Damascus Prophecy

The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap (Isaiah 17:1).

Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city but the Bible tells of its destruction. Some believe the prophecy was fulfilled in 732 BC when Assyria conquered Damascus and the northern kingdom of Israel. Others believe a future war with Israel and the Arab cousins. Esau's refugees (Palestine, south Jordan and south Lebanon), Lot of Ammon and Moab (north and central Jordan) with Hagar (Egypt) and Ishmael (Saudi Arabia) unite to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Since 1948, all wars against Israel result in defeat or draw. Syria has turned radical so war could happen before or during the Tribulation.

[Your enemies] 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 you: the [tents] of Edom [Esau], and the Ishmaelites [Arabia]; of Moab [Lot], and the Hagarites [Egypt]; Gebal [northern Lebanon], and Ammon [Lot], and Amalek [Esau]; the Philistines [Esau] with the inhabitants of Tyre [southern Lebanon]; Assyria [Syria, Iraq] also is joined with them: they have [strengthened] the children of Lot [Jordan]. Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord-that you alone are the Most High over all the earth (Psalm 83:4-8, 18).

World War IV

Egypt and Syria are not mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 war. At the middle of the Tribulation, Jesus told those in Judea (West Bank) to flee (Matthew 24:15-16). One possible scenario is that World War IV begins as Russia and radical Islam (Iran, Libya, Turkey) rebel against Antichrist and attack Israel. Ezekiel 29-30 predicts the destruction of Egypt with catastrophic results lasting forty years. Something similary happended already. Previously, Trumpet 3 describes the Chernobyl accident which is still radioactive after forty years. Israel retaliates by striking Egypt (Ezekiel 29:3, 10-11) and Syria with nuclear missiles. The men of Damascus fall in the streets and the brick walls are consumed by fire (Jeremiah 49:26-27). Damascus is a city no more.

At the time of the end shall the king of the south [Islamic nations] push at him [Antichrist]: and the king of the north [Russia] shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over (Daniel 11:40).

References: 21st Century Revelation: World Wars, Iraq Wars and End Wars: Chapter 20 - Players in the Game, Chapter 25 - Iraq War III, Revelation Outline, Covenant, Tribulation, Revelation, 21st Century View, Daniel, America, Cities, Timeline of the Tribulation, Syria, Damascus, Golan Heights, Arab Spring, Syrian Civil War, Iran Nuclear Deal

February 2025

Syrian History

Syria (Aram) was first mentioned when Issac married Rebekah so they are cousins with Hebrews (Genesis 25:20). When Joshua conquered the Promised land, Syria bordered Israel but Solomon captured much of Syria north to the Euphrates River. Then Assyria, Babylonia, Persia and Greece ruled. At the time of Christ, Syria was an eastern Roman region. In 632 Byzantine fell and the Islamic Caliphates, Crusaders, Mamluk governed. In 1518, the Ottoman Turks ruled the eastern Mediterranean until 1918. After World War I, the land was divided by the United Kingdom and France. In 1946 Syria became an independent nation. Isaiah prophesied that Damascus will be destroyed.

The Golan Heights is a strategic plateau northeast of the Sea of Galilee. In ancient history, Israel captured the territory from the Amorites who were descendance of Lot. The tribes of Dan and Manasseh settled northern Israel area. In 1946, Syria became a nation with the Golan Heights but in the 1967 Six Day War, Israel captured the area. Currently, two-thirds is Israeli and one-third is Syrian.

Iran is a state sponsor of the Shiite sect of Islamic terrorism and leading power to destabilize the Middle East. Iran supports Shiite nations of Iraq and Lebanon along with proxies Hamas (Gaza), Hezbollah (Lebanon/Syria) and Houthi (Yemen). Syria is majority Sunni but former President Bashar al-Assad Syria Russia is Shiite. Russia is an ally of Iran.

Syrian Civil War

In 2010, the Arab Spring brought revolution to the Middle East. USAID gave grants to COVID research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, BLM race riots and protests in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia and Ukraine. When Muslim countries are overthrown, horrible dictators are replaced by radical Islamic terrorists, economic disaster and/or endless wars.

In 2011, Sunnis and Kurds protested President Bashar al-Assad's Shiite regime and the civil war began. The Islamic State filled the void in Iraq and in 2013, expanded into Syria. Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Europe were flooded with refugees. In October 2015, Russia joined with Iran, Syria and Turkey.

In April 2012, US President Obama said chemical weapons were the "red line". Assad used chlorine and sarin gases from 2013 to 2015 but Obama focused on the Iran Nuclear Deal. ISIS used mustard gas. In September 2013 with Russian help, Syria began destroying 1300 metric tons of chemical weapons. However, on April 4, 2017, Assad's army used chemical weapons against the city of Khan Shaykhun. Two days later, US President Trump authorized cruise missiles against the Shayrat Air Base and beat back ISIS terrorist in Iraq. For twelve years, Assad kept a tight grip on power but as the war continued.

From November 27-December 8, 2024, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham with support from Turkey marched south through Syria to Damascus. Assad's dictatorship was replaced by Islamic State terrorists. The 2024 events left Russia, Iran and proxies weaker while Israel grew stronger. The 2023 Israel War continues as seventy-six Israelis are still hostages in Gaza. The new Syrian regime persecutes religious minorities.