Is ‘Fleeing to the Mountains’ Part of Israel’s Syria Strategy?

Mountains of Judea

With the tense situation between Israel, Syria, and Iran, this seemed like a good time to go over what might be part of Israel’s strategy to deal with Syria’s chemical weapons. A couple of years ago, a reader sent the following:

Israel government repeats Christ’s Defense strategy…

“One reason for evacuating citizens to Samaria in case of chemical attack is that the altitudes there are higher than in the coastal plain. The poison gas emitted by chemical warheads begins to sink when it enters the air, accumulating in the lower altitudes.”

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Matthew 24:15-16.

The specific news item that he referred to was:

Samaria to Shelter Jews in Case of Chemical War, Drill Shows

Israel National News – May 25, 2010

In case of a war involving the possible use of chemical warheads, communities in Samaria could serve as a refuge for citizens escaping Israel’s coastal plain and other regions, a new element in the ongoing national war drill shows. This year’s drill is the first to include practice of a plan for mass evacuation of citizens from areas under missile attack to the relative safety of the Biblical heartland.

Home Front Commander Major General Yair Golan has prepared a plan for evacuation of Israelis to Samaria in case of unconventional war, and has circulated it to senior officers in the General Staff and to high ranking defense officials. “The phenomenon of internal refugees will grow in the next war,” Golan predicted. The Home Front plan calls for coordination between the IDF and the Samaria communities. The plan will be rehearsed later this week.

One reason for evacuating citizens to Samaria in case of chemical attack is that the altitudes there are higher than in the coastal plain. The poison gas emitted by chemical warheads begins to sink when it enters the air, accumulating in the lower altitudes. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/news.aspx/137696

Now I am not saying that I agree that Jesus necessarily was warning against chemical warfare. And while I believe that Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24 was mainly directed at His end time followers (true Christians), it may be that He could have also provided information that would help the Jews at this time as well.

Many of the events in Matthew 24 happen during the “beginning of sorrows”, right before the Great Tribulation, and during the Great Tribulation itself. The specific fleeing that Jesus was referring to happens just prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

Syria itself has chemical weapons (Syrian Official Acknowledges Having Chemical Weapons and Declares Syria Will Use Them If Attacked) and is believed to have tested systems related to launching them last month (see Syria May Have Tested Chemical Weapons Launcher).

I have believed for some time, however, that if Syria were to launch chemical weapons against Israel, that Israel may hit back so hard that it would destroy Syria’s capital Damascus. As the Bible shows that Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2012, 2013, or 2014? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? Is there a needed peace deal first in the Middle East? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000?