Prophecy Update - Isaiah 17, An Oracle Concerning Damascus

April 16, 2003

Isaiah 17, An Oracle Concerning Damascus: Part 1 - Prophecy to History.

"See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites," declares the Lord Almighty. (Isaiah 17:1-3)

Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Many read the passage above and realize that although the Assyrians conquered it in the 7th century BC, Damascus has never been destroyed in the manner described. If so, then this event awaits us in the near future. Although Damascus is the capital of Syria today, it was originally an Aramean city, and was actually allied with the Northern Kingdom of Israel against Assyria, just before its defeat.

A Case Of Double Vision

In chapter 17, as in much of his book, Isaiah was writing both short and long term prophecy, the short term now confirmed to us in history. In that sense, the verses above describe the defeat of Aram, followed closely by the defeat of the Northern Kingdom of Israel as indicated by the phrase "the fortified city will disappear from Ephraim" a reference to Samaria, its capital. (Ephraim is an alternate name sometimes used to identify the Northern Kingdom following the civil war that divided Israel after King Solomon died. Judah was the name given to the south). Following their defeat the Arameans and Israelites were systematically uprooted and dispersed through out Assyria, something the Assyrians routinely did after conquering their enemies to break up alliances among the conquered people and reduce the likelihood of future rebellion.

"In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when a reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the grain with his arm-as when a man gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs," declares the Lord , the God of Israel. (Isaiah 17:4-6)

The Lord also sometimes used the name Jacob in place of Israel. When He did, it was to distinguish the unfaithful (Jacob) from the faithful (Israel). So these verses explain that in the idolatrous Northern Kingdom, the leadership strata of society would be so scattered throughout Assyria that only a few would be left intact. Like the few olives that are left on a tree after harvest.

"In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. (Isaiah 17:7-9)

When Did That Happen?

There is no historical indication that the Assyrians turned to the Lord following their victory over the Arameans and Israelites and left their idolatrous religions. Nor has this happened anytime since. Today the remnant of Assyria is called Syria, with Damascus its capital, and the religion is overwhelmingly Islam. There was a revival in Judah under King Hezekiah, and that saved them for a time, but the focus of the passage is not Jewish. So this prophecy is one of several indications that there is still a long term fulfillment to come.

As I've said, Isaiah was writing both short and long term prophecy. The Lord often had prophets do this so their writings would be validated by events occurring within the span of their lives. The short term, often partial, fulfillment confirmed that the long term would also take place as prophesied. (see Deut. 18:21-22)

"You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain. Oh, the raging of many nations- they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples- they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale. In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us. (Isaiah 17:10-14)

Is That You, Lord?

All the peoples of the world had once known their Creator but over the centuries had abandoned Him in favor of their pagan religions. The Assyrians and Arameans, for example, were cousins, descendants of 2 sons of Shem, the oldest son of Noah. Shem was still alive when Abraham was called to be the father of the Israelites, and so was knowledge among these cousins of their Creator. (Read Adam to Abraham)

The Assyrians continued to the very gates of Jerusalem, defeating everyone in their path, all their plans bringing immediate success. But one night as they camped on Mt. Scopus overlooking Jerusalem and planned their final assault, the Lord sent His destroying angel and 185,000 Assyrian troops were slain as they slept. (2 Kings 19:35-36) At daybreak those left alive retreated in defeat and the faithful remnant in Judah enjoyed a generation of peace. The revival in Judah had come just in time to avert a major defeat and the total elimination of the Jewish nation. These events so parallel prophecies of the End Times that in Jewish circles Sennacherib, the Assyrian King, is seen as a model for the anti-christ while Hezekiah, King of Judah represents the Messiah. But this was another partial fulfillment. The passage calls for many nations, not just the Assyrians, to rise up against Israel and is another indication of what's to come.

In the context of current events as the nations of the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent edge slowly but certainly toward war. And never before in our generation, even at the height of the Cold War, has there been such open and frank talk about the use of nuclear weaponry. Among the nations currently raging, India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, Iraq, and the US all possess at least some nuclear capability and all appear ready to use it. But the nation most active in preparation, and therefore perhaps the spark that will ignite the region, is Syria. Secretly funded by Iran, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, Syria is most likely to start something, and in fact has in the past week given the Lebanese Hizballah the green light for a major escalation of terrorist operations. Stay tuned.

Isaiah 17, An Oracle Concerning Damascus: Part 2 - Prophecy to Current Events

"In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. (Isaiah 17:7-9)

The portion above is one of the key elements that indicate a future fulfillment as well. The focus of the passage is the City of Damascus as it declares that the time will come when the Syrians will turn to their Creator and proclaim their faith in Him. This revival will come after Damascus has been so destroyed on account of Israel as to become "a heap of ruins."

What's Your Problem?

