Damascus, Syria in Bible Prophecy

The following article was written by Craig C. White from the High Time To Awake website.

Turkey will destroy Damascus and then invade Israel (Isaiah 17:1).

The U.S. is bombing Syria but Turkey will destroy Damascus!

“President Trump stressed the need to intensify cooperation with Turkey with respect to shared strategic challenges in Syria.”

Jeremiah 49:23-27 describes an invasion into northwestern Syria near the Turkish border. Jeremiah says that after the Syrian towns of Hamah and Arpad hear reports of a coming invasion then the residents of Damascus will flee and Damascus will be destroyed. Today the Syrian town of Apad is called Tell Rifaat.

Jeremiah 49:23 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.

The destruction of Damascus begins at Hamah and Tell Rifaat. The Turkish Army is amassed near Hamah and Tell Rifaat right now (April 2018)!

The city of Damascus, Syria may soon be destroyed as Isaiah 17:1 and Jeremiah 49:24-27 predicts. The destruction of Damascus is the next event to look for on the prophetic calendar. The Turkish led invasion into Syria, the destruction of Damascus, and the following Turkish led invasion into Israel put us on the brink of the Tribulation, and even closer to the Resurrection and Rapture.

Damascus is the capital of Syria and is its second largest city with about 2.6 million people in the metropolitan area. Today Syria is in the midst of a battle for its sovereignty. There is a movement to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. While most Syrians support the more westernized Assad, Al-Qaeda factions supported by Turkey and the Muslim Brotherhood are fighting for control over the nation. Today foreign jihadists are fighting the Syrian Army near the city of Damascus. The Syrian war is basically a war between Shia and Sunni Muslim factions.

Much of the outskirts of Damascus have already suffered major damage but the downtown neighborhood of Old Damascus remains intact. According to Jeremiah the Old Damascus neighborhood must be destroyed. Old Damascus is where the capital of Syria sits. According to Isaiah 17:1 Damascus will be taken away from being a city. Today, fighting in Damascus is on the rise.

World governments are scrambling. Turkey, the UN, EU, and US leadership want Syrian President Assad gone. The CIA has been smuggling weapons to Al-Qaeda  in Syria as well as providing flour and funding. Russia and Iran want Assad to stay. The US is pushing for Middle Eastern led military action. That probably means that the US is willing to support a Turkish led conquest of Syria. The US, UN, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and other world powers are pushing for an escalation of force to oust the Syrian President. In July 2015 NATO gave its approval for the Turkish Army to enter Syria.

Turkey is directly supporting Al-Qaeda rebel groups in Syria. Up until now Turkey had hoped that the rebels would eventually overtake the Syrian Army. The key to victory is to capture of the seat of power in Damascus. However rebel fighters say that they do not have the military might to take Damascus. In July 2015 Turkey deployed 54,000 troops and heavy artillery along the Syrian border. NATO has deployed several Patriot missile batteries as well. The missiles are manned by 400 US soldiers. It looks like foreign military force will be brought to bear eventually.

In Isaiah 17 the city of Damascus is prophesied to be destroyed. Damascus was conquered once already when Assyria invaded Syria and northern Israel in 734 BC. Some Bible teachers say that the destruction of Damascus has already happened and that it is not a future event. However, the Prophet Jeremiah also predicted that Damascus would be destroyed. Jeremiah gave his prophecy one hundred years after Assyria conquered Damascus so the destruction of Damascus is definitely a yet future event. I think that Turkey will destroy Damascus in much the same way that Assyria conquered Damascus in 734 BC. Bible prophecy often represents two similar events usually separated by time. Conditions are ripe for a present day destruction of Damascus.

Isa 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

Jeremiah chapter 49 below suggests that Damascus (metro population 2.6 million) will turn to flee. Today many Syrians have already fled the fighting; seeking refuge in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and other regional countries. There are currently almost 4,000,000 Syrian refugees in surrounding countries. Over nine million Syrians have left their homes. Many Syrians have also taken refuge in Damascus. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have also fled from Damascus as the fighting drew nearer. Attention: High Alert! Bible prophecy is unfolding concerning Damascus.

Jer 49:24-27 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. 25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 26 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. 27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.

Note: In the verse above, Benhadad is the title of several Syrian kings who ruled in Damascus (1 Kings 15:18).

