Last week we began looking at the Bible prophesies God gave to the Old Testament prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Amos concerning the destruction of Damascus, Syria. We know that this is a prophecy for the future, because it has never been fulfilled. Damascus is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world. In its 5000-year history, it has never been totally destroyed. And yet these prophecies declare that one day Damascus will cease to exist as a city.
We looked at the Old Testament passages concerning Damascus and saw that this judgment was going to encompass the cities and people in the areas surrounding Damascus as well as the old city itself. We also speculated, based on the few clues that God gives us, that this vast destruction will come about very possibly as a result of a nuclear attack - Israel being the source of this attack.
This morning (I hope you brought your handouts with you) we are going to continue our study of this future event and attempt to answer the questions: Why is this judgment going to come upon Damascus, and what is the world’s reaction to the destruction?
I. Why is this judgment going to come upon Damascus?
So, let’s take a look at question number three from your handouts and the passages of scripture under it, and see if we can figure out why Damascus and the surrounding area will be destroyed.
A. Amos 1:3
For three transgressions of Damascus and for four I will not revoke its punishment, because they threshed Gilead with implements of sharp iron.
The prophet Amos makes it pretty clear that the reason for judgment upon Damascus is that they threshed Gilead with implements of iron. Now, every commentary and scholar I have read agrees that “threshing with iron instruments” is a picture of some kind of war campaign or military action. “Threshing” being the cutting down or laying to waste of an area and/or its inhabitants.
So, in this passage, Damascus is punished for attacking Gilead. (Map 4) Gilead is an area east of the Jordan River between the Sea of Galilee to the north and the Dead Sea to the south.
Though, historically, Gilead belongs to the Jewish people, today it is considered part of the kingdom of Jordan.
I have studied this prophecy from many angles and researched it extensively, but I can’t figure out why Syria would attack it’s fellow Arabic neighbor. Perhaps I’m missing something, or maybe there are some future events yet to take place that would easily explain this passage.
If you notice on Map 4, Gilead is located directly across the Jordan River from the Palestinian controlled West Bank and south of the Israeli occupied Golan Heights. The Golan Heights were once a part of Syria that was annexed and occupied by Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. Syria has always wanted this land back.
Just this week an exclusive from Debkafile , on online international news source, reported that “Syrian military intelligence agents detonated a bomb at the Golan border fence…For three weeks (since the beginning of the Israeli/Hezbollah conflict), Assad (the Syrian president) has been working up to provoking a limited war engagement with Israel.”
Because of the Golan Heights’ close proximity to Gilead and to where fighting is presently taking place, I wonder if maybe the fighting could spill over into Gilead for some reason? Could this be what Amos is referring to, or not? I don’t know, but keep watching the Middle East and see if we don’t soon have our answer. All I can say with any amount of certainty is that one of the reasons God gives for bringing judgment upon Damascus is that they “threshed” or attacked Gilead.
B. Isaiah 17:3-8
But God gives us another more veiled reason for destroying Damascus. It is found hidden in the Isaiah 17 prophecy. And I’ll tell you before we even read it that this is a personal interpretation of the passage and as such you can accept it or reject it. Although I was much surprised to find prophecy scholar, Hal Lindsey, accepts and teaches this interpretation as well. Let’s read Isaiah 17:3-8.
The fortified city will disappear from Ephriam, and sovereignty from Damascus and the remnant from Aram (Syria); they will be like the glory of the sons of Israel,” declares the LORD of hosts. [4] Now in that day the glory of Jacob will fade, and the fatness of his flesh will become lean. [5] It will be even like the reaper gathering the standing grain, as his arm harvests the ears, or it will be like one gleaning ears of grain in the valley of Rephaim. [6] Yet gleanings will be left in it like the shaking of an olive tree, two or three olives on the topmost bough, four or five on the branches of a fruitful tree, declares the LORD, the God of Israel. [7] In that day man will have regard for his Maker and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel. [8] He will not have regard for the altars, the work of his hands, nor will he look to that which his fingers have made, even the Asherim and incense stands.
This passage of scripture is mainly dealing with the nation of Israel and what has happened to them during this time. It changes the focus from Syria to Israel, because God’s judgment upon Damascus is an answer to what they have done to God’s people, the Jews.
1. Verses 3 and 4
Verse three implies that there is some sort of confrontation between the two countries (Israel and Syria), because both of them are mentioned as suffering great damage. It says that “the fortified city will disappear from Ephriam and sovereignty from Damascus”. Ephriam is often used as a term to describe Northern Israel. So, in this verse we see that something has happened to cause the destruction of cities in northern Israel as well as in Damascus. This sounds like a war or military confrontation to me.
