwell "in the presence of all his brethren."
Ishmael became the father of twelve princes, whose descendants are identified with the Arab peoples. The prophecy about Ishmael's nature has been remarkably fulfilled through history.
God's covenant promises passed through Isaac, the son of Sarah, and then through Jacob (renamed Israel). Jacob's twelve sons became the twelve tribes of Israel.
The tribe of Judah would become the Jews, while the other tribes would eventually become the "lost ten tribes" scattered among the nations after the Assyrian captivity.
Isaac's son Esau (also called Edom) sold his birthright to his twin brother Jacob. Esau's descendants, the Edomites, settled in the region south of the Dead Sea and maintained a long-standing hostility toward Israel.
Many of Esau's descendants intermarried with Ishmael's descendants, adding another layer to the complex family relationships that underlie the Middle East conflict.
Arab Nations
Edomites
12 Tribes
In 570 AD, Muhammad was born in Mecca. At age 40, he began receiving what he believed were revelations from God through the angel Gabriel. These revelations would later be compiled into the Quran.
Muhammad's message of monotheism and submission to Allah initially met resistance in polytheistic Mecca. In 622 AD, he and his followers migrated to Medina in an event known as the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.
By the time of his death in 632 AD, Muhammad had united most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam.
Within a century of Muhammad's death, Islamic armies had conquered vast territories stretching from Spain in the west to India in the east. This remarkable expansion was fueled by religious zeal and military prowess.
The conquered peoples were generally given three choices: convert to Islam, pay a special tax (jizya), or face the sword. Many chose conversion, while others accepted dhimmi status as protected but second-class citizens.
The question of succession after Muhammad's death created a schism that divides Islam to this day.
Believe leadership should pass to the most qualified person. Accept the first four caliphs (Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Ali) as legitimate successors.
Believe leadership should have passed directly to Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law, and his descendants. View the first three caliphs as usurpers.
The murder of Ali's son Hussein at Karbala in 680 AD remains a defining event for Shiite identity and is commemorated annually during Ashura.
In 1095, Pope Urban II called for a crusade to recapture the Holy Land from Muslim control. For nearly 200 years, European Christian armies fought to control Jerusalem and the surrounding territories.
The Crusades left a lasting legacy of bitterness between Christianity and Islam. Many Muslims today still view Western involvement in the Middle East through the lens of the Crusades.
From the 14th century until World War I, the Ottoman Turks ruled much of the Middle East, including Palestine. Under Ottoman rule, the region remained relatively stable but economically stagnant.
By the 19th century, the Ottoman Empire was known as "the sick man of Europe," and its eventual collapse would reshape the entire Middle East in ways that continue to affect us today.
When the Ottoman Empire allied with Germany in World War I, it sealed its fate. Britain, seeking to undermine the Ottomans, made conflicting promises to both Arabs and Jews that would sow the seeds of conflict for generations to come.
The fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1918 left a power vacuum in the Middle East that Britain and France rushed to fill—with disastrous long-term consequences.
In 1915-1916, Sir Henry McMahon, British High Commissioner in Egypt, exchanged letters with Sharif Hussein of Mecca. Britain promised to support Arab independence in exchange for an Arab revolt against the Ottomans.
The Arabs launched their revolt, famously aided by T.E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"). But the boundaries of the promised Arab state remained deliberately vague—and Palestine's status was ambiguous.
Even as Britain was promising independence to the Arabs, it was secretly negotiating with France to carve up the Ottoman territories. The Sykes-Picot Agreement divided the Middle East into British and French spheres of influence.
This agreement drew arbitrary borders with little regard for ethnic, tribal, or religious realities on the ground—borders that created artificial states like Iraq, which lumped together Sunnis, Shiites, and Kurds who had little desire to live together.
"His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people..."
With these words, Britain committed itself to supporting Zionist aspirations for a Jewish homeland in Palestine—even though the land was already inhabited by hundreds of thousands of Arabs.
Arabs viewed this as a betrayal of the promises made to Sharif Hussein. The stage was set for decades of conflict.
From 1920 to 1948, Britain administered Palestine under a League of Nations mandate. Jewish immigration increased steadily, especially as Jews fled Nazi persecution in Europe.
Arab resentment grew as the Jewish population expanded. Violence erupted repeatedly, and Britain found itself unable to satisfy either side. By 1947, exhausted and bankrupt from WWII, Britain turned the problem over to the newly formed United Nations.
On May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of the State of Israel. Within hours, five Arab armies invaded, determined to destroy the newborn Jewish state.
Against all odds, Israel survived. But the war created 700,000 Palestinian refugees—a wound that has never healed. Arabs call it the "Nakba" (catastrophe), while Jews celebrate their independence.
The Bible contains numerous prophecies about the Middle East in the end times. While we cannot know exact timing, Scripture reveals the general outline of events that will unfold in this region before Christ's return.
The prophet Zechariah foretold that Jerusalem would become "a cup of trembling" and "a burdensome stone" for all nations. This prophecy is being fulfilled before our eyes as the status of Jerusalem remains the most contentious issue in Middle East negotiations.
All nations will ultimately gather against Jerusalem, setting the stage for divine intervention.
Daniel 11 describes a conflict between "the king of the south" and "the king of the north" in the time of the end. Many Bible scholars identify the king of the south with an end-time Arab or Islamic power bloc.
This southern power will "push at" the northern power (a revived European empire), provoking a devastating military response.
According to Daniel's prophecy, the king of the north will respond to this provocation "like a whirlwind"—sweeping through the Middle East with overwhelming military force.
This European-led force will enter "the glorious land" (Israel/Palestine) and establish its headquarters there. Many countries will fall, though Edom, Moab, and Ammon (modern Jordan) will escape.
Zechariah 14 describes Christ's return to the Mount of Olives, where His feet will split the mountain in two. He will then fight against the nations gathered against Jerusalem.
This divine intervention will bring an end to thousands of years of conflict. Christ will establish His kingdom, ruling all nations from Jerusalem with justice and peace.
Isaiah prophesied of a time when nations "shall beat their swords into plowshares" and "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
The descendants of Abraham—Jews and Arabs alike—will finally be reconciled under the rule of the Messiah. The ancient rivalry that has caused so much bloodshed will at last come to an end.
Jerusalem becomes the focal point of international conflict
King of the South (Arab/Islamic bloc) pushes against King of the North
King of the North (European power) invades the Middle East
Nations gather against Jerusalem for final battle
Christ returns to the Mount of Olives and defeats the armies
Christ establishes His kingdom of peace from Jerusalem
The conflict in the Middle East is not merely a political dispute over territory. It is the continuation of an ancient rivalry between the descendants of Abraham—a rivalry rooted in jealousy, betrayal, and broken promises that stretches back nearly 4,000 years.
Human efforts to bring peace to the region have consistently failed because they address only the symptoms, not the root cause. Only the return of Jesus Christ will bring lasting peace to this troubled land.
As we watch events unfold in the Middle East, we should recognize them as signs of the approaching end of this age—and the dawn of a glorious new age when the descendants of Abraham will finally live together in peace under the reign of the Messiah.
Mike Exton
If you have questions or would like to learn more about Bible prophecy and its relevance to current events, please reach out. We welcome your correspondence and are happy to discuss these vital topics.
Edition 1.0 — June 2011
© Mike Exton — All Rights Reserved