Syria keeps killing: When will Damascus be destroyed?

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

More keep getting killed in Syria:

Activists: 53 killed in ongoing Syria offensives

The Associated Press – ‎7 April 2012

By ZEINA KARAM, AP – 1 minute ago BEIRUT (AP) – Syrian government shelling and offensives against rebel-held towns killed at least 53 civilians across the country on Saturday, activists said, as the US posted online satellite images of troop deployments that cast further doubt on whether the regime intends to comply with an internationally sponsored peace plan.Syrian President Bashar Assad has accepted a cease-fire deadline brokered by international envoy Kofi Annan, which calls for his forces to pull out of towns and cities by Tuesday and for both government and rebels to lay down their arms by 6 a.m. local time Thursday.

But the escalating violence of the past few days has fueled accusations that Assad is rushing to stamp out as much of the year-old uprising against him as he can before next week’s cease-fire.

This is not new in the sense that Syria’s President seems to have done this type of thing many times before. He hopes that he will keep being able to get away with this, but he keeps incurring major international costs.

The Arab League, European Union, the USA, and others have turned against his regime. Several have now recognized an opposition coalition as a legitimate representative of all Syrians:

‘Friends of Syria‘ recognize SNC as ‘a legitimate representative‘ of Syrians

Al-Arabiya – ‎Apr 1, 2012 (Reuters) By Al Arabiya with Agencies The “Friends of Syria” on Sunday recognized the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) as a legitimate representative of all Syrians, and “noted” it as the main opposition interlocutor with the international community – wording that fell short of full recognition of a group hampered by chronic disunity.

Money is also going to the opposition from outside of Syria which will strengthen the opposition and give it a better chance to eliminate the Assad regime.

Since that is unacceptable to Syria’s President Assad, he eventually will likely take more desperate steps.

What many seem to overlook is that there is another, not desirable, option for Syria, along with its ally Iran: a war involving Israel.

I have been writing for some time, I suspect that the current Syrian government may decide to attack Israel. If so, I have also warned that it is likely that Iran will cooperate with Syria (so may parts of Lebanon and other lands in the area). Israel in the past has indicated that it is ready should Syria attack (Israel Ready to Strike Syria). Yet, this may not turn out well for either country if this ends up in a regional war involving Israel.

Back in biblical times (cf. Isaiah 7:8) and current times, the capital of Syria has been Damascus. Notice what the Bible shows will happen to it:

1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 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)

3 Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment…5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,”
Says the Lord. (Amos 1:3, 5)

Nearly four years ago, the Living Church of God reported:

What does the future hold for Syria and its capital city Damascus? God prophesied, “‘Against Damascus…. they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted….Damascus has grown feeble; she turns to flee…. Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day;’ says the LORD of hosts… ‘I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces…” (Jeremiah 49:23-27). This bears watching. (Davis D, Winnail S. Damascus Gears Up. LCG World Ahead Weekly Update, June 5, 2008)

Damascus will be destroyed.

But when?

Syria’s President might decide his personal best option is to more closely support Iran and perhaps be involved in an invasion of Jerusalem and Israel. If so, this might be how Isaiah 17:1 is fulfilled. And that could be soon. If we are near the time that Damascus is prophesied to be destroyed and for a time ceasing being a city (Isaiah 17:1), major problems may soon be upon that area (more than the current uprisings in Syria have been so far). At this time, it would seem that the destruction of Damascus could happen if opponents to the Syrian Assad regime felt that they had been harmed so much that eliminating Damascus would be necessary. Since Israel and the USA tend to be sensitive to international opinion, such prophesied destruction of Damascus suggests that somehow Syria will first inflict significant harm to one or more of its enemies and then cause a major retaliatory strike that could fulfill Isaiah 17:1. If this is involving outsiders like Israel, it seems that the Bible suggests major complications could occur if Israel does attack Iran and/or Syria and that Iran and Syria strike back.

And FWIW, perhaps I should mention that technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel. So an actual war involving Syria and Israel is quite feasible. If so, Israel may hit back so hard that it might eliminate Damascus as Isaiah 17:1 says will happen.

Much is going on in the Middle East.

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

The Arab 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 does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
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? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama and Julia Gillard be involved in 2012? Have predictions written by Bob Thiel related to Barack Obama and Julia Gillard began to come to pass?
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?