Syria, Turkey, Russia, and Iran
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد
Today’s news has the following:
BusinessWeek – By Emre Peker Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) — Syria’s violence is heading toward an “intolerable point,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said, as he called for an international coalition to stop President Bashar al-Assad’s deadly crackdown.Turkey’s initiative follows Russia and China’s Feb. 4 veto of a United Nations resolution supported by the Arab League, European Union and the U.S. aimed at ending the violence, which has led to 5,400 deaths since March. The veto gives the impression the deaths will “go unanswered” by the world and it would be “naïve” to expect change from Assad, Davutoglu said.
Turkey is looking to establish the “most broad-based” coalition, which should include members of the UN Security Council, Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Arab states, Davutoglu said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was in Damascus yesterday, where Assad pledged a new constitution and asked Russia to broker talks with the opposition.
The situation with Syria is getting tense for nearly all involved. Notice also something else from today’s news:
EU threatens new sanctions on Syria
Fox News – 8 February 2012BEIRUT — The European Union will impose harsher sanctions on Syria, a senior EU official said Wednesday, as Russia tried to broker talks between the vice president and the opposition to calm violence. Activists reported at least 50 killed in military assaults targeting government opponents. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who held emergency talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Tuesday, is trying to end Syria’s 11-month-old bloody uprising, which has left more than 5,400 dead, according to the U.N.
The Bible tells of a time where there will be various deals involving the Europeans and the Arabs (Daniel 9:27; 11:27; Psalm 83:4-8). The EU support of the goals of the Arab League position on Syria will likely not go unnoticed, and may help set the stage for one or more of those deal.
In addition to getting some diplomatic support from Russia and China , Syria is also getting military support from Iran (02/06/12):
A top Iranian military official is activily {sic} aiding the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad in suppressing popular unrest throughout the country, a top member of the National Syrian Council said on Monday.
According to the Syrian official, Kassam Salimani, commander of the Quds Force, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard special forces unit, has arrived in Syria recently and has taken up a spot in the war room which manages army maneuvers against opposition forces. The Quds Force includes 15,000 elite soldiers…http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/report-top-iran-military-official-aiding-assad-s-crackdown-on-syria-opposition-1.411402
Russia, in particular, is not happy with how the situation with Libya went as it seems to feel that the West betrayed the intent of the UN resolution it reluctantly agreed to support against Libya. Partially because of that, Russia is sticking with Syria, at least diplomatically. China, according to reports I have read, seems to be using the tensions with Syria and Iran to attempt to negotiate better oil prices. China, like Russia, also was not thrilled with how the West interpreted the UN resolution against Libya and is also hesitant to support the West in Syria and Iran (e.g. East vs. West: Russia, China, & India Opposing Sanctions on Iran & Syria), partially because of that. Contrary to the misunderstandings of some, Russia is not about to invade Israel with Iran (for some details see WSJ Suggests that Israel Should Destroy Iran; Ezekiel 38? and Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future).
That being said, Syria is not so highly important to Russia or China, so that they would risk too much for Syria’s President Assad (that does not mean that they would be unwilling to provide any military support, but that there would be a real limit on that if they did). And actually, Russia seems to be trying to come up with a way to try to handle the current situation diplomatically. Russia does not want to have to directly betray President Assad or support the West, but it also does not want a massive Islamic power to rise up–but diplomatically supporting Iran and Syria will not stop the massive Islamic power from rising.
The involvement in the Syrian situation with Turkey is also interesting. Since the people of Edom are mentioned in Daniel 11:41 as escaping the future invasion told in Daniel 11:40-43, I have felt for some time that Turkey will temporarily support an Islamic Arabic King of the South, though not completely (I feel that ultimately Turkey will support the final European King of the North; cf. 11:25-26;41). The fact that Turkey’s proposal specifically includes the Arab states suggests, to me at least, that Turkey is inclined to sometimes support the Arab nations. The King of the South will apparently lead a confederation of Islamic nations, several of which, will not completely support it (cf. Daniel 11:41; 11:25-26). If Iran is involved (which to a degree it is likely to be), it will not be the leader of the King of the South. Whatever survives in Syria (cf. Isaiah 17:1) will apparently support the coming Arab King of the South leader of Daniel 11:40. If those in Russia and China understood biblical prophecy better they would realize that their current stand perhaps should be modified in regards to Iran and Syria. And to a degree, Russia is taking some steps to modify its position.
As far as Syria, notice what the Bible shows will happen to its capital Damascus:
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)
As I have been writing for some time, Syria’s President Assad 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. The fact that he now has Iranian troops in his country, makes the idea of a joint Iranian-Syrian invasion of Israel much more feasible. The destruction of Damascus could be seen as a sign that the end of the dominance of the Anglo-nations may not be too far behind (cf. Isaiah 17:3-4).
As far as Iran and Syria invading Israel, perhaps I should mention that technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel. Iran has repeatedly called for Israel’s elimination and even put out a video in 2011 showing that it plans to take over Jerusalem (see Iran’s Ahmadinejad to Conquer Jerusalem?). Thus, an actual war involving Iran-Syria against 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?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Russia in prophecy. Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach?
India, Its Biblical Past and Future: Any Witness? The Bible discusses the origins of those of Indian heritage and discusses some of the witness to them (including those in Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka).
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 1: Genesis and Chinese Characters Where did the Chinese people come from? This article provides information showing that the Chinese peoples must have known about various accounts in the Book of Genesis up until their dispersion after the Tower of Babel.
China, Its Biblical Past and Future, Part 2: The Sabbath and Some of God’s Witness in China When did Christianity first come to China? And is there early evidence that they observed the seventh day sabbath?
Asia in Prophecy What is Ahead for Asia? Who are the “Kings of the East”? What will happen to nearly all the Chinese, Russians, Indians, and others of Asia? China in prophecy, where? Who has the 200,000,000 man army related to Armageddon?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States?
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