As most may well be aware, there is an ever-growing and intensifying conflict occurring right now between Russia, Israel and the Western powers lead by the United States over Syria.
The missile strike on the Shayrat airbase, conducted by the United States on April 7, 2017, was the first time that America has become a deliberate direct combatant against the Syrian government and marked the start of a series of deliberate direct military actions by the U.S. military against the Syrian government and pro-government forces in May–June 2017 and February 2018.
In mid-January 2018, the Trump administration indicated that it intended to maintain an open-ended military presence in Syria to counter Iran′s influence and oust Syrian president Bashar Assad. In early September 2018, the United States started to implement a new strategy that indefinitely extends the military effort and launches a major diplomatic push to achieve American objectives in Syria.
Ultimately, Israel may have no choice but to engage in direct military confrontation with Russia.
Of course, this also drags in Iran – Israel’s major enemy. The rhetoric (or more like threats) that have long come from Iran are usual calls for Israel’s destruction. Of course, the fact that this advanced weapons system was shipped to Damascus specifically ought to be triggering the end times prophecy alert system of all prophecy watchers worldwide.
This catapults Damascus into the category of a major threat to Israel on top of hindering Israeli objectives in Syria and outside of Syria’s immediate parameters … namely any action against Iran.
There is an interesting parallel between the dynamics of the Middle East and prophetic scripture that need to be considered in the light of current events.
While Israel has been fighting it’s war against Palestinian terrorism, Hezbollah and Hamas terrorists have periodically stoked the flames of a second front along the border between Lebanon and Israel over the years. Syria is said to be in direct support of terrorism in Lebanon which is directed at Israel.
Israel has publicly and diplomatically warned Damascus in Syria and Beirut in Lebanon that the escalation of a front along the Lebanese border will result in a forceful and significant military response by Israel.
The current and ever-evolving situation in the Middle East will eventually dictate that the Israeli army will be forced to respond decisively with massive airstrikes against Damascus and Lebanon. Israeli military action against Damascus will assuredly result in the outbreak of a larger war in the Middle East.
WHAT THE BIBLE FORETELLS REGARDING DAMASCUS
Damascus (and by inference, the rest of Syria) will be destroyed, quite quickly and completely. Isaiah 17 features a prophecy that has never happened – never in the history of Syria’s existence …
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1).
When will this happen? It is always worth remembering that Damascus, and the territory of Syria, is not mentioned among the allied nations that gather to destroy Israel in the battle of Gog in Ezekiel 38 & 39. As witnessed in Ezekiel 38, Persia (modern Iran) is included, along with Ethiopia and Libya, the tribes of Gomer and northern Togarmah (Germany and parts of eastern Europe). Currently, Syria is among the foremost consumers of Russian advanced weaponry, who in turn get it from the United States via the globalist elite agenda (See the second and third videos from the side bar of this site – “RED DAWN WARNING TO AMERICA” and “THE U.S. WAR ON TERROR AND THE COMING WORLD WAR 3”). Yet, Damascus is missing from the hoard of Israel’s invaders. This is persuasive evidence that the ancient city is destroyed prior to the coming of the Russian attack and invasion of Israel described in the great prophecy of the Gog/Magog war in Ezekiel 38 & 39. Perhaps the invasion is even a response to a sort of Israeli nuclear self defense against Syria. In any event, Isaiah 17 also pictures a coming invasion that greatly resembles the invasion by Gog in Ezekiel 38. It’s concluding verses suggest the horror of modern warfare …
“Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (Isaiah 17:12-14).
The concluding verse of the passage indicates a destruction in one single night. Only with modern warfare and weaponry could this prophecy ever be accomplished.
In 1967, Syria was defeated in the spectacular Six-Day War. In many ways, it was a real testimony to the power of God. In the near future, it appears that Syria will be destroyed in a much briefer conflict. It will start in the evening, and before morning, it will be over. Syria’s current president, Bashar al-Assad has often referred to a “greater Syria,” which includes not only Lebanon, but most of Israel, even including Jerusalem. Apparently, the dream of a greater Syria will evaporate in a one-day war so clearly pronounced in the gloomy prophecy of Damascus’ destruction in one nightas revealed in the above scripture of Isaiah 17 … “And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not (verse 14).
