(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
“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. 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” (Isaiah 17:1-3). Emphasis added by me.
Damascus is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.
It is also said to be a terrorist organizational headquarters for the Middle East.
It is held by most of those who diligently study God’s prophetic Word, including myself, that its fulfillment is yet future. But I believe it may be in the very near future.
Since October 07, 2023, there have been numerous reports of increased Iranian shipments of weapons and ammunition into Damascus via the Damascus and Aleppo airports, which are being used to bolster the capabilities of Hezbollah and the other militant terrorist groups that are arrayed against Israel.
The IAF (Israeli Air Force) has struck numerous locations to try and thwart this flow of arms, but, no doubt, much of it is getting through. This does not portend any good thing regarding the threat against the Israeli people in human terms.
UN Security Council Resolution 1701, passed as a result of another war against Israel in 2006, “required” a DMZ(Demilitarized Zone) between the borders between the “Blue Line ( just a demarcation point), Israel, the Golan and Lebanon north to the Litani River.
Of course, this resolution has been another worthless UN ink-on-paper drill that has never been enforced; thus, Hezbollah is once again left in a position to attack Israel along their northern border, and they have.
It is a small wonder that Pastor Daymond Duck has labeled the UN as the “United Nothing.” In one respect, it is almost a blessing that the UN accomplishes nothing since most of its resolutions are aimed at countries that they are predisposed to persecute.
Israel comes to mind.
Below is an assortment of headlines (by no means a complete list) illustrating the escalating tensions between Israel (who was attacked) and the surrounding Arab nations, proxies of Iran (that did the attack).
Attack in Syria kills 11 senior Iranian military officers, injures top advisor to Damascus: report
Syrian military says Israeli attack on Damascus outskirts caused material damage
Looking for more trouble? Israeli airstrikes hit Damascus amid escalating Israel-Hamas war
Israel expands scope of fight against Hezbollah, Iran
Hezbollah rocks northern Israel with most attacks in single day of war
As the hostilities ramp up, the opposition forces continue to increase in number, as well as the quality and quantity of the missiles and other weapons being provided to them.
There is ample evidence of Iran’s presence in all this effort to undermine and destroy the Jewish nation while “distancing” themselves from providing troops in boots-on-the-ground fighting. Lately, their belligerence has escalated markedly.
How does this relate to Isaiah 17:1-3?
I believe the Israelis have now become certain that there is no possible way they can expect to survive as a nation, given the number of times they have been attacked through history, both ancient and recent. The brutality of the attacks by Hamas is all the evidence needed that the blind hatred arrayed against them, just because they are Jewish, precludes any possibility of “peace” that doesn’t provide the Arab terrorists (and not all Arabs are terrorists), with just one more “tactical hudna,” wherein Hamas (or any other Jew-hating militant terrorist group), uses the time to re-arm and prepare for the next attack. The historical track record of Hamas, Hezbollah, et al., brings them to no other reasonable conclusion. While the Israelis desire peace, they know another cease-fire, given the enemies arrayed against them, does not constitute rational thinking.
Even with the effectiveness of the IDF/IAF and Israel’s military technology and skill, there is attrition in numbers of troops and availability of ammunition and associated logistics. Where the Israelis value the lives of their troops and citizens, Hamas and Hezbollah bear no such burden either for their troops or for their fellow Arab civilians. There is also the constant threat from Iran of a nuclear/biological/chemical attack. Based on these real-world circumstances, the Israelis have no choice but to view them with the utmost seriousness. Their enemies have made it clear what they intend, and given enough time, they will attempt it. Eventually, but for God’s protection, they might even succeed.
“Come, let us erase them as a nation; may the name of Israel be remembered no more” (Psalm 83:4).
Based on the prophecies in God’s Word that Israel will be alone (in human terms) in the fight for survival at some point, and given the realities of the threats against them, it is possible to envision the Israelis being pushed into a corner and having to execute something similar to or even the exact backup plan contained in the Samson Option. It is said that they were on the verge of doing that in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War, so I expect they will do whatever they must.
At some point, “world opinion” will have to be set aside in order to ensure survival.
What we can be certain of is this: Isaiah 17 will happen sooner or later. It is a dead certainty. We can also be certain of this:
The Lord God has said that His people will be regathered for the second time:
“It shall come to pass in that day That the Lord shall set His hand again the second time To recover the remnant of His people who are left, From Assyria and Egypt, From Pathros and Cush, From Elam and Shinar, From Hamath and the islands of the sea” (Isaiah 11:11).
It shall happen in the “latter days:
“For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days” (Hosea 3:4-5).
They will never be uprooted again:
“‘I will plant them in their land, And no longer shall they be pulled up From the land I have given them,’ Says the LORD your God” (Amos 9:15).
God is actively regathering them even now, and try as they might, Israel’s enemies will never succeed in pushing them anywhere, sea or otherwise.
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Luke 21:33).
The Lord always keeps His Word.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God—The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com