In Jeremiah 49:27 it says that God “will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus”. To “kindle a fire” means that God will send an army to invade Damascus. Turkish troops are lined up along the Syrian border. Tensions are heating up between the Syrian and Turkish Army. I think that God may be sending the Turkish Army against Damascus.

April 2018 update: The Turkish Army has been allowed to enter northwestern Syria unhindered. I estimate that there are more than 100,000 Turkish Army troops along with Turkish supported Free Syrian Army and Al-Qaeda troops in northwestern Syria today.

The Prophet Amos also condemns Damascus. This prophecy was fulfilled when Tiglath-pileser the Assyrian king conquered Damascus in 734 BC and carried the Syrian (Aramean) captives away to Kir, a mountainous region in western Jordan. However, like many Bible prophecies this may also refer to a future event. Today the region of Kir in Jordan is called Kerak. There are about one half million Syrian refugees in Kerak today. This is further evidence that the destruction of Damascus as described in the Bible is imminent. It is also evidence that the God of Israel is the one true God and that we all had better heed his word and we had also better humble ourselves before him while there is still time! In verse 5 the plain of Aven is a valley in the northeast part of Lebanon near the Syrian border. Today it is called the Bekaa valley. It has been suggested that Saddam Hussein hid WMD’s here before the US invasion of Iraq.

Amos 1:3-5 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron: 4 But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad. 5 I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.

Talk of a military conflict between Israel and Syria along with their ally Iran is also on the rise. In Ezekiel chapter 38 a Turkish led invasion into Israel is described. Turkey is joined by Iran, Ethiopia (The original Hebrew word Cush more accurately describes Sudan), and Libya. It may be that shortly after the destruction of Damascus a Middle East invasion into Israel will occur. Every nation that is mentioned in Ezekiel chapter 38 is fighting in Syria today.

In Ezekiel 38:4 below God is talking to the leader of Turkey.

Eze 38:4-5 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

I am convinced that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the modern day fulfillment of Magog the primary ruler of the land of Turkey described in Ezekiel chapter 38. So I expect the battle of Gog and Magog to happen soon! Turkey may destroy Damascus. Turkey may also then lead a Middle Eastern invasion into Israel. It is High Time to Awake and watch!

Ancient Israel and Prophecy

The following article is reprinted with permission from From Text to Tradition: A History of Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism (Ktav).

Prophecy in the Biblical Sense

The authority of the traditions of the Bible in Judaism is founded upon the concept of prophecy. The Bible describes various people as having received direct revelations from God. The revelation to Moses is seen by later tradition as prophecy par excellence.

In the accounts of the patriarchs, we encounter God in relation to man, communicating directly with him. This is not prophecy in the strict sense, however, since the phenomenon of prophecy, in the biblical view, involves the prophet’s having been charged with a message to communicate. It is only with Moses, in the Book of Exodus, that we encounter a prophet who is sent to the people to deliver the word of God.

In other words, prophecy has a social dimension. It is not simply a personal religious experience. God sends Moses to deliver His word to the people. Yet Moses’ prophecy differed from that of the other prophets. First, he is described by the Bible as communicating directly with God, whereas the other prophets see God in a dream or trance. Second, he combines in his person the roles of priest, king, and lawgiver (if we may adopt the Hellenistic characterization) alongside that of prophet.

The History of Prophecy in Ancient Israel

The Bible allows us to trace the history of prophecy in ancient Israel. Not counting Moses, the earliest prophets described in the Bible were seers, charismatic figures who prophesied in a trance, usually induced by the use of music and dance. Often they banded together in guilds and were called "the sons of the prophets."

The guilds were based on the master‑disciple relationship and were intended to pass on a tradition of prophecy. There is no definite evidence that prophets of this kind were in any way involved in the moral and religious ferment of the times. They may have been foretellers of the future.

By the time of the first monarchs, Saul, David, and Solomon, the role of the prophet had begun to change. It seems to have taken on some of the charismatic qualities associated with the judges in the period immediately after the conquest, and simultaneously the kings inherited the political and military aspects of the judge’s role. In the early days of the monarchy, the prophet appears as a religious model in the king’s entourage, deeply involved in the life of the royal court but able, at same time, to castigate the ruler by means of pointed parables.