Syria is a serious problem for the US and Israel. Lacking oil reserves they make their money supplying heroin to the world markets and helping Iraq smuggle oil for export in violation of UN sanctions, both obviously criminal activities. While Iraq was being punished for invading Kuwait, Syria quietly took over Lebanon, another criminal act. Nothing was done to stop this because the west was busy in Iraq and Syria was one of the nations "on our side." This month Syria is head of the UN Security Council, a body officially opposed to terrorism, all the while openly preparing through its state sponsored terror groups to attack Israel's north. Syria has also become a staging area for al-Qaeda fighters escaping Afghanistan through Iran and bound for the Palestinian territories. Syria has blatantly refused US requests for help in fighting the war on terrorism. Even the direct public accusations this week by the US Ambassador to the UN in a Security Council meeting were met with bland denials by the Syrian Foreign Minister, saying Syria had neither the financial nor other resources to support terrorists.

Oh, the raging of many nations- they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples- they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale. In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us. (Isaiah 17:10-14) Here's another clue indicating a future fulfillment. History involves only Assyria and Aram. Who are the future participants described as "many nations?"

Who's Your Friend?

While Saudi Arabia gets a ton of favorable attention in the West for proposing a Middle East peace plan, the Saudi government quietly supplies Syria with the money to arm the Hizbollah, an anti-Israel terrorist group headquartered in Damascus. (It was also Saudi money that purchased the shipload of Palestinian arms Israel captured off its coast a few months back.) Thanks in part to the Saudis, Syria does have the financial resources to support terrorism

Iraq and Iran are also involved in arming these Syrian based terrorists, having delivered tons of weaponry and explosives including over 8000 short range missiles and launchers for positioning along Israel's northern borders. In the past 2 months a veritable wall of missiles has been built, capable of sending thousands of projectiles into central and northern Israel. A pre-emptive strike by Israel against this missile wall was scheduled for this past April but was called off at the last minute. US Sec'y of State Colin Powell visited Damascus about that time, warning of massive retaliation by Israel if Syria didn't do more to keep the Hizbollah in check, but the preparation continues unabated.

Syria, Iran, and Iraq are all linked together with mutual defense treaties and all are also linked with the Palestinians. The UA made no bones about its intention to topple Saddam Hussein.

Meanwhile just a little to the East, Pakistan and India are still squared off to fight. Pakistan, a Moslem nation, has vowed to involve all its Moslem neighbors in any flare-up with India, which obviously includes all the aforementioned countries. Both India and Pakistan have nukes and are prepared to use them. Not since the spin-up to WW2 have so many nations openly talked about going to war. And never before has the use of nuclear weapons been taken so for granted in pursuit of victory.

So, What Should We Talk About?

But the focus of discussion between Israeli PM Sharon and US Pres. Bush last week wasn't Pakistan or Arafat or Hussein, but Syrian Pres. Assad and how to prevent the attacks he's planning for Israel. Sharon brought convincing evidence that Assad is "building a massive powder keg under Israel" that threatens the stability of the entire region. His willingness to act as the front man for Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Iraq in escalating the number and severity of terrorist attacks in Israel will have to be addressed soon and in no uncertain terms. Intelligence sources I follow have pegged September as the next likely month when a pre-emptive attack by Israel could occur. It will have to be much bigger than the one planned for April to be effective and could very well finally complete the warning God had Isaiah bring against Damascus those many centuries ago, turning the world's oldest city into a heap of ruins.

The Rest Of The Story

What of the return to the Lord also prophesied for Damascus? Two chapters later Isaiah tells of Syria's ultimate destiny. Speaking of the Kingdom Age to come, Isaiah says, "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. The Lord Almighty will bless them, saying, "Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance." (Isaiah 19:23-25)

And so we catch another glimpse of the character of our Lord; slow to anger and quick to forgive. After centuries of being one of Israel's most determined and devious foes, at the end Syria comes into God's family of nations and is held up as an example of His handiwork.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Ultimatum for Assad as US Special Forces Land

Although President George W. Bush and administration spokesmen have carefully skirted any explicit threat of military action against Syria, DEBKAfile's military sources report that Sunday night, April 12, small teams of American undercover troops were already inside Syria marking out the hideouts of Saddam's close family, his top lieutenants, military leaders and the directors of his banned weapons programs. US special forces troops were additionally directed to locate the men who drive the operational arms of the Hizballah, Jihad Islamic and Hamas terror groups.

Twenty-four hours later, Monday night, three events brought Syria even closer to becoming the object of direct American action, additionally placing France in Washington's sights - albeit for a different kind of punishment. Syria faces imminent economic sanctions at best - although, since experience shows they never work, military action is very much on the cards. France stands to pay a diplomatic and financial price for certain actions that have come to light.

DEBKAfile's Washington sources describe the White House as particularly incensed over the following pieces of intelligence:

A. Documents coming to light in Baghdad directly incriminate Syria as a full partner in the financing, development and concealment of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. A source familiar with the new data reveals that Syria was not only a full partner but active in every stage of these programs to the point that they deserve to be called Iraqi-Syrian, not just Iraqi, undertakings.

