The Coming Destruction of Damascus

The Prophecy of Isaiah 17

By Tani Shrabel

Originally published in the January-February edition of Endtime magazine.

 

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June 28, 2006, in Syria just before dawn, a deafening explosion pierced the silence. President Bashar al-Assad, heart pounding, jolted awake. While the windows were still rattling from the concussion the doors to his sleeping chamber crashed open. His personal guards grabbed him by the arms and whisked him toward the Palace safe room just as he heard the loud buzz of jet fighters on approach and another ear-piercing boom. Gripped with fear Assad asked, “Are we under attack?” One guard said, “Sir, we are communicating with intelligence right now. They think it’s the Israeli’s.”

 

Sometime later Assad learned that Israeli fighters crossed the Syrian border in retaliation to rockets fired from Gaza on Israel. The sonic booms caused by the Israeli fly-over were a warning to Damascus officials, “Stop supporting Iran sponsored Hamas terror attacks against Israel; we can and will enter your airspace anytime we deem it necessary.” This unofficial dramatization emphasizes the surprise tactic Israel used to deliver a message but should it become necessary in the future, she has proved quite capable of delivering more.

 

Israel has scrutinized Damascus for years because of her political ties. Iranian leaders have acknowledged Damascus importance to their agenda since she is Syria’s seat of political power. Senior Advisor of the Iranian Supreme Leader for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati said, “The chain of resistance against Israel by Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, the new Iraqi government and Hamas passes through the Syrian highway (Damascus).” He added, “Syria is the golden ring of the chain of resistance against Israel.”

 

It’s only a matter of time before this Syrian highway of terror must be shut down. There is a prophecy in the Bible that says the city of Damascus will be destroyed never to recover? The main question is when?

 

The Prophecy

It’s in Isaiah 17 verse 1: “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” 

 

Damascus will cease to be a city. So, obviously, this destruction is reserved for sometime in the future since Damascus has been continuously inhabited for over four thousand years and remains as Syria’s largest most strategic city.

 

When will this destruction take place?

We will examine three possibilities. First Syria’s current crisis, second the fast approaching prophesied war that will kill 2 billion people, and finally the Battle of Armageddon where Jesus Christ returns to set up His kingdom.

 

Will her demise be a result of the present turmoil in Syria?

Damascus has recently been the center of media attention for her role in using deadly force to squelch anti-government protests. Many world leaders want to see the current Syrian government headquartered in Damascus dismantled, even more so in light of her importance to Iran’s anti-Israel agenda. “Analysts say the collapse of Syria’s government would be a blow to Iran as Damascus is the Islamic state’s most important bridge to the Arab world.”

 

Also John Hannah, a Foundation for Defense of Democracies fellow and national security adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney, declared The Syrian crisis must be viewed first and foremost as an opportunity to weaken Iran. His exact words were, “This opportunity to take down this anti-Israeli, anti-US dictator (Assad) who is Iran’s sole Arab ally and has extended its tentacles into Lebanon and Gaza is absolutely imperative,” Hannah said. “It needs to be seen not just as a humanitarian crisis, but an opportunity to weaken the Iranian regime.” Could this present crisis lead to the destruction of Damascus?

 

Will the prophesied Euphrates River War end Damascus forever?

Revelation 9:13-15 says,

And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

World War II killed 52 million and was the largest war in human history. Unfortunately, this Euphrates River war will kill 40 times more people, around 2 billion. It is fast approaching and will be immensely devastating.

Also as you can see from verse 14 this war will emanate from the Euphrates River and part of that river runs right through Syria. Could this war end Damascus forever?

 

Will Damascus receive judgment at Armageddon?

Revelation 16:12-16 says,

And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty… And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Now, for the first time in history the Euphrates River can be dried up on demand. In 1990 it was actually shut off for one month to fill the reservoir of the newly built Atatürk Dam in Turkey.

 

The kings of the east will come across the Euphrates and gather in Armageddon.  The word Armageddon comes from two words, Har Megiddo or hill of Megiddo. The city of Megiddo is up on a hill overlooking the plane of Megiddo.

 

Ezekiel chapter 38 says Meshech, the original word for Moscow, will participate in the battle. This means Russia will be at Armageddon. The most direct route for Russia is right through Damascus. Historically the most direct route to Megiddo from any direction has always been through Damascus.

 

Historic road traveled for thousands of years

The main route southward into Israel historically followed the international highway, which led from the Mesopotamian Euphrates River through Damascus to Megiddo (Armageddon). From there it was easy access to Jerusalem.

 

Even armies from the east such as Persia (Iran) and Assyria (Iraq), would use this route since the northern and central deserts of Arabia were so inhospitable, they would travel up the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys, west to Damascus then south to Megiddo.

 

Today the best and only road from the Euphrates to Megiddo is through Damascus as it has been for thousands of years. The armies on their way to Megiddo (Armageddon) will travel through Damascus. Could she be destroyed as a military tactic to stop the armies from approaching?

 

Why will Damascus be destroyed?

Isaiah 17:10-14 says,

Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength… therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants… [but] the harvest [shall be] a heap in the day  of grief and of desperate  sorrow. Woe to the multitude of many people, [which] make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, [that] make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but [God] shall rebuke them… And behold at eveningtide trouble; and before the morning he is not. This is the portion of them that spoil us, and the lot of them that rob us.

Damascus was one of the first regions to receive Christianity during the ministry of Apostle Paul. There were more Christians in Damascus than anywhere else in the world at that time. How sad she has forgotten her savior and become the main highway of terror in the resistance against Israel. Verse 11 says because she sowed evil thinking it was good, (evil schemes against Israel) she will harvest destruction and become a heap of ruins.

 

After Damascus becomes a heap of destruction verse 12 says the nations will rush against Israel and God will rebuke them. This is exactly the same scenario as the Battle of Armageddon. Verse 14 says in the evening the trouble will begin and before the next morning those who opposed Israel will be no more including Damascus. We don’t know for sure but maybe Israel will destroy Damascus to try and stop the invasion of Israel. For whatever reason Damascus will be destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon.

 

Who will Damascus belong to during the millennium?

Finally the best proof that Damascus will be destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon comes when we examine what happens to her survivors.

 

Isaiah 17:3 says, “The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.”

 

The word ‘glory’ here means honor splendor and abundance. So immediately after Damascus’ kingdom is taken away and she is destroyed, Syria’s remnant will enjoy equal abundance with the children of Israel.

 

What is Israel’s inheritance that she will share with Syria? It’s the Promised Land. God promised Abraham in Genesis 15:18: “Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

 

Borders of the Promised Land

Ezekiel prophesied what the borders of the Promised Land would be during the millennium.

 

Ezekiel 47:13-21 describes the borders of the Promised Land. It says from the Great Sea (the Mediterranean) to Hauran in the north, which was on the border of the Euphrates River. Then it describes the eastern border, which will extend from the Euphrates all the way down through part of Jordan to the waters of strife in Kadesh in the south. This is the river of Egypt and then back to the Mediterranean.

 

These borders include Damascus and all of Syria. These are the exact same borders that are mentioned in Genesis 15. Israel will be given back all of her promised inheritance and the remnant of Syria will share in that inheritance. Damascus has always been part of the Promised Land and will one day be owned by Israel again.

 

Even though Syria’s current crisis and the coming Euphrates River war have reasons that could warrant the destruction of Damascus. As the scriptures have shown us she will be destroyed at the Battle of Armageddon and be a ruinous heap forever as a symbol to all who pass through the Promised Land that God keeps all of His promises.