Other prophets, of lesser importance, may have been attached to the major cultic sites, according to some scholars. By the time of Elijah and Elisha, prophets were found in both the northern and southern kingdoms and were often in conflict with the kings. They had clearly taken on their well‑known role as critics of the Israelite society of the day, but had not yet developed into literary figures.

By the ninth century B.C.E., in both Judah and Israel, the minor prophets (so‑called because of the size of their literary output) were delivering scathing attacks on the two major transgressions of the time, syncretistic worship and the social ills besetting the country. These two issues would occupy the prophets for years to come. They demanded the extirpation of even minimal participation in idolatrous worship, and called for the amelioration of the injustices being perpetrated against the poor, unlanded classes, insisting loudly and clearly that the discharge of cultic duties was of no significance if it was not accompanied by a life of true moral and ethical principles.

Prophetic Literature

The earliest of the twelve minor prophets, whose numbers included such men as Amos and Hosea (eighth century B.C.E.), were the first to leave us written documents of prophetic discourse. They delivered their words in public and apparently recorded them in writing either for their own use or to circulate them more widely.

As the end of the monarchy drew near, and a complex admixture of political and religious issues presented itself, new horizons loomed for the prophets. Isaiah (c. 740-c.700 B.C.E.), Jeremiah (c. 627-c.585), and Ezekiel (593-571) confronted new political realities as well as the growing Mesopotamian influence on Israelite worship. The prophecies of these men are infused with the history of the time in which they lived, for all three of them were intimately involved in the affairs of the day and determined to bring to the people of Israel the messages they believed they had received directly from the God of Israel.

Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel brought to culmination the literary development of prophecy. These three great prophets composed poetry and prose that rank among the most beautiful achievements of Hebrew literature. The profundity, beauty, and lengths of the prophecies attributed to them rendered these men major figures in the eyes of later tradition.

As Judaism developed, the books of the prophets shaped many other aspects of the tradition, most especially the concept of the messianic era, which was rooted in the world of the prophets. Later on, Jewish mysticism took its cue from the prophetic visions of Isaiah and Ezekiel. Prophetic morality and its intimate connections with the ritual life of Judaism also had an enduring effect.

Meaning of the Number "3" in the Bible

The following article was obtained from BibleStudy.org

Meaning of Numbers in the Bible - The Number 3     

The number 3 is used 467 times in the Bible. It pictures completeness, though to a lesser degree than 7. The meaning of this number derives from the fact that it is the first of four spiritually perfect numerals (the others being 7, 10 and 12). The 3 righteous patriarchs before the flood were Abel, Enoch and Noah. After the deluge there was the righteous "fathers" Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (later renamed Israel). There are 27 books in the New Testament, which is 3x3x3, or completeness to the third power. Jesus prayed three times in the Garden of Gethsemane before His arrest. He was placed on the cross at the 3rd hour of the day (9 a.m.) and died at the 9th hour (3 p.m.). There were 3 hours of darkness that covered the land while Jesus was suffering on the cross from the 6th hour to the 9th hour. Three is the number of resurrection. Christ was dead for three full days and three full nights, a total of 72 hours, before being resurrected on Saturday, April 8, just before sunset.

Appearances of the number three

There were only three individuals who witnessed Jesus' transfiguration on Mount Hermon. Those who saw Jesus' glory on the mount were John, Peter and James. The apostle Paul was an exceptionally well educated person. In three different occasions he quotes directly from Greek poets (Acts 17:28, 1 Corinthians 15:33 and Titus 1:12). He also was privileged to visit the location of God's throne, which is in the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2-4). The three words that appear only once in Scripture are Reverend (Psalms 111:9), Eternity (Isaiah 57:15) and Grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). Only three people were allowed to ask God ANYTHING. They were Solomon (1 Kings 3:5), Ahaz (Isaiah 7:11) and, of course, Jesus Christ (Psalm 2:9). The three gifts given to Israel by God were his law, the land of their inheritance, and their calling (the world to come). The Bible only mentions the name of three angels (Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer).

How is the number 3 related to sex sins?

There are three places in the New Testament where sex sins are specially referenced. The first is in Romans 1:20-32, where certain people who reject God are given over to defile themselves in a variety of ways that includes homosexuality (male and female) and overall sexual immorality. The second mention of sex-related sins is in 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, where the apostle Paul must handle the problem of the local church allowing a member to openly commit incest. The third sex issue dealt with in the New Testament is in Revelation 2:19-25. A female who considers herself a prophetess within the Thyatira church, in the spirit of Jezebel, was teaching believers to commit sexual immorality and spiritual adultery.