Verse 3 goes on to include in the disappearance, the remnant of Aram and the glory of the sons of Israel. Aram, as we said last week, is another name for the Syrian people. So this conflict will bring about the destruction of even the remnant of Syrians as well as taking away glory from Israel. This makes me think that Israel is going to look like the “bad guy” to the world after the outcome of this judgment is fulfilled. Their “glory”, honor, or respect will be gone. Possibly because they were forced to use nuclear weapons against Damascus.
Verse 4, however, is the key verse to explaining the reason why Damascus will be judged. This verse explains what Syria did to Israel that made God so angry. It says, “the glory of Jacob will fade, and the fatness of his flesh will become lean.” Jacob is another name for Israel, and when it is used in Scripture, it often refers to the people of Israel rather than the country or territory.
So, when reading this I asked myself what could make the flesh of the people of Israel become lean? The Amplified Bible says they become “enfeebled”, and the NIV says that they “waste away”. Doesn’t it sound like the people of Israel are sick and weak? What would make them this way?
Now, keep in mind that this prophecy was written over two thousand years ago. Isaiah is describing an event he doesn’t completely understand. He’s using word pictures here to show us what is happening. And I believe he is describing the results of an event that could only happen in our present day.
It seems to me, from the description of Israel’s people becoming sick and weak, that Israel may just be suffering from the effects of chemical or biological weapons.
Now, at first I thought this was just my mind reaching for some sort of explanation, that this wasn’t really what Isaiah meant, but let me read to you something that makes this idea of chemical weapons being used by Syria against Israel look like a great possibility.
In an article entitled “Syria Completes CW Warheads”, posted on January 20, 2004, we read that “Syria has completed chemical warheads for its arsenal of Scud-based missiles. U.S. officials said Syria, with help from North Korea, has succeeded in designing and installing CW warheads for the Scud B, C, and D missiles that can reach distances from 250 to nearly 700 kilometers. The chemical agent deployed in the CW warheads is sarin, regarded as the most toxic of material.”
Sarin is a nerve gas that is odorless, colorless, and can easily mix with water contaminating water and food supplies. In strong doses it can be fatal. In smaller doses it can cause vomiting, muscles spasms, dizziness, erratic heart rates, blurred or pained vision, sweating, and unconsciousness. And this is the stuff that is in the hands of the Syrian government, the same government that has put their armed forces on alert.
If a confrontation were to break out between Israel and Syria, don’t think that Syria would hesitate to use the chemical weapons in their arsenal. I think this is probably one of the reasons why Israel has been so reluctant to strike Syria today even though they are continuing to supply the Hezbollah with weapons. Israel is afraid that Syria may use chemical weapons against them.
Which is what it appears they do, from the Isaiah passage we are reading. This would also explain why Damascus and the surrounding area may be hit with a nuclear bomb from Israel, like we spoke of last week. If Israel is attacked with chemical weapons, they may feel that the only way they can survive is to annihilate the enemy.
2. Verses 5 and 6
Next, we look at verses five and six which have two interpretations. One interpretation is for the nation of Israel and one is for the church. This morning we are going to look at the interpretation of these verses and how they pertain to Israel. In two weeks, we will look at what they are saying about the future of believers in the church.
Verses five and six use similes to show us that even though Israel will suffer greatly from this attack, a remnant will survive. Israel will suffer, but it will not be totally destroyed. Let me explain.
Verse 5 talks about a reaper harvesting grain in the Valley of Rephaim. This valley is in central Israel just south, southwest of Jerusalem. In Biblical times it was the law that the farmer leave the corners of his fields unharvested so that the poor and starving and those who had no other means of support, could come and pick some of the grain to take home to their families (Leviticus 19:9). This grain was in essence a remnant of the entire harvest and was called the gleanings. It was left behind to fulfill a purpose.
Likewise, even though Israel will suffer greatly from the attack of what I believe are chemical weapons, a remnant will be left – the gleanings. Verse 6 continues this idea when it talks about harvesting olives from the olive tree by shaking the tree, or sometimes they would hit it with a stick. Often in the upper most branches, some olives would be left. Not all of the olives would fall to the ground, but gleanings would be left.
The reason we know this is talking about Israel, is that the olive tree is used in scripture as a symbol of the spiritual state of the Jewish people. So, this passage is telling us that a spiritual remnant of Jews will survive.
