Posted on 08/25/2013 7:14:14 AM PDT by pastorbillrandles
In view of recent developments in Syria, (The use of Chemical weapons), I am reprinting a Dec 2011 column on Syria in Prophecy
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.(Isaiah 17:1-2)
At a breath-taking rate, world events are increasingly lining up with predictions of the prophets of the Bible, signifying that the Day of the Lord draws near. The biblical prophets are specific as to geo-political alignments and events which are to occur in the last days. The rapidly festering situation in Syria is an example of this phenomenom.
The Assad government of Syria is currently reacting to its own version of the so-called ‘Arab spring’. The wave of populist reform demonstrations in the Arab world has already swept aside the governments of Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya and has stirred discontent in several other Arab nations.
Bashir Assad has shown a willingness to brutally suppress all internal dissent, having slaughtered four thousand of his own people, and sent tens of thousands into hiding, to maintain his power. But he is feeling besieged, and is looking for insurance in the form of beefed up weapons and military.
Having recently been censured by the Arab league, and threatened by Turkey, and seeing what NATO did to fellow Arab despot Gaddafi, Assad is looking for help from Iran,Russia, and even North Korea in his quest to fend off his enemies.
Here is an article from the English edition of ADNKRONOS International, titled,“Syria:Iranian and N.Korean Rocket Experts hold Damascus Meetings”
Damascus, 1 Dec. (AKI) – Dozens of officials from North Korea and Iran have conducted meetings with representatives of the Syrian government in Damascus to help president Bashar al-Assad obtain weapons following the implementation of sanctions by members of the Arab League and other countries.
The meetings have been taking place in recent days, and were attended by experts in the production of rockets, according to Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah, citing unnamed intelligence sources.
”The Syrian regime is afraid of losing power so is asking help from these two allies to put in place whatever means are necessary, even if it causes many deaths,” an intelligence source told the newspaper. “The only way to stop further bloodshed is for foreign intervention”.
Furthermore this article from Israel’s Arutz Sheva called,“Russia sent Syria Super Advanced s-300 Missiles” indicates that Assad is determined not to become the next Gaddafi, even if maintaining power involves World War.
Certainly Syria, Russia, North Korea, Europe, America, and of course Israel, are all preparing for something terrible.
The prophet Isaiah predicted that at the time of the end, a dreadful thing which has not ever happened in history is to occur. Damascus will cease from being a city, no longer will it be a seat of Government, a heap of rubble is it’s future.
Jeremiah implies that shortly before her destruction, Damascus will be surprised that Jerusalem is not “deserted” as she expected, this causes Damascus to lose heart herself.
Whatever the provocation, the destruction of Damascus will reflect badly upon Israel in the court of world opinion. The world will turn on Israel, blaming her for what happens to Damascus. What little favor Israel had enjoyed up till then will shrivel up, it will resemble the last few olives left after the shaking of the olive tree by the reapers.
Damascus shall be obliterated in the context of a wider war, which will be destructive of other Arab cities as well, such as the area we call Gaza, which is a terrorist state designated as part of the U.N.imposed “two state solution”, but which God calls, “the nation not desired”…
The one positive aspect of these terrible times, is that even the hardest of men will begin to seek the living God,
In that day a man will look to his Maker, And his eyes will have respect for the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 17:7)
Zechariah echoes Isaiah,
The burden of the word of the LORD in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward the LORD.(Zechariah 9:1)
The international outcry that will be raised against Israel will be unprecedented. The nations line up to register complaint in the U.N., newspaper headlines will scream, pundits will wax eloquent with moral indignation, religious leaders will pontificate against Israel, her former lovers will leave her, and it will be extremely unfashionable to stand with God’s chosen people in that day.
Woe to the multitude of many people Who make a noise like the roar of the seas, And to the rushing of nations That make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! 13 The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; …(Isaiah 17:11-12)
But the outcry will merely be the prelude to the outpouring of Divine wrath upon all nations . Tribulation such as never occurred upon the earth, the wind and the sea raging, and men’s hearts failing them for fear…
But it is as in the evening, which seems always darkest before dawn, such is the tribulation and time of Jacob’s trouble, as Isaiah says,
It’s coming. His Word is sure.
