Donald of Arabia

Many speculations surround the American President's visit to Saudi Arabia this week, could any of these rumors come true and escalate biblical prophecy events?

If providing gunfire support for the allied invasion of Normandy in June of 1944 was the pinnacle of her crew’s actions, that would have been monumental enough. For those serving aboard the heavy cruiser USS Quincy however, another historical event in the Suez Canal was on deck. Quite literally, an act played out on her ship deck for a meeting that would start to shape the world’s economic engine for eight decades and counting. The role in question occurred the following year after the Allies landed in France, as the Quincy was the host vessel of an engagement between the U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Saudi King Abdul Aziz Ibn Saud. One man had built the greatest armada at sea with great affection calling it, “My Navy” as leader of the most powerful nation on earth. The other was a desert warrior king who had never been at sea before but ruled over the vast oil wealth beneath the waves of Arabian sands.

The get-together between Roosevelt and Saud brought about American access to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s oil deposits in exchange for military security. The opening salvo if you will of a future petrol protection of the United States dollar to dominate the globe, while providing military defense for Saud Family supremacy. The meeting of the President and King aboard the Quincy set into motion a sea and sand partnership that would go on to rule the global economic order. What is also known is how the dialogue amongst Roosevelt and Saud centered around disagreements of the establishment of a Jewish nation. Roosevelt’s support of a Jewish State where it sits today in its biblical and historical location would end up coming to pass a few years later.

Is it possible we may witness another shot across the bow of similar or even greater impact with President Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia this week? Many rumors are swirling concerning the U.S. President’s visit with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (MbS). Will the U.S. President declare his support for a Palestinian state partitioned off from areas presently under Israeli sovereignty? Washington’s envoy to Israel Mike Huckabee dismissed the two-state solution rumors as “nonsense.” It also needs to be said there have been some rocky shores within Saudi-American ties. Riyadh is pursuing a civil nuclear power project where American interests have shown concern about potential military transitions of the program. The Saudi’s suggesting they may look to China for nuclear assistance in lieu of American unease, has brought Washington back on board the nuclear program and with safeguards towards purposes.

The Kingdom has been adamant that without the establishment of a Palestinian State, they will not normalize relations with Israel. What else may be afoot via this upcoming visit from President Trump? Rumors swirling as for example included previous disclosures of dignitaries MbS requested to join the meetings. These were declared by media sources to be Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Syria’s current leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa. These reports now appear to be false but nonetheless, a look across the Mideast region of heads of state interacting this week speaks deeply to things brewing.

What adds intrigue is the mere suggestion that the Lebanese and Syrian leaders may have been invited as these governments are not exactly proponents in favor of Saudi Arabia. Syria, and I believe Lebanon soon as well, are/will be more closely aligned with, “the king of the north” in Turkey. These nations to the north of Saudi Arabia are not the kings from the south that the forebear of MbS had with him decades earlier courtesy of the U.S. Navy. Those more accommodating luminaries of the Saudi regent in 1945 were King Farouk of Egypt, and Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.

A potential factor if President Trump goes on to support dividing Israel to establish peace (if true?) may come down to vast economic incentives. Not the type of U.S. armament sales to the KSA the President has lauded before, but rather a colossal landmark agreement to continue a U.S. dominated economic order. Is it possible the world may be about to witness a sequel of the American-Saudi relationship?

We are seeing titanic interest and a growing presence like never before of powerful state actors like China, Russia, India, France, and Turkey moving diligently in the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region. This potpourri of nations looking to enrich themselves is a cause for alarm in the United States, what will be the American response? A possible look at Washington-Riyadh 2.0 may have been glimpsed by what did not occur at the annual BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia last Fall. The Saudi Crown Prince was slated to attend the gathering as an invited guest, in lieu of what was believed to be Saudi Arabia’s official inclusion within the powerful bloc soon after. What happened however was a last minute decline to attend the BRICS conference from MbS and instead, he sat down for a photo op with a Kingdom visitor, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

As I previously detailed in another article, the original BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa) is growing. I also placed Saudi Arabia as part of the expanding BRICS+ participant countries within the organization incorrectly at that time. What was once full steam ahead for Saudi Arabia to join BRICS has for now, stalled under the bridge of the USS Quincy in remembrance. BRICS+ increasing membership makes its economic capacities enormous. BRICS+ was also entertaining the use of a new blockchain trading platform jointly being created by Saudi Arabia and the UAE known as the mBridge. The mBridge was being considered as an alternative to U.S controlled trading platforms, and to facilitate a cross-border central bank digital currency for transactions amongst BRICS+ member states. Those aspirations from the five founding BRICS nations involving Saudi Arabia have been scuttled at the moment.