Three in Prophecy

Next to seven, 3 is the most commonly found or referenced number in Revelation. An angel is charged to cry three woe's to those who live on earth to warn them of more trials to come (Revelation 8:13). The murdered bodies of the Two Witnesses will not be allowed to be buried but rather will lie openly in Jerusalem for three days before they are resurrected. Three unclean spirits will be allowed to deceive the whole world to FIGHT the returning Jesus Christ in what is called the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:13-16). The new Jerusalem, created by God for placement on a new earth, will be shaped like a square with three gates on each side (Revelation 21:13).

Additional info on the Biblical Meaning of 3

God is described, in the very beginning of the book of Revelation, as a Being "which is, and which was, and which is to come" (Revelation 1:4). There are 3 great periods of God's annual Feast days of worship. They are the Spring festivals (Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread), the Summer festival (Pentecost) and the Fall festivals (Feast of Trumpets, Atonement and Feast of Tabernacles).

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The following article was obtained from the website entitled, JesusAlive.cc

Q: What is the significance of the number 3 (three) in the Bible?

A: First off, let me begin by saying that I think we need to be careful about searching for hidden messages, meanings, or codes in certain significant numbers in the Bible. If you put the word "Numerology" in a Google search, what you get for a definition is: "The branch of knowledge that deals with the occult significance of numbers." Hence, "numerology" is associated with such things as the occult, the paranormal, astrology, paganism, divination, and wiccans." But, if we put "Biblical" in front of "numerology" ("Biblical Numerology"), this is then supposed to make searching for the significance of number meanings in the Bible acceptable. Now, I am not saying that there isn't some significance to certain numbers in the Bible, all I am saying is that we should be careful about trying to interpret what these meanings are. Ultimately, I believe God did have reasons for using certain numbers over and over in the Bible, but only He may know the true reasons. Having said this, I do think it is fascinating to see how many times certain key numbers are used over and over in the Bible. In six studies, we will be looking at how six of what I believe are the most key numbers in the Bible are used: 3, 6, 7, 10, 12, 40.

We begin with the number "3." Those who assign meaning to this number generally say that it is one of 4 numbers, along with 7, 10, and 12, that symbolize perfection or completion. It is truly astounding to me how many times this number is used in a significant way in the Bible. I will list 33 here, but there are MANY more.

> There is a triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 Jn 5:7) (Mt 28:19) 

> God is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.

> The Hebrew Bible is divided into three parts: the Torah ("teaching" or "law"), the Nevi'im ("prophets"), and the Ketuvim ("writings").

> Time is divided into the past, present, and future.

> Three sons of Adam are mentioned by name: Abel, Cain, Seth (Gen 4:1-2,25).

> All men are descended from the 3 sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, Japheth (Gen 9:18-19).

> There were 3 patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel.

> Three major feasts were to be celebrated: The Feast Of Unleavened Bread, The Feast Of Weeks (Harvest), The Feast Of Ingathering (Ex 23:14-16) (Ex 34:18-23) (Deut 16:16).

> Three items were contained in the Ark Of The Covenant: A pot of manna, Aaron's rod that had budded, and the 10 Commandments (Heb 9:4) (Ex 16:32-34) (Ex 25:16) (Num 17:4-10).

> Both the Tabernacle and Temple were divided into 3 sections: The Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy Of Holies (Ex 26:33) (Ex 27:9).

> God told Isaiah to walk naked for 3 years as a sign against Egypt and Ethiopia (Isa 20:1-4).

> Three men were in the fiery furnace when a 4th man showed up, who most believe was a pre-incarnate Jesus (Dan 3:23-25).

> Jonah spent 3 days in the belly of the "great fish" (Jon 1:17) (Mt 12:40). When God released Him, he spent 3 days walking across Nineveh warning the people to repent (Jon 3:3).

> Daniel prayed 3 times a day (Dan 6:10.13). Paul was blinded for 3 days by Jesus (Acts 9:9), prayed 3 times for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed (2 Cor 12:7-9), and was stranded on the island of Malta after his shipwreck for 3 months (Acts 28:11).

> Elijah stretched out his body over the widow's dead son 3 times, and he returned to life (1 Kin 17:21-22.)

