A number of disturbing reports are coming out of Egypt.
The head of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie called the establishment of the state of Israel as “… the worst catastrophe ever to befall the peoples of the world” and demanded that the international community pressure “… the Zionist government to withdraw from the land of Palestine.”
Raymond Ibrahim reported that an Egyptian website quoted Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for President said Christians should “convert, pay tribute or leave.”
Here’s an excerpt:
"They need to know that conquest is coming, that Egypt will be Islamic, and that they must pay jizya or emigrate," Mursi reportedly said. According to the popular Egyptian website, El Bashayer, Muhammad Mursi, the Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate, just declared that he will "achieve the Islamic conquest (fath) of Egypt for the second time, and make all Christians convert to Islam, or else pay the jizya," the additional Islamic tax, or financial tribute, required of non-Muslims, or financial tribute.”
The current situation puts enormous pressure on the Christians of Egypt. Here’s an update from one Christian about what some are thinking about the upcoming runoff for president between Mursi and Admed Shafiq:
It is a tough choice. Morsi winning means totalitarian MB (Muslim Brotherhood) regime (as they have parliamentary majority now), Shafiq winning means there will at least be some form of opposition expressing a different current than Parliament but he's waving an iron fist on any trials of chaos or sabotage which is bringing back all the memories of the old regime and people believe the past 16 months will be in vain if he's in office.
Moderate thought people (both Christians and Muslims) don't like either and hate being forced to choose between them. However, the majority of Christians will go for Shafiq whereas Muslims will vote for Mursi and many plan to either abstain or make void their votes. The latter group believes both choices are bad ... this wasn't what the revolution broke out to bring about .. it's another face for oppression... etc. Older people from both backgrounds are pro Shafiq in hopes of long lost stability and security whereas some are pro Mursi in hopes of change and in that they believe MB deserves a chance.
In light of that, here’s what this Christian passed along as urgent prayer requests during this crisis:
Please pray for discernment, discernment, discernment for believers to know how to pray and to have open eyes for what the Lord wants to do amidst all this; for religious leaders to have a word in season when asked for advice.
Please pray for His kingdom to come, His will to be done; for Him to have His way among my people (who're His people); for dreams/visions and the revelation of Jesus the Light of the world.
Please pray for His perfect love to cast out fear; for boldness and courage for the church.
Please pray for understanding of times and seasons; if this is a "window of opportunity" to prepare and get ready that we'd walk it out as the Lord wants us to.
Please pray for "repositioning," for those who need to leave the country to actually leave and for those who should be here to actually be here. God's been highlighting Gideon to me.