Military moves are happening in the Middle East:
Saudi-led maritime defence alliance appoints commander as membership grows
August 6, 2026
Saudi Maj Gen Abdullah Al Shehri has been appointed commander of the recently created multinational maritime alliance to protect Red Sea trade routes from attacks by Iran‘s allies, Saudi Arabia‘s Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.
The alliance was announced following a meeting in Riyadh on July 30 of military representatives from 43 nations. ”’
The Saudi Defence Ministry said the appointment would help complete the alliance’s command structure and improve its operational readiness, enabling member states to begin joint programmes, information sharing, capacity-building and combined training and exercises.
More countries have joined the alliance since its launch, with some signing the declaration while others are undergoing procedures required for formal accession, the ministry said.
The admission of new members and remaining institutional arrangements will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for August 12-13, and an updated list of participating states will be announced once the accession procedures are completed, its statement said. https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/gulf/2026/08/06/saudi-led-maritime-defence-alliance-appoints-commander-as-membership-grows/
While more are expected to join, the following seem to already have signed to be part of this alliance:
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Bahrain
Qatar
Pakistan
Türkiye
Egypt
Jordan
Yemen
Bangladesh
Nigeria
Sudan
Djibouti
Somalia
A larger list is expected to be to be revealed in the next week or two.
Regarding nations/lands that are expected to support the coming King of the South of Daniel 11:40-43, the late WCG evangelist Raymond McNair wrote:
Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).
Notice that Raymond McNair realizes that Egypt or some other Muslim country is where the king of the South will come from and that the term translated as Ethiopians really means the Cushite peoples who live in southern Egypt as well as elsewhere (others have said that the Cushites basically mean dark-skinned people, hence this could include peoples from Sudan, Somalia (sometimes called Eastern Cushites), and many of the other Islam-dominated nations in Africa).
Now, also notice that the Bible shows that a time is coming when a confederation with Egypt will be destroyed and it is in the FUTURE as it is near the day of the LORD:
1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
“‘Wail and say, “Alas for that day!” 3 For the day is near, the day of the LORD is near- a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations. 4 A sword will come against Egypt, and anguish will come upon Cush. When the slain fall in Egypt, her wealth will be carried away and her foundations torn down.
5 Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, Libya and the people of the covenant land will fall by the sword along with Egypt.
6 “‘This is what the LORD says:
“‘The allies of Egypt will fall and her proud strength will fail. From Migdol to Aswan they will fall by the sword within her, declares the Sovereign LORD. 7 “‘They will be desolate among desolate lands, and their cities will lie among ruined cities. 8 Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I set fire to Egypt and all her helpers are crushed.
9 “‘On that day messengers will go out from me in ships to frighten Cush out of her complacency. Anguish will take hold of them on the day of Egypt’s doom, for it is sure to come (Ezekiel 30:1-9, NIV).
Notice that “all Arabia” is to be involved. And this seems to be foretelling the destruction of the King of the South by the King of the North in Daniel 11:40-43 as Ezekiel 30:4-5 sound very much like Daniel 11:42-43.
So, this new naval military alliance seems to be made up of nations that will support the coming King of the South.
Now, let’s look at Daniel 11:40-43:
40 And at the time of the end, a king of the south pushes himself forward with him, and a king of the north storms against him, with chariot, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he has come into the lands, and has overflowed, and passed over, 41 and has come into the desirable land, and many stumble, and these escape from his hand: Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the sons of Ammon. 42 And he sends forth his hand on the lands, and the land of Egypt is not for an escape; 43 and he has ruled over treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the desirable things of Egypt, and Lubim and Cushim [are] at his steps. (Daniel 11:40-43, LSV)
That is an alliance of nations in the Middle East and North Africa, including Turkey (called Edom above).
When was that supposed to happen?
In my view, the formation of the confederation of the King of the South was to happen after Iran would somehow get “neutralized.” Notice:
According to the Bible, the King of the South (Daniel 11:40) will rise up and we will see if this happens sometime after an Israeli conflict with Iran. Since Iran is not destined to be the King of the South, but Syria seemingly is, I have long written that Iran will somehow be neutralized (through a conflict involving Israel and/or internal strife, etc.) and the regime in Syria would change. (Thiel B. Obama arrives in Israel and meets with Netanyahu. COGwriter, May 20, 2013)
As far as Iran itself goes, while it wants to lead all of Islam, it will fail in that objective — the Bible points to an Arabic power doing that in Daniel 11:40-43. Because of that, I have long felt that it may be that Iran would be ‘neutralized’ before the final King of the South (Daniel 11:40) rises up.
Iran could be neutralized by internal unrest or other matters–and there is unrest in Iran. On the other hand, if it employs, or attempts to employ, certain weapons of mass destruction in certain locals, it may well cause Israel, the USA, and/or others to turn on it and destroy aspects of its military capability.
I have long believed that Iran is a threat that will one day be ‘neutralized’ (Jeremiah 49:34-38), as I believe it will overplay its hand. (Thiel B. Iran, Drones, Ukraine, and Israel. COGwriter, October 21, 2022)
Well, though it has not been totally defeated, Iran has been somewhat neutralized (see Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump confirm another COGwriter prediction). And we continue to see discussions for military alliances consistent with the coming King of the South of biblical prophecies. An ‘Arab NATO’ has been discussed a lot this Spring (e.g. see Pakistan sending troops to Saudi Arabia–‘Islamic NATO’ being discussed and Arab NATO talk emerges again as Iran sends drones and missiles against its neighbors).
We put out a video discussing such an alliance back in 2018:
Arab NATO and the Coming King of the South
For two weeks in November 2018, a joint-military exercise called ‘Arab Shield 1’ took place in Egypt. Some have wondered if this will lead to an ‘Arab NATO.’ Is this something the Obama and Trump administrations have pushed for? Is this consistent with biblical prophesies? What do followers of Islam want? What about a caliphate and the ‘Imam Mahdi? Has this type of Arab unity been promoted by American and European leaders? What territories will support the King of the South of Daniel 11? What peoples are involved in Ezekiel 30? Will Turkey betray the coming King of the South? Will Arab unity turn out well or disastrous for the Arab nations? Will Arab unity be in place by the time of the start of the Great Tribulation? Dr. Thiel answers these questions and more.
Here is a link to the sermonette video: Arab NATO and the Coming King of the South.
And we put out the following ‘short’ in 2026:
1:29
NATO alliance between Mideast and N Africa
We are seeing more steps now towards the development to consider a ‘King of the South’ type of confederation that the Bible prophecies.
Actions are being taken and the discussions for something like this are happening.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Islamic and Biblical Prophecies for the 21st Century This is a free online book which helps show where biblical and Islamic prophecies converge and diverge. Here are links to related sermons: Seeing Christianity Through Islamic Eyes, Imam Mahdi, women, and prophecy, and Terrorism, Iran, and Fatima, Dajjal, Antichrist, Gold, & Mark of the Beast?, and Jesus and God’s Plan for Muslims. Here is a link to a sermon in the Spanish language: El Imám Mahdi las mujeres y la profecía bíblica
