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Damascus Will be a Ruinous Heap
Apr 27, 2017 12:10:20   #
ziggy88 Loc: quincy illinois 62301
 
What happens to Syria in the End of Days? Since US bombing things have changed for the worse.

By Pastor Gary Boyd

All the major end time players are in position in the Middle East ready to go to war over, you guessed it, the oil. New found oil in the Golan Heights by Israel and miles offshore in the Mediterranean have made greedy eyes come alive. The quagmire in Syria is only the beginning of a conflict that will lead to the destruction of Damascus and the loss of lives in northern Israel.

Scripture Says

With all the events taking place in Syria right now, many people are asking, “What does the Bible have to say about Syria and the end times? Is this the beginning of World War III and Armageddon?” Those are legitimate questions, but let me assure you, this is not the end, yet. How can I be so sure? Because the Bible says Armageddon takes place at the end of the seven-year Tribulation (Revelation 16:16), “And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”
The Tribulation has yet to begin.


That said, I believe recent events in Syria have great significance when it comes to the study of Bible prophecy. This doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to see the immediate fulfillment of any specific Bible prophecy. However, it does mean you should pay close attention. Why? Because, at the very least, these events are setting the table for the fulfillment of multiple bible prophecies.

Just look around you. The signs of the Second Coming are everywhere. The restoration of Israel (Isaiah 11:12)… The Jews are back in Jerusalem (Luke 21:24-28)… The Gospel preached to the world (Matthew 24:14)… An increase in travel and knowledge (Daniel 12:4)… The rise of the European Union (Daniel 2:43)… And many more. Jesus says once you see all these signs come together, His return is near (Luke 21:28). This means the Tribulation is close, and you should expect to see the fulfillment of many end times prophecies in the near future.


Below are two prophetic events especially relevant to the ongoing events in Syria. Both events could be very close to fulfillment.


1) The Destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17)
Chapter 17 in the book of Isaiah paints a sobering picture. In it, the city of Damascus is a pile of rubble. The Bible says it will disappear from the face of the earth and become a heap of ruins Isaiah 17:1, “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” At the same time, large parts of northern Israel will also lie in ruin Isaiah 17:3, “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.” According to the Bible, the Tribe of Ephraim is descended from a man named Ephraim. This Ephraim is recorded as the son of Joseph, the son of Jacob.The descendants of Joseph formed two of the tribes of Israel, whereas each of the other sons of Jacob was the founder of only one tribe. In the latter times Ephraim will cease being a fortress, meaning destruction.


Now, before you say this prophecy was fulfilled during Old Testament times, keep this in mind… This passage says Damascus will cease to be a city (Isaiah 17:1). It will be utterly and completely destroyed. Yet, Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on record. Its history goes back more than 5,000 years. At 2,600 years old, the book of Isaiah itself is new compared to Damascus! This prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.


So how do current events in Syria relate to Isaiah 17? Following the U.S. strike on the Syrian airfield Shayrat, Syria’s allies issued a joint statement saying, “What America waged in an aggression on Syria is a crossing of red lines. From now on we will respond with force to any aggressor or any breach of red lines from whoever it is and America knows our ability to respond well.” While this statement was clearly in response to a U.S. bombing on a Syrian airfield, these nations made it clear they will respond to any nation they view as an aggressor.


This includes Israel. While it hasn’t been a major news story, Israel has also been bombing Syria. They’re bombing Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists operating on the northern border of Israel. If Syria and its allies view their situation as desperate, they may decide to use these bombing raids as an excuse to launch a chemical attack on Israel. This is because drawing Israel into the war could rally the Muslim world to Syria’s side. Saddam Hussein tried this same tactic during the first Gulf War. In 1991, he fired Scud missiles at Israel in an effort to draw them into the war and break up the coalition aligned against him.


If Syria, Hezbollah, or any of their allies managed to strike Israel with a weapon of mass destruction, the response would be swift. Israel would most likely respond in kind. If their intelligence revealed the Assad regime was behind such an attack, nuclear retaliation on Damascus would not be out of the question. The fact is Bible prophecy speaks of a preemptive strike by Israel that will return the original Promised Land to them. Read Psalm 83, “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.”

These people named above are Syria, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Hamas, the Palestinians, and the Muslim Brotherhood. These Arab states and terrorist populations are now forming a confederation to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Psalm 83 predicts a climatic Arab Israeli war that will return the original promised land to Israel and hand over the spoils of war, the oil. Israel will defeat her ancient Arab enemies with her overwhelming IDF military. Israel will them become the next Mideast Superpower!



