Reuters: Obama Signed Secret Order to Back Rebels to Overthrow Syria’s Assad

Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)

The Guardian is running the following:

2 August 2012

Obama signs order supporting Syria’s rebels, reports say…

Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorising US support for Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow the Assad government, sources familiar with the matter have told Reuters…

Precisely when Obama signed the secret intelligence authorisation, an action not previously reported, could not be determined.

The full extent of support that agencies like the CIA might be providing also is unclear. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/02/obama-order-supporting-syria-rebels?newsfeed=true

The above agreement also involves supporting Turkey as it supports the rebels against the Assad regime. Might this be prophetic?

Partially because of the internal civil war, and now with the USA’s support for the rebels becoming more obvious, Syria’s President may decide that attacking Israel, probably in conjunction with support from Iran, is his best option. It will not be (his best option is to negotiate his own departure from Syria, combined with personal repentance). The Bible suggests that Syria will support the coming final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8) and a change in or from the Assad regime will be necessary for this to happen–and it will come to pass.

Notice some comments from the late Raymond McNair on the identification of the peoples involved in supporting the future King of the South in Daniel 11:

Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

Since Syria will likely be supporting the coming King of the South, the current situation in Syria must change. It may also be of interest to note that some Islamic prophecy suggests that someone like the biblical King of the South, called the Imam Mahdi, rises up after there is destruction involving Syria that Turkey and others participate in:

Traditions have been reported mentioning the signs for the time of the appearance of the Imam…black standards will advance from Khurasan; al-Yamani will come out in revolt; al-Maghribi will appear in Egypt and take possession of it from Syria; the Turk will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will occupy Ramla; the star will appear in the east giving light just like the moon gives light; then (the new moon) will bend until its two tips almost meet; a colour will appear in the sky and spread to its horizons; a fire will appear for a long time in the east remaining in the air for three or seven days; the Arabs will throw off the reins and take possession of their land, throwing out the foreign authority; the people of Egypt will kill their ruler and destroy Syria; and three standards will dispute over it (Syria)…

The Abbasids will dispute; a voice will call from the sky; one of the villages of Syria called al-Jabiyya will be swallowed up; the Turks will occupy the region of al-Jazira; the Byzantines will attack al-Ramla; at that time there will be much conflict throughout the land until Syria is destroyed.

(Kitab al Irshad Chapter: The Twelfth Imam (Peace be on him) Page (s): 541 – 548 Published by Tehrike Tersile Qura’n. Contributed by Br. Ali Abbas, abbas@seas.gwu.edu http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/12thimam.html viewed 7/22/12)

The Bible also teaches that Damascus will be destroyed (Isaiah 17:1). Might the USA directly or indirectly assist in the destruction of Damascus? Could the “black standards” have anything to do with a black USA president? It may. If so, this may be another Islamic prophecy seemingly involving Barack Obama. Notice something from Wikipedia:

The Black Banner or Black Standard (راية السوداء rāyat al-sawdā’ , also known as راية العقاب rāyat al-`uqāb “banner of the eagle” or simply as الراية al-rāya “the banner”) is the historical flag flown by Muhammad in Islamic tradition, an eschatological symbol in Shi’a Islam (heralding the advent of the Mahdi), and a symbol used in Islamism and Jihadism. (Black Standard. Wikipedia, viewed 08/02/12)

A black “banner of the eagle,” while possibly being forces of Islam, may also be forces of the USA or the USA, directly or indirectly, supporting an Islamic power that invades Syria–and that is something that the USA has secretly (now not so-secretly) agreed to do). And even if this “prophecy” was or was not intended to involve the USA, presuming that more destruction in Syria happens, those Muslims who believe in the Imam Mahdi may well point to Syria’s problems as a sign that the rise of the Imam Mahdi is soon expected.

Now if there is a war involving the USA and Syria, this will not mean that the USA will necessarily come out without damage.

The reality is that the cost to the tiny nation of Israel, and likely the USA, for a regional war involving Syria and/or its closest ally Iran will be higher than many in the USA or Israel believe.

Another in Israel is indicating that Iran may soon get attacked (which likely could trigger involvement with Syria, etc.) and that those in Iran should fear Israel:

‘If I were an Iranian, I would be fearful in coming weeks’ As US urges Israel to let West exhaust all diplomatic efforts vis-à-vis Iran; former Mossad Chief Efraim Halevy pegs possible window for strike over next three months

2 August 2012 Ynetnews

But Israel, too, is at risk. Big risk of severe damage. Between terrorist acts, sustained resistance, chemical weapons, biological weapons, emp-type bombs, and/or even disruptions of the internet, Iran and/or Syria can inflict significant damage to their enemies.

Lives are likely to be lost in Israel, and possibly the USA. Just like the cost to the old Soviet Union for being involved in the occupation of Afghanistan was a factor that led to its dissolution, the cost to Israel and/or the USA for a regional war involving Syria and its allies like Iran may hurt both the USA and Israel. It may be a factor in the coming division of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2) and may be a factor in weakening the USA (which will happen during “the beginning of sorrows”).

However, the USA and the tiny of nation of Israel would not be “eliminated” by that–it will come later, by the King of the North (cf. Daniel 11:39) before he takes on the King of the South (Daniel 11:40). But since Iran will not be the King of the South and Syria apparently will support the King of the South, the situation in those countries will change–and this certainly could happen from an attack involving Israel and/or the USA.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37).

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?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
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”? 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?
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Eight reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and eight reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? This is the longest and most complete article on this page on Barack Obama prophecies. Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States Some claim that Barack Obama is the prophesied “son of Kenya”, based up an early 20th century writing.
Barack Obama in Islamic Prophecy? There is actually a 17th century Shiite prophecy that some believe that Barack Obama will fulfill that will lead to a rising up of Islam.