3. Verses 7 and 8
Verses seven and eight tell us that the Jewish people will finally wake up spiritually as a result of this disaster as well. It says, “In that day man will have regard for his Maker and his eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.” This passage echoes the verse in Zechariah 12:10 that tells that Israel will one day look upon their Savior and recognize Him as the One they had pierced.
II. What is the world’s reaction to what happens to Syria and Damascus?
So, it appears as though there is going to be some kind of battle between Syria and Israel in which Syria will decide to use chemical or biological weapons. As a result of such an attack, Israel will have no choice but to hit Damascus with a nuclear weapon, ensuring the destruction of Damascus and the surrounding area in less than one day’s time.
Then, as a result of this annihilation, what do you think the world’s reaction will be? You can probably guess without even seeing what God has to say, can’t you? Let’s read Isaiah 17:12-13.
A. Isaiah 17:12-13
Alas, the uproar of many peoples who roar like the roaring of the seas, and the rumbling of nations who rush on like the rumbling of mighty waters! [13] The nations rumble on like the rumbling of many waters, but He will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like chaff in the mountains before the wind, or like whirling dust before a gale.
It appears that the nations of the world will react like they have been reacting these past three weeks or so. They will rumble and complain and make a great deal of noise and threatening. Israel will once again be the “bad guy” for daring to defend themselves against people that are trying to wipe them off the face of the map. Doesn’t sound surprising, does it?
What I like about these verses though, is that the Lord isn’t going to stand for it. It says that He will rebuke them for their words and actions against Israel and they will flee. It makes you wonder exactly what He’s going to do or say, doesn’t it? But whatever it is, God is going to get the last word in.
B. Ezekiel 38: 1-12, 15-16
I’ve also included under this question Ezekiel 38:1-12, 15-16. Any of you who have studied Bible prophecy should recognize these verses. Chapter 38 and 39 of Ezekiel describe the battle of Gog and Magog. The reason that I have included this passage here is because I believe that after Damascus is destroyed, the battle of Gog and Magog will be a natural result. The rest of the Arab world, and its allies are going to form a coalition and come against Israel in retaliation of the destruction of Damascus, which is exactly what the battle of Gog and Magog is - a coalition of Russia and Arab nations that come against Israel.
I am not saying this as my own theory. There are many prophecy scholars who agree with this assessment. And Ezekiel 38 and 39 explain how this battle will come about, who is involved, and what will happen. I included on last page of your handouts a map that shows the location of the ancient names used in Ezekiel and their modern day equivalents. You can see that the names of the countries mentioned as coming against Israel in this battle are Russia, Turkey, Iran, Sudan, and Libya. Notice that Syria and Lebanon are not mentioned in this list. Could it be that they were destroyed and are actually one of the reasons for the conflict in the first place?
The Battle of Gog and Magog is what someone has said, “the last jihad.” A Muslim holy war that will end with over 5/6 of the invading force destroyed. In this battle God is going to defend His people with a great earthquake and by turning the approaching nations against each other. It will be the largest death by friendly-fire the world has ever seen. Sounds a bit like Isaiah 17:13 where it says God will “rebuke them and they will flee far away.”
And God says this battle is going to happen so that the world will know that He is Lord. In fact, this message, that God’s purpose is to cause Israel and the other nations to know He is Lord, is repeated over 60 times in the book of Ezekiel.
Keep your eyes focused on the Middle East – particularly Damascus. Remember when it comes to Bible prophecy, you can be certain when God tells us about future events, the certainty of the event happening is 100 percent. Someday Damascus will be leveled, perhaps current events are paving the way.
Now, I’m not claiming to know exactly how these end-time events will play out, but I do know that God’s Word is true. What it declares will happen, of this I am certain. But, the more important issue is knowing The One who declares the end from the beginning! God pre-warned us – out of love - what these last days would be like. As we see prophecy fulfilled with lightening speed before our eyes, it should act as a wake up call.
If you don’t know Jesus, I’m telling you bluntly this morning that you need to. I’m pleading with you to listen to His speaking to you right now. He is coming back for His children sooner than most people think, and many who have hesitated to acknowledge their need of Christ are going to be caught unaware. If you have never made the decision to accept Christ’s sacrifice on the cross then you too will be left behind.
If you want to follow Jesus Christ and be assured of a heavenly home then please come talk to me. I’d love to share with you how you can know for sure where you will spend eternity and welcome you into the family.