Thanks you again Pastor Bill
It’s coming and the despot we put in office is march fast forward towards it
I’ve long understood that Isaiah 29 pertains to this. The destruction of Damascus will not be unprovoked, no matter what world opinion may indicate.
meh...I dunno.
The Assad family has a proven record of maintaining a peaceful status quo for many decades. With the demonic inspired opposition of radical Islam so willing to engage in suicide attacks you must deal harshly with you enemies who have no respect for life.
But more importantly we have no compelling national interest over there. It’s a civil war so let them sort it out.
I agree, I take no sides in this one, certainly not with the Sunni Terrorist invasion force. I only submit the prophecy for everyone’s evaluation.
Let not forget:Isa 10:5 Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!
Isa 10:6 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
Isa 10:7 But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;
Assyrians are Gods rod of anger. Assyria is (mostly) Syria, Iraq,turkey and Iran.
Assad the Lion, is looking like a little horn. Dan 8:9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
Fulfilled in 732 BC.
“Assad the Lion, is looking like a little horn. Dan 8:9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.”
And this was fulfilled in the person and actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Details, details.
Earthquake in Peru? Sermon on Paddington Bear in Prophecy shortly thereafter.
"And this was fulfilled in the person and actions of Antiochus IV Epiphanes."
No, no, no.
"Paddington" is Ancient Sumerian for "All Powerful" and "Bear" is Ancient Sumerian for "Evil Beast"".
Peru, it's about Peru, not some guy back in history.
Get with the program. Why point out how reliable Scripture is by showing how history exactly matches prophecy when you can focus on headlines and get them to stay tuned for the next episode?
Fulfilled in 732 BC.
You are correct of course, but I've found that Biblical prophecy happens many times over.
Think about it (I know, you already have), Christians are martyred every day (as one example of many).
5.56mm
“Details, details.”
I don’t have time to go into all the details now. The fulfillment of Isaiah 17 regarding Damascus is found, in part, in II Kings 16:5-18.
And the prophecy regarding Damascus isn’t only found in Isa. 17. It’s found in Isa. chapters 7-9 inclusive.
Fulfilled prophecy is the proof of a true prophet and of the God who keeps His word.
Endless speculation over how the Bible fits into today’s headlines proves nothing about God and elevates current events (which change daily) over His eternal and unchanging Word.
“Think about it (I know, you already have), Christians are martyred every day (as one example of many).”
But only one period of Christian martyrdom set the stage for “the end” as Christ prophesied it and as His apostles clearly understood it.
“That’s all well and good if you ignore Paddington Bear being connected to the lost tribes settling in England and Peru.”
LOL!
That's all well and good if you ignore Paddington Bear being connected to the lost tribes settling in England and Peru.
LOL.
(As an aside, I was reading last night about a group of Jews that ended up actually settling in Peru. Migrated out of Spain to avoid the Inquisition. Some ended up in Peru, where they went to the back country. Kept to themselves, they have a genetic marker that's interesting. Not exactly the "ten lost tribes", but interesting.)
I don’t have time to go into all the details now. The fulfillment of Isaiah 17 regarding Damascus is found, in part, in II Kings 16:5-18.
Tiglath-Pileser III.
It's interesting to me how the current dispensational interpretation with the oracle against Damascus had become accepted dogma among them. I first heard it 5 or 6 years ago. I suspect no-one thought this twenty years ago.
“It’s interesting to me how the current dispensational interpretation with the oracle against Damascus had become accepted dogma among them. I first heard it 5 or 6 years ago. I suspect no-one thought this twenty years ago.”
I’d bet that’s because 20 years ago people were still fixated on this idea that all the end-time boogeyman stuff involved the revived Holy Roman Empire, such was the power of Hal Lindsay’s “Late Great Planet Earth.”
I used to believe that stuff. Not anymore. Not since my eyes were opened to the truth exemplified by these two passages:
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end...Daniel 12:4
And he saith unto me, Seal not up the words of the prophecy of this book; for the time is at hand. Revelation 22:10
If the time of the end were at hand 2,000 years ago, it cannot be at hand today. If Dispensationalists and Futurists are right, then the eschatology of Christ and the apostles is wrong.
And if Christ is wrong, then He is not who He claimed to be.
Thank you!
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