What may be the vehicle, commodity, system, etc.. that Trump and MbS look to pursue in cornering the world’s market once again if that is on the agenda? As some have speculated, it could be an embrace of a Bitcoin/cryptocurrency market economy backed by hard assets. A kind of economic “great reset” the World Economic Forum has postulated but more central to the sea and sand parties of 1945. An arrangement where multiple technologies converge, a singularity of commerce, blockchain, ai, and security apparatus to monopolize a new capital order. This would be in step with overarching pursuits of the American and Saudi sides to elevate their positions through modernity, just like the petrodollar has performed for them. A new financial medium of American and Saudi power that spills over across the region and especially to Israel if they agree to its political terms.

An ocean and land trade route bridging Asian commerce via India through Saudi Arabia and Israel, up into the Mediterranean to Europe has already been analyzed and planned. Commercial hubs for such mammoth endeavors include Saudi Arabian mega-developments and transit stops in Israel, exiting from its port in Haifa into the Mediterranean. Whether this trade route is also connected to aspects of a new American-Saudi arrangement is yet to be determined. There is little question however as to the benefits from new commercial movements, and its new order of control in whatever fashion that takes. These new trading partnerships producing substantial wealth will also be the envy of other regional nations not partaking of its profits. Trade agreements and national interests are important to keep an eye on pertaining to Middle East evolution. The principle key to understanding how things will unfold however belongs solely to God’s word through Jesus and the biblical prophets.

All of this activity, including other global powers expanding and/or breaking new ground in the Middle East is coming down to one issue, Jerusalem and the State of Israel. Here are just a handful of proclamations of what we can test and look for to occur from biblical prophecy that are yet to materialize;

There is a peace agreement coming to Israel that likely involves recognition of a Palestinian State authority and a division of a portion of Israel to establish that fact. (Daniel 9:27, Joel 3:2, Isaiah 28:18)

The Third Jewish Temple in Jerusalem will arise but there is something of Gentile significance occupying space next to it. God’s two witnesses (prophets) will declare God’s word and prophesy judgments upon the world from that coming temple. (Revelation 11)

There will be far-reaching belief in the peace coming to Israel and her surrounding nations but it is a facade and will not last. (1 Thessalonians 5:3, Revelation 6:4)

Israel is going to possess a greater status of security, living for a short time within unprecedented peace. (Ezekiel 38:10-13)

An alliance led by Turkey, (Gog, Little Horn, Beast, Antichrist all referring to the same person) and consisting of other Muslim nations will break the peace and come for the “spoils” of wealth that the new economic order has brought to Israel. (Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 11:41, Revelation 13)

The Antichrist will kill God’s two witnesses and erect the abomination of desolation in the Jewish Temple. The mark of the beast will be derived and implemented from this act, ushering in the beginning of the great tribulation lasting 3.5 years. (Daniel 7:25, Daniel 9:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Revelation 13)

Jesus Christ will return with his resurrected saints and destroy the invading Antichrist Beast armies and nations all gathered for war in Israel at the conclusion of the great tribulation. (Ezekiel 38:17-23, Zechariah 14, Revelation 19)

Jesus will redeem and elevate the remaining Jewish people and nation as he begins his reign over the globe from Jerusalem. The resurrected saints of God’s Church will rule under the authority of Jesus on earth. (Daniel 7:27, Zechariah 12-14, Revelation 3:26-27, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 20:4-6)

The geo-political stirrings and actions in the Middle East may point strongly to the final order of events biblical prophecy has declared. The sheer speed and unpredictability of global affairs in our day also make nothing conclusive at this juncture. Let us remain vigilant in being stewards of God’s mysteries and speaking the truth in love to the lost in these last days. Will there be epic developments coming out of Saudi Arabia this week that God uses to further his end time designs? As we remain watchful, Christians know the “end from the beginning” (Isaiah 46:10) and our need to remain faithful to Jesus. The USS Quincy was decommissioned after WW2 then briefly recommissioned during the Korean war. The ship went on to be mothballed for two decades before being removed from the Naval register and broken up for scrap metal in 1974. Quite the unglamorous termination for a celebrated vessel and also a foreshadow of all agreements made by men that fall before God’s plan in the end.

The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” - Revelation 18:15-17