Well before the UN weapons inspectors came on the scene last year, the Syrian president Bashar Assad took it upon himself to conceal the banned weapons, one by one, as they came off the production line. Syria's support for Iraq in the UN Security Council and the attacks leveled by foreign minister Farouk a-Sharah against Washington, for venturing to accuse Iraq of concealing weapons of mass destruction, were staged to misdirect attention from the biggest political, intelligence and military fraud perpetrated since the Cold War ended.

Washington's indignation over these discoveries has been manifested in a torrent of warnings to, and charges against Damascus in the last three days. Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld took the opportunity of the warm welcome he gave the visiting Kuwait ruler on Monday, April 14, to produce intelligence that Syria had conducted chemical weapons tests in the last year.

He could have said more. According to DEBKAfile's Washington sources, the defense secretary was also informed that in the same period Syria test-fired missiles fitted with chemical warheads from Aleppo in the north to Djebel Druze in the south near the Syrian-Iraqi-Jordan border junction. Damascus carried out the test on behalf of the Iraqi-Syrian partnership for developing unconventional weapons.

B. The details of the comprehensive military collaboration treaty Assad secretly concluded with the now deposed Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein that were first exposed in DEBKAfile in September 2000 are only now emerging in full. Under its terms, Syria was bound to furnish an escape hatch for fleeing Iraqi military, political, scientific and intelligence top echelons working on the banned weapons programs, as well as providing concealed locations for production to continue. Damascus was therefore committed to taking over the shared WMD projects from the point they were interrupted by a war emergency in Baghdad.

C. This discovery relates to the aid rendered Syria by France. DEBKAfile's exclusive intelligence and military sources reveal that, from Monday night, April 14, groups of Iraqi military and scientific leaders have been transferred from Syria to France. This came about as a result of President Chirac consenting to help Assad live up to his commitments to Saddam Hussein and keep their forbidden weapons out of sight and their existence denied.

These discoveries led the Bush administration to slap down before Damascus a three-part ultimatum:

1. First, in view of Syria's long record as sponsor of terror, the Assad regime is required to dismantle at once the command centers of the Lebanese Hizballah and the Palestinian Jihad Islami and Hamas Damascus headquarters and turn their leaders over to the United States. A list of names is supplied.

2. To hand over without delay all the weapons of mass destruction on its territory, whether they are "Iraqi" or "Syrian".

3. To surrender to the Americans at once every one of the hundreds of Iraqi regime members, including Saddam kinsmen, granted asylum in Syria.

Assad's failure to deliver would result in the United States acting to force his compliance.

Washington's ultimatum evoked a frantic Arab reaction. Saudi foreign minister Saudi Al-Faisal went to Damascus to warn the Syrian ruler of grave consequences should he persist in defying the Americans. He advised him to call an urgent Arab foreign ministers meeting for Friday, April 18, and ask the Arab world to back him up in meeting Washington's demands. The Syrian ruler has not yet informed the Saudi minister of his intentions.

Though not unaware of the danger hanging over his head, Assad is showing the same kind of stubbornness as Saddam Hussein his ally exhibited when he was urged by a procession of diplomatic well-wishers to show flexibility - or go into voluntary exile - so as to avert an American invasion.

A brief anecdote indicates the deceptive nature of the Syrian-Iraqi alliance. Iraq's UN ambassador Mohammed Al-Douri, the first Saddam regime official to concede his country's defeat ("The game is over"), aroused some sympathy when he burst into tears in New York and vowed to devote his life to a peaceful future for his people. He announced he would be going to Paris.

Well, DEBKAfile's intelligence sources have discovered that the weeping ambassador stayed in Paris only long enough to catch the next plane to Damascus, where he joined his not exactly peace-loving brother, who turns out to be the deposed vice president Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri.

Al Qaeda Poised for Festival Strike

Osama bin Laden's organization is reported preparing to stage a comeback by a fresh terrorist assault in Turkey against American or Israel/Jewish targets over Passover this week or Easter, next. Upon receipt of this intelligence, Ankara placed its counter-terror units on high alert, installing special security measures at its civilian and military airfields and around bases accommodating US forces.

According to DEBKAfile's sources, Al Qaeda planners, established at a forward base in Iran, are plotting a dual strike against a hotel frequented by Israeli holiday-makers and an incoming Israeli airliner - on the lines of the attack the network mounted last November 28 in Kenya on the Israeli-owned Mombasa Paradise hotel and Arkia airliner. Al Qaeda may also seek out a large local Jewish gathering for the Passover Seder. As in Mombasa, the fundamentalist terrorists are preparing to use shoulder-launched Strela SA-7 anti-air missiles, whether against an incoming Israeli airliner or American aircraft ferrying American military personnel into Turkey.

Its operatives are reportedly lying in wait on both sides of the Turkish-Iraqi border to ambush American convoys and attack isolated US installations in Iraqi Kurdistan. In the last week, they the terrorists were seen slipping across from Iran into Turkey and northern Iraq.

I ask that you would lift this ministry up daily in your prayers, thanks!

YBIC-Randy

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