Mary Anna, I read your post and it made me think of this...

The Bible predicts a civil war in Egypt followed by their total economic collapse.  We don't know exactly when the civil war will transpire (though recent events makes it seem like it might be sooner rather than later).  Due to the timing of the seasonal flooding of the Nile, we might have an indication of when their economy tumbles.  Knowing when the seasonal flooding occurs might also allow us to backdate and give us a better picture of when the prior events happen.

 

First, take a look at the civil war in Egypt which is described in these verses.

 

Isaiah 19:1-4

The burden against Egypt.

Behold, the Lord rides on a swift cloud,
And will come into Egypt;
The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence,
And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.

² “I will set Egyptians against Egyptians;
Everyone will fight against his brother,
And everyone against his neighbor,
City against city, kingdom against kingdom.
³ The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst;
I will destroy their counsel,
And they will consult the idols and the charmers,
The mediums and the sorcerers.
⁴ And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts.

 

In the verses that follow there's a description of how the water will dry up.  The Nile is obviously meant.  Fishermen will lament and economic hard times will prevail in that land. "Neither will there be any work for Egypt..." (vs.15).

 

⁵ The waters will fail from the sea,
And the river will be wasted and dried up.
⁶ The rivers will turn foul;

⁷ The papyrus reeds by the River, by the mouth of the River,
And everything sown by the River,
Will wither, be driven away, and be no more.
⁸ The fishermen also will mourn;
All those will lament who cast hooks into the River,
And they will languish who spread nets on the waters.
⁹ Moreover those who work in fine flax
And those who weave fine fabric will be ashamed;
¹⁰ And its foundations will be broken.
All who make wages will be troubled of soul.

 

I looked to see when the seasonal flooding of the Nile occurs.  It is in the months of August, September and October.  The seasonal high point is in September. The seasonal flooding makes agriculture possible.  The Nile also supports hydro-electricity and transport besides fishing and agriculture.  Without the seasonal flooding of the Nile, the Egyptian economy would quickly dry up.

 

We don't know how the Nile will dry up.  Some news reports already indicate that the glaciers on the Rwenzori mountains (whose runoff feeds the Nile) are disappearing.  I don't know about that.  But, here's something to consider.  Isaiah 19 says that Egypt will fear Israel. 

 

¹⁶ In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it. ¹⁷ And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.

 

Sometime before the Autumn months, it seems possible that the current civil unrest will lead to a civil war.  But, a better future is coming to Egypt!

 

Farther on in the future, Egypt will be blessed and worship the One True God as seen in the remaining verses.  This is presumably during the millennium. 

 

²³ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing in the midst of the land, ²⁵ whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, “Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.”

 

YBIC

Bruce Baber