While this is all speculation, and not necessary how Isaiah 17 or Psalm 83 goes down to be fulfilled, it shows how realistic a near-term fulfillment of this prophecy could be. With current instability in the region, and so many warring factions in Syria, events could spiral out of control very quickly. At this point in time, it’s not difficult to imagine a scenario in which Damascus is completely destroyed.


2) The Gog & Magog War (Ezekiel 38-39)
Current events in Syria are also setting the stage for the Gog & Magog War. More than 2,600 years ago, the prophet Ezekiel warned of a future time when a vast coalition of nations will attack Israel. Ezekiel identifies these nations as “Magog, Rosh, Meshech, Tubal, Persia, Cush, Put, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah” (Ezekiel 38:1-6).


These nations have since come to be known as the Gog & Magog alliance. Now, with the exception of Persia and Cush, I realize most people have never heard of these nations. But keep in mind Ezekiel used the names of these nations as they were known in his day. Each one is a clearly identifiable nation today. So who are these nations in our day and time?


Below is a list. The Old Testament name is listed first, followed by its modern day equivalent:
Rosh = Russia
Magog = Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan
Persia = Iran
Cush = Sudan
Put = Libya
Meshech, Tubal, Gomer, and Beth-togarmah = Turkey


Collectively, these nations have never attacked Israel. In fact, in the history of the world, such an alliance of nations has never existed. But today we see it coming together right in front of our watching eyes. Since 1989, Russia and Iran have gradually strengthened their diplomatic, military, and economic ties. Yet, in the first 2,600 years after Ezekiel recorded his prophecies, the nations of Russia and Persia (Iran) had never been part of any alliance of any sort. Never. Cooperation between Russia and Iran, especially military cooperation, didn’t take place.


This led many people to claim Ezekiel’s prophecy was symbolic. Why? Because the idea of the Gog of Magog war seemed absurd. After all, at the dawn of the 20th Century, Russia was an orthodox Christian nation and Israel didn’t exist! But those who believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible knew otherwise. They knew all prophecy would come to pass as it has in times passed. Because bible prophecy doesn’t come from mere humans. It’s God’s Word 2 Peter 1:19-21 tells us so, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

In the years since, the stage has been set for the literal fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39. A 1917 communist revolution transformed Russia from a Christian nation to an atheist nation. In 1948, Israel once again became a nation. And earlier this week, Russia and Iran issued a joint statement vowing to respond with force to any aggressor.


Where does Turkey fit? For decades, people have wondered how Turkey could be a part of this alliance. After all, Turkey is a member of NATO. And in late 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian jet when it strayed into Turkish airspace. Russia and Turkey seem to be at odds. So how could Turkey be a part of this alliance?


At first glance, it seems unlikely. But in the summer of 2016, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jailed thousands of political opponents. And on Easter Sunday of 2017, Turkey voted to eliminate its parliamentary form of government and give expanded powers to Erdogan. Ultimately, this could be what pushes Turkey into the Russian sphere of influence. Erdogan is an anti-Western, pro-Islamist leader, and he’s worked hard to strengthen Turkey’s ties with Russia. For my own reasons I believe he is the Antichrist.


In light of these developments, we can see the Gog & Magog alliance coming together for the first time in history. For the first time since Israel re-emerged on the world scene in May 1948, the main players of the Ezekiel 38-39 alliance are all working together. Even more important, they all have military personnel on Israel’s northern border. The stage is set for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39 that I believe will come to fruition in the middle of the great tribulation.


What Will Ultimately Happen?
While terrible destruction awaits Damascus (Isaiah 17:1), northern Israel (Isaiah 17:3), and the entire Gog of Magog alliance (Ezekiel 38:19-22), we have reason to be hopeful. Because of these events, the Bible says people will soon look to and acknowledge their Creator – the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Isaiah 17:7). When He strikes down Israel’s enemies, the whole world will know He is the God Israel (Ezekiel 38:23).


In the days and weeks ahead, we can’t be certain what will happen in Syria. But in the long run, we can be absolutely certain the events of Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39 will be fulfilled. Damascus will lie in ruin, and the Gog & Magog alliance will be destroyed. These events are certain. Because whatever He has declared, God will bring to pass (Isaiah 14:24).
And when these things happen, the world will no longer be able to deny Him. He will destroy the enemies of Israel in plain view of the entire world.
“In this way,” says the Lord. “I will show my greatness and holiness, and I will make myself known to all the nations of the world. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 38:23) Maranatha…...



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