“Then
behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is
the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.” Isaiah 17:14
NKJV
Did
you know that labor pains, or contractions, are more likely to occur at night
rather than during the day? Now don’t ask me why because I am not a doctor, but
I do recall being awakened at night with those memorable words; “it’s
starting”. Anyone familiar with what Jesus taught about the end of the age
understands that He compared what many of us believe is about to occur with the
onset of a woman’s labor pains. If you have followed my thoughts for any length
of time, you probably understand that I believe the next major prophetic event
on Israel’s calendar is the fulfillment of the Destruction of Damascus that we
find in Isaiah 17.
“The
burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it
will be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah
17:1 NKJV
This
past week has seen several events unfold in that region which may, considering
where I believe we are on God’s prophetic calendar, be signs that the onset of
labor is fast approaching. A successful
Israeli air attack on an arms shipment intended for use by the terror
organization Hezbollah was the first event that caught my attention. That was followed by the intercept of a
missile fired at the jets as they left Syrian airspace by Israel’s missile
defense shield. Days later a drone
strike was attributed to the IDF and two more air raids were successfully carried
out within the borders of Syria.
Israel’s ambassador was summoned by Russia to explain these actions and
warned that violations of Syrian airspace would not be tolerated.
One
cannot help but wonder if we are seeing the beginning of an escalation which
will culminate in the events foretold in Isaiah 17. If we consider the times we are living in,
especially the presence of Russia in the Middle East, it would appear the stage
is being set for all that the Word of God tells us will happen before the time
of the end. After all of this, you might
be wondering if I believe that the destruction of the city of Damascus is the
beginning of the actual labor, as opposed to just another sign. Truthfully, I suppose I would have to confess
that for quite some time I have thought exactly that. You see, while there are
many signs for nine months or so that a woman is pregnant, it is the painful
contractions which signal the onset of labor.
So the question we should ask is what event could be the first
contraction?
If
we were to take a poll, I am reasonably sure the vast majority would say that
the attempted Gog, Magog invasion of Ezekiel 38,39 is the conflict which gives
the antichrist his opportunity to assume power, and begin the seventieth week
of Daniel.
“ ‘Thus
says the Lord GOD: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise
in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: “You will say, ‘I will go up
against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell
safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor
gates’—“to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the
waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the
nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the
land.” Ezekiel 38:10-12 NKJV
Although
Gog might have a plan in place, it follows that it would help him immensely if
he were to be given an excuse to exercise it.
As I have studied both the Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38,39 prophecies over
the years it has become my firm belief that the destruction of Damascus by
Israel is the excuse Gog is waiting for to implement his evil plan. So it has been with great interest over the
past few years that I have watched Russia begin to move into the Middle East
and assume a position from which it could easily fulfill what many believe to
be its destiny concerning the future attempted invasion of Israel.
Of
course, what I have found to be truly interesting is that Russia has done this
by choosing to actively support the regime of Bashar Assad of Syria, and also
the terrorist organization Hezbollah.
Why interesting? Since Israel is
foretold to be the instrument of Damascus’ destruction, they would certainly
need a compelling excuse to do so. I
have read on more than one occasion the opinion that the last person anyone
would want to play a game of chess with would be Vladimir Putin. I would certainly agree with that sentiment,
and it is with that in mind that I look at his moves in the region of the Middle
East and especially Syria with great suspicion in regards to the future of
Israel.
Any
conflict with Syria could easily escalate to the point where the fulfillment of
Isaiah 17 could take place. Assad of
Syria and Nasrallah of Hezbollah have made it perfectly clear that they would
like nothing better than to see a world without Israel or the Jewish
people. An attack on the nation of
Israel which threatens their existence would provoke an overwhelming response,
thus putting into motion the evil plan of Gog by giving him the excuse he
needs. I believe too, that when it does
occur (and we know it will), in hindsight it will be seen to be the beginning
of the “labor” we are watching for.
“And it
will come to pass at the same time, when Gog comes against the land of Israel,”
says the Lord GOD, “that My fury will show in My face. “For in My jealousy and
in the fire of My wrath I have spoken: ‘Surely in that day there shall be a
great earthquake in the land of Israel, ‘so that the fish of the sea, the birds
of the heavens, the beasts of the field, all creeping things that creep on the
earth, and all men who are on the face of the earth shall shake at My presence.
The mountains shall be thrown down, the steep places shall fall, and every wall
shall fall to the ground.’ “I will call for a sword against Gog throughout all
My mountains,” says the Lord GOD. “Every man’s sword will be against his
brother. “And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I
will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him,
flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. “Thus I will magnify
Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations.
Then they shall know that I am the LORD.” ’
Ezekiel 38:18-23 NKJV
Only
time will tell if what we are witnessing today is the lead up to the beginning
of the labor pains Jesus taught about, but the one thing I believe all of us
can agree upon is that the end is near.
The violence we are seeing on an almost weekly basis now, the moves
nations are making, the alliances being made and the threats being offered, are
simply too many to be explained away by any other reasoning. We are at the point where the painful
contractions which signal the onset of labor could occur at any time.
Keep
watching.
