Calls for a new NATO-style military alliance in the Middle East are intensifying as Muslim leaders gather in Qatar for an emergency summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The proposal comes after an Israeli strike in Doha that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. Leaders across the region now say the time has come for a unified response to what they see as Israel’s destabilizing role.
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Egypt and Iran are at the forefront of the talks. Egypt is proposing a Cairo-based joint military command while senior Iranian officials are urging a broader coalition. Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, declared that “the only solution is forming a military coalition.” Qatar’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani condemned Israel’s strike as “an assault on the principle of mediation itself,” warning of “an endless cycle of bloodshed and destruction.”
As reported by Newsweek, the summit represents “the most serious push in decades for a unified regional defense pact.” Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian attended the meeting to signal Tehran’s determination to expand its influence in a bloc traditionally dominated by Arab leaders. Pakistan, the world’s only nuclear-armed Muslim state, has also called for a joint task force to monitor Israel.
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From a biblical perspective these developments raise important questions. The book of Ezekiel describes a coalition of nations including Persia (modern-day Iran) and Togarmah (commonly linked to Turkey) that will one day rise against Israel in the Gog and Magog war. Today Turkey maintains a close alliance with Iran and Russia, another major power many identify with Gog. The fact that Egypt and potentially Saudi Arabia could align with Iran marks a historic shift since both nations have historically resisted Tehran’s influence.
Scripture predicts Israel will face a sudden and massive assault from a confederation of nations. Ezekiel 38:11–12 describes Israel as dwelling securely when the coalition advances to seize “plunder and spoil.” Recent rhetoric framing Israel as the rogue destabilizer of the region mirrors this prophetic scenario.
Another striking alignment is the hesitancy of the West. President Donald Trump said the United States must “be careful” in its response to the strike and Washington has stopped short of condemning Israel. In Ezekiel’s prophecy no nation comes to Israel’s aid. Instead God Himself intervenes with earthquakes, hailstones and fire to destroy the invading armies.
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What happens next remains to be seen. The OIC historically issues symbolic statements but this moment is seen as a test of whether rhetoric becomes action. If adopted, a Muslim defense pact could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East and bring the world one step closer to the prophetic confrontation laid out in Scripture.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
The Bible is a testimony to itself. God’s prophetic Word will be fulfilled. Just as Jesus told us to pray, “Your will be done on earth, as it is (done) in heaven.”
There is talk in some Christian circles saying that the greatest need in America is for reformation. They basically mean, as I understand it, that people in all kinds of leadership positions will come to a more conservative understanding of righteous principles and apply common sense to their situations.
However, I believe that reformation in and of itself is not the ultimate answer for the woes of America. Reformation must be undergirded by a spiritual foundation, otherwise it will not last. In other words, since our problems are first and foremost spiritual, the solution must begin with a spiritual solution, Only as secular ungodly people are changed one by one through their individual reformation through faith in Christ, and coming into true salvation, will there be the possibility of lasting cultural change for the better. However, we know from scripture that evil will always be with us. What are we supposed to do? Simply, keep on praying, and keep on witnessing.
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Dr. Rod Butterworth
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