“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the Lord of hosts. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation” (Isaiah 17:1-3,9).
These opening verses paint a very bleak picture. Not only do we see the fact that Damascus will suddenly become an utterly destroyed heap of ruins in one night, but according to these verses, the cities of Aroer located on the northern bank of the Arnon River east of the Dead Sea will also be deserted just like Damascus. We can see that these areas will not be destroyed in the same manner as Damascus will be. It only states that they will be deserted. Could it be that these people flea these cities out of fear from what just happened to Damascus? We can also see from the passage that many of the fortified cities of northern Israel will be destroyed. Furthermore, those who will remain in Aram located southeast of Damascus will also share the same fate as those northern Israeli cities …
“And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean. And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel” (Isaiah 17:4-6).
The panorama of destruction is seen as scripture describes the landscape of Israel as being stripped bare of people. Ultimately, this destruction will serve to awaken Israel to faith and dependence upon the God of the Bible and cause them to turn away from looking to their idols, which is the whole purpose for the disaster in the first place …
“At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images. In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips: In the day shalt thou make thy plant to grow, and in the morning shalt thou make thy seed to flourish: but the harvest shall be a heap in the day of grief and of desperate sorrow” (Isaiah 17:7-11).
The wages of turning their faith away from God and onto the things of the world will reap a bitter harvest of grief, sorrow and bitter disappointment. God takes idol worship and reverence of them very seriously and he will not let it stand. We are now beginning to see the open displays of this here in America with the display of the Arch of Baal in front of the U.S. Capitol very recently. In the midst of Israel’s day of grief and reckoning, they will ultimately face an imminent invasion …
“Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us” (Isaiah 17:12-14).
With Damascus and northern Israel in a ravaged and weakened state, it is then that Israel will experience the onslaught of an attempted invasion by it’s enemies for it’s ultimate destruction for good. It is at this point that God himself intervenes and destroys the invaders himself. This invasion force event can be foreseen in Psalm 83 which describes the preliminary wars that lead to the invasion of Ezekiel 38 & 39 by Russia and it’s allies:
“Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O Lord. Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth (Psalm 83).
“Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad” (Jeremiah 49:23-27).
The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Amos all foresaw the destruction of Damascus, including the cities and territories under the control of Damascus and it’s ruling family. Isaiah even hints that the destruction of Damascus will be the result of the children of Israel. Damascus as a city has survived throughout the centuries. It has never been totally destroyed as a “ruinous heap” or been forsaken in total desolation, particularly as a result of Israel’s military. In the Arab-Israeli wars of the 20th century, Israel never destroyed Damascus. Isaiah’s prophecy foretells the future destruction of Damascus when it will cease to exist as a city. Jeremiah and Amos put the downfall of Damascus in the context of being destroyed by fire. This destruction may also apply to Lebanon as Lebanon has essentially been a puppet government under the control of Syria and a terrorist safe haven. Isaiah 10 provides a link between the destruction of Lebanon and the destruction of Syria at a time when a remnant of Israel will return. Of course, as we all know now, Israel returned to statehood in 1948 as scripture foretold …
While we are watching Damascus, Syria like prophecy watch hawks, we would also do well to pay close attention to Lebanon as we can clearly see from Isaiah 10. We can surely see the day approaching with a swiftness. The destruction of Damascus is undeniably a part of the end time scenario that will lead into the war of Gog/Magog of Ezekiel 38 & 39 directly involving Russia and it’s allies including Iran – and then – the Tribulation period. It is big piece of the prophetic puzzle – it is a sign to us that the departure of the body of born again believers from off of the earth (the rapture) is drawing near followed by the harsh judgment of the Tribulation for those left behind. It is speculated by some that those of us in the body of Christ (born again) will still be here on Earth to see the destruction of Damascus before the rapture. If so, let’s be assured that if we wake up one morning and find out that Damascus has been wiped out, our disappearance is extremely close. On the other hand, we may not be here to see it … in which case, if we see the doom of Damascus approaching, our departure is that much closer. In fact, in another article, I present the case that the destruction of Damascus will occur immediately after the rapture according to a most interesting display of a timing sequence revealed in the book of Isaiah (see the link below).
Damascus has now become a lightning rod of military tension. From here, it’s all dark clouds and doom for Damascus. The countdown to her destruction looms.
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