TW: Syria’s growing instability

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

Today’s edition of TW News & Prophecy from the Living Church of God has the following about Syria:

Syria’s growing instability.

Syria recently shot down a Turkish military jet fighter, and shot at a rescue plane looking for the downed jet (Reuters, June 26, 2012). In response, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan stated, “Every military element approaching Turkey from the Syrian border and representing a security risk and danger will be assessed as a military threat and will be treated as a military target.”

This incident adds to the growing instability created by the Syrian civil war, which began March 2011 and has killed more than 10,000 people. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed terrorist groups funded by Western nations for the war, and this week he stated, “We live in a real state of war from all angles” (ibid.).

Long ago, the prophet Isaiah predicted, “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1). Jeremiah also prophesied, “Damascus has grown feeble…her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day” (Jeremiah 49:23-27). Syria was punished anciently for siding against the nation of Judah, and modern Syria has done the same.

The civil war has now reached the suburbs of Damascus, and rebels may soon enter the heart of the Syrian capital. As events unfold in Syria, it will be interesting to see how these prophecies will be fulfilled.

For more information on events in the Middle East, request our free booklet The Middle East in Prophecy.

A few moments ago, I spoke with a woman who lives in Turkey and she mentioned that there are still concerns in Turkey related to the downing of one of its military jets.

As far as Syria goes, here are some of the other items in today’s news about it:

Syria Manaf Tlas defection ‘hard blow’ for Assad

‎BBC News – 6 July 2012

Syrian general close to President Assad has defected, delivering “a hard blow for the regime”, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says.

Syria activists: 25 killed as army takes city

‎Fox News – 6 July 2012

Syrian forces killed at least 25 people, arrested scores of others and torched more than 100 homes while seizing a northern city from rebels, activists said Friday. The violence followed the highest level defection yet from the regime of President Bashar Assad and came while the U.S. and others called for new global efforts to push him from power.

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Syria death toll rises as Clinton presses Russia, China

‎Washington Post – 6 July 2012
Anti-regime activists say Syrian forces have killed at least 25 people, arrested scores more and torched dozens of homes while seizing a northern city from rebels.

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Clinton slams Russia, China over Syria‎ CNN 6 July 2012

Paris (CNN) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lambasted Russia and China on Friday for blocking efforts to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose much-reviled regime has endured a serious crack in its armor — the defection of one of its key members.

Speaking at the Friends of Syria conference in Paris, Clinton called on Russia and China to “get off the sidelines” and accused them of “standing up for” al-Assad’s regime. She urged the other 100 or so nations and organizations represented at the summit to “make it clear that Russia and China will pay a price” for that support.

As I have written before, it has long been my belief that Syria is not important enough to Russia and China for them to stand by its President Assad under all circumstances. Mrs. Clinton also seems to realize that, and hopes that international pressures will get Russia and China to understand that they are not going to be able to always support Assad. At some point in time, Bashar al-Assad will realize this as well.

Although Syria’s President does not want to leave, the situation in Syria must change. A larger civil war there is possible. Or an attack against Israel may be his plan. We will see.

What also may happen is a regional war (that somewhat gets out of control and may involve Syria who is becoming a closer Iranian ally at this time) and others (including many based in Lebanon), beyond Iran and Israel is something I have warned could happen for some time now and really could be a factor that ultimately leads to the fulfillment of Daniel 9:27.

“And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:37). Ezekiel 38 is not about to be fulfilled, but other prophecies are getting closer to being fulfilled.

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?
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?
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?