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| Depiction of the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah at the Most Russian Church of St. Petersburg |
It is interesting to note that the current upheaval in Syria, with the turmoil of civil war and the alleged use of chemical weapons, seems to link an interesting connection with the Bible prophecies. Let's start at the beginning...
The city of Damascus was first mentioned in the Book of Genesis, making this prophetic city the oldest city in the world that has been in continual existence [over 5,000 years] since the time of the ancients.
"During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus.". - Genesis 14:15
"But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” - Genesis 15:2
Damascus has never been completely destroyed, even during the siege of the Damascus in 732 BC by Tiglath-Pileser III, who captured the prophetic city, but did not completely destroy it.
"Tiglath-Pileser III accordingly "marched against Damascus, defeated and put king Rezin to death, and besieged the city itself". Leaving part of his army to continue the siege, he advanced, ravaging with fire and sword the provinces east of the Jordan (Nabatea, Moab and Edom), Philistia, and Samaria; and in 732 BC he took the chief Aramean state of Damascus, deporting many of its inhabitants and the Israelite inhabitants of Samaria to Assyria. He also forced tribute from the Arabs of the deserts in the Arabian peninsula." - from Wikipedia.com (Neo-Assyrian Empire)
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| Depiction of Tiglath-Pileser |
Twenty years later, Ahaz (king of Judah), refused to co-operate with the kings of Israel and Syria in opposition to the Assyrians. As a result, the kingdom of Judah was attacked and defeated by Rezin of Damascus and Pekah of Israel. (2 Kings 16:5; 2 Chronicles 28:5–6)
Eventually, Ahaz succumbed to Assyrian rule and sought the assistance of Tiglath-Pileser to help conquer Israel and Syria. Rezin and Pekah were consequently defeated and many of the people of Israel and Syria were carried captive to Assyria. (2 Kings 15:29, 16:9; 1 Chronicles 5:26).
It was during this era of time, the prophet Isaiah made known this particular prophecy:
"The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid. 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. And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean." - Isaiah 17:1-4While it was a tumultuous time during 8th century BC, many scholars believe Isaiah's prophecy was intended for future reference, not during his own lifetime. Other theologians heartily disagree and believe the conquest of Damascus and the concurrent Assyrian reign fulfilled the prophecy.
The prophet Jeremiah lived during the turbulent era of the 7th and 6th centuries BC when the Assyrian Empire began to diminish and the Babylonian Empire made its grand entrance into history. His prophecy about Damascus and the destruction of that city seems to imply that it will occur in the future, as well. (It is interesting to note if the prophecy had been fulfilled during Isaiah's lifetime, then why would Jeremiah expound upon the same prophecy a hundred years later?) In Jeremiah 49:23-27, the prophet predicted the following would occur:
The New Testament makes a reference to Saul of Tarsus (Apostle Paul) and his conversion to Christianity occurring on the 'Road to Damascus'. The Apostle Luke presented Saul of Tarsus as a hateful beast on a rampage against the disciples of the Lord, highlighting his violence and execution, but never really gave any indication of Saul's inner thoughts or motives before, during or after his conversion. However, without this conversion, Saul of Tarsus would have never ceased to be and the Apostle Paul would have not been re-born into Christianity. Some scholars of religion believe Paul's conversion is symbolic of God promising to destroy the city of Damascus just as he had destroyed the rampaging beast known as Saul of Tarsus. Other religious theologians dismiss such a theory as whimsical."Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad."
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| Damascus, Syria |
Regardless of the pros and cons of the fulfillment of the Damascus prophecy, it has been forewarned by the prophets of antiquity that the disappearance of Damascus will be included in a series of horrible events that will take place in the Middle East. The prophet Isaiah provided mankind with the Creator's commentary on a future conflict between Damascus and Israel, while the prophet Jeremiah was chosen [by God] to expound upon this same prophecy.
Damascus, the planet's oldest city, has seen a myriad of mayhem over the course of its' 5,000 year history, but the prophecy of its ultimate destruction will play a major role in the events of mankind's future.
“We don’t know the timing of those verses and passages in Isaiah 17, it could be tomorrow, it could be in 10 years, in 100 years. To say what’s happening now [in Syria] is going to lead to that would be pretty reckless, but I think it’s safe to say what’s happening could lead to that.” ~ Jan Markell, founder and program host at Olive Tree Ministries
Commentary by Joel Rosenberg, American Author and Strategist
For further commentaries on the "Prophecy of Damascus", please visit the following links:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/22237215-418/turmoil-in-syria.html
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