Friday, April 13, 2018
The Middle East has been volatile since the 1948 rebirth of Israel, but there is clearly a renewed military and civil violence that puts Damascus, Syria in the crosshairs of destruction. That’s not unfounded speculation, but is God’s prophetic truth that accompanies the time of the end.
Though Damascus, Syria is the longest continuously inhabited city in the world, its destruction is prophetically reserved for the end-times. Contextually, God said, “The burden against Damascus. Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap” (Isa. 17:1).
Historically, in conventional warfare ruined cities are rebuilt. But Damascus “will cease from being a city”, reasonably indicating that a nuclear holocaust will cause it to be an uninhabitable “ruinous heap”. Nuclear strikes would certainly disqualify it from “being a city”.
Nuclearized nations are now in the Damascus region: the United States is aiding civilian rebels fighting against Bashar al-Assad’s government; Russia and Iran aid the Assad regime believed to have recently killed 40 people with poisonous gas, (Source: Fox News); and Israel is also blamed for a recent air strike on a major airfield near Damascus.
Civilian and military tensions are rapidly escalating. This should not surprise we who believe God’s Word for the end-time. This conflict could lead to the war of Revelation 6:3–4, wherein the second rider on the red horse of the apocalypse is given “a great sword” with which he takes “peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another”.
U.S. President Donald Trump vows a response for Assad again using poisonous gas, while Russian president, Vladimir Putin, promises that any military response by the U.S. will be met with an equal military force. Both are strong-willed men, and unyielding to their convictions, while Iran and Israel, in the meantime, are exchanging their own militant threats.
The situation in Damascus is very serious. This conflict will not be diplomatically negotiated for another generation to resolve. It belongs to and will reach its prophetic fulfillment in this present generation…the last generation of this age. The question is, however, will this be recognized for what it is, or will it be considered as just another unfortunate war to which people born in the war-torn twentieth century have become so accustomed?
The twentieth century has seen more death and destruction than any other. In fact, many have become so desensitized to wars and their death tolls, that it’s become the normal way of life. Warring nations have become a blinding status quo deception of the end-times. Jesus warned, that, as the days of Noah and Lot were, so too will the days of the Son of Man be.
Several deceptively-blinding characteristics of the days of Noah and Lot were this: warnings of imminent destruction was preached by a few, but ignored by most…just like today; violence marked their cultures…just like today; genetically modified humans were real…just like today; homosexuality and immorality was the rule of the day…just like today; false teachers were popular…just like today; and the normalcy of spiritual life meant that God’s love approved of their violence, unbelief and sin…just like today.
Fathers, husbands and Bible teachers, what are you teaching your families and loved ones? Do you see the signs of the end-times that are now gathering like storm clouds? Is your discernment based in the knowledge of the Word of the Lord and His Holy Spirit, or does the culture govern? Are you preparing those in your charge for the very difficult tribulation times in the near future?
WWIII will likely begin in the Middle East. In fact, “War will continue until the end, and desolations have been decreed” (Dan. 9:26 NIV). But have you prepared your loved ones and those in your care in the Biblical truths of what’s coming? Pray and act now, for you have only a little time.
Marlin J. Yoder
