Written by Jerry Robinson
Originally Posted on 3/7/2005
For those who have been watching the Middle East for some time, this week's news was unprecedented. The events that have transpired in this region have occurred with such swiftness and transparency that any outside observer has little choice but to realize the uniqueness of our generation.
The Syria Factor
The most pressing international topic this week has been deciphering the Lebanese revolt against the 29-year long Syrian occupation of its country. The week began with the forced resignation of Lebanon's pro-Syrian prime minister and Cabinet due to massive demonstrations by thousands of Lebanese protestors. Tensions between the Lebanese pro-Syrian government and the opposition party (anti-Syrian) have been mounting for years. But the Feb. 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 16 others has been the true catalyst for the recent seismic shift in Syrian-Lebanese relations. In essence, Lebanon has accused the Syrian government of being behind Hariri's assassination.
Damascus, the capital city of Syria and the oldest continuously inhabited city on the planet, doesn't like all of the recent attention it has been getting. Numerous intelligence reports have long documented the hotbed of terrorism that exists in Damascus. Unfortunately, it not only exists in Damascus - it thrives. For too long, Lebanon has operated as a puppet state of Syria. The Lebanese have not been free to speak out against their Syrian oppressors for fear of reprisal. And for too long, Damascus has been the funnel of terrorism against the state of Israel.
This week, most of world agreed.
Operating with a formidable coalition, President Bush demanded that Syria fully withdraw its 15,000 troops from Lebanon by May of this year. Mr. Bush's coalition consists of: France, Germany, Russia, and most notably Saudi Arabia, among others.
The Syrian kleptocracy is nearing its end and interestingly, the Bible speaks to this very issue in the book of Isaiah.
'The Burden of Damascus'
The burden against Damascus. "Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1 NKJV)
This scripture has long puzzled Bible scholars. It states very clearly that the city of Damascus will be obliterated and forever uninhabited -- and yet Damascus stills stands. According to this scripture and others, it is my opinion that the world is getting very near to the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy. And lest you think that God's word will not come to pass consider this passage:
"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11 KJV)
The Word of the Lord shall be accomplished!
From a more logistical standpoint, you might be wondering: What nation (or group of nations) will destroy Damascus and why?
It is interesting to note that despite the growing international isolation faced by Damascus, it has defiantly ignored the demands for a quick withdrawal from Lebanon. Syria is in a grave situation and its only 'true' ally is Iran (which may make the danger they are in even greater.) Exactly how, when, or by whom Damascus will be destroyed is not detailed for us in scripture, but we can gain some clues from studying Middle Eastern affairs.
Israel: One possibilty is that Israel may strike Damascus. The Jewish state has been known to pre-emptively strike its opponents when there appears no other way of resolving a matter. If Israel were to strike Damascus with the full force of its military might, it could destroy it in the way conducive to scripture. However, it is hard to imagine that Israel would pre-emptively strike Damascus when so much international pressure currently exists. In other words, why would Israel need to strike Damascus if the U.S. may strike it instead? This scenario would only appear to be logical if the current mounting international pressure on Damascus subsides leaving Israel more vulnerable than ever. Additionally, it is interesting to note that an Israeli invasion of Damascus could reasonably provoke the Russian/Iranian invasion of Israel as described in Ezekiel 38-39.
United States: Another possibility is that the U.S. and its allies could demolish Damascus. While this scenario seems logical at first, in the end it raises more questions than it answers. Think about what the U.S. does after it annihilates its enemies -- it rebuilds them. This certainly would not fit prophetic picture of Damascus being a ruinous heap ceasing to be a city. With so much at stake in the Middle East, the U.S. would certainly move in to stabilize the region after an attack.
The possibilities including other nations are endless and serve no real purpose other than meaningless speculation. At WIR, it is not our desire to speculate endlessly about how God's word will come to pass. But rest assured, it will come to pass. We have God's word on it.
Jerry Robinson is the founder of Jerry Robinson Ministries, a ministry devoted to taking the Gospel of Jesus' First Coming to the unbeliever, and the Good News of Jesus' Second Coming to the Global church. He is an ordained minister, writer, and speaker and holds university degrees in International Economics and Religious Studies. Additionally, Jerry operates jerryrobinson.org, an internationally known website that archives and analyzes global events through the lens of biblical prophecy.