> Moses was hidden by his mother for 3 months (Ex 2:1,3)(Acts 7:20)(Heb 11:23).

> Three men appeared to Abraham (2 angels and what is believed to be a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus) (Gen Ch. 18).

> The New Jerusalem will be surrounded by a great wall with 3 gates on each of 4 sides (Rev 21:13).

> God brought a famine for 3 years while David was king (2 Sam 21:1).

> God showed Peter in a vision 3 times that Gentiles would now be accepted (Acts 10:9-16).

> Left over meat from a vow or voluntary sacrifice had to be destroyed (burned with fire) on the third day (Lev 7:16-17) (Lev 19:5-7).

> Upon entering the Promised Land, if a fruit tree was planted, its fruit was considered unclean for 3 years (Lev 19:23).

*** Look at how many times the number "3" is associated with important events in Jesus' life on Earth.

> Jesus' earthly ministry was 3 years (See: Q: #180 - Point #4) (Lk 13:6-9: maybe?).

> He was tempted 3 times in the wilderness by Satan (Mt 4:1-11) (Lk 4:1-13).

> He went missing from His parents for 3 days when He was 12 years old (Lk 2:41-50).

> He had an inner circle of 3 men: Peter, James, and John (Mt 17:1) (Mk 9:2) (Lk 9:28) (Mk 5:37) (Lk 8:51) (Mt 23:37) (Mk 14:33).

> The sign over His head on the cross was written in 3 languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (Lk 23:38) (Jn 19:20).

> He was resurrected on the third day (Mt 16:21) (Mk 8:31) (Lk 9:22) (Mt 17:22-23) (Lk 13:32)(Jn 2:19) (Mk 10:33-34) (Mt 27:63) (Lk 24:6-7) (1 Cor 15:3-4).

> He was crucified at the third hour (Roman time) (Mk 15:25).

> He predicted Peter would deny Him 3 times (Mt 26:34) (Mk 14:30) (Lk 22:34) (Jn 13:38). Peter then denied Jesus 3 times (Mt 26:69-75) (Mk 14:66-72) (Lk 22:54-62). Later, Jesus restored Peter by asking him if he loved Him 3 times (Jn 21:15-17).

> He raised 3 people from the dead (Lk 7:11-15) (Lk 8:41-42,49-56) (Jn 11:1-44).

> He prayed to the Father 3 times in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46) (Mk 14:32-42).

> Jesus is: 1. The Way, 2. The Truth, 3. The Life (Jn 14:6).

Who's ? Right: Top Ten Creatures in the Bible

10 The Bee — according to Holy Scripture, Israel is a land flowing with honey (Exodus 3:8). Its dry climate, its rich abundance and variety of aromatic flowers, and its limestone rocks render it particularly adaptable for bees. In the Old Testament, it mentions "a land flowing with milk and honey" thirteen times, which are referenced in the Books of Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. During antiquity, honey was a major article of export (Genesis 43:11; Ezekiel 27:17). Bees are spoken of in the Bible as a term of comparison for "a numerous army relentlessly harassing their enemies". Debôrah, the Hebrew name for bee, was a favorite name for women. The most notable was a prophetess and the fourth Judge of pre-monarchic Israel who was the only female judge mentioned in the Bible. As Deborah prophesied, a battle was fought (led by Barak), and Sisera, who was a commander of the Canaanite army of King Jabin of Hazor (Judges 4-5), was completely defeated. The Biblical account of Deborah ends with the statement that after the battle, there was peace in the land for 40 years. (Judges 5:31). All the different species of bees, known by the names of bombus, nomia, andrena, osmia, megachile, anthophora, are widely spread throughout modern-day Israel.

9 Leviathan — one of the mysterious creatures mentioned in the Bible, scholars and theologians have compared it to a sea monster (referenced in the Books of Job, Psalms and Isaiah), a demon (referenced by St. Thomas Aquinas), a crocodile or hippopotomus (as suggested in Revised Standard Version of the Bible) and a dinosaur (touted by Earth Creationists). Leviathan can also be used as an image of Satan, endangering both God's creatures—by attempting to eat them—and God's creation—by threatening it with upheaval in the waters of Chaos. Peter Binsfeld likewise classified Leviathan as the demon of envy, as one of the seven Princes of Hell corresponding to the seven deadly sins. Leviathan became associated with, and may originally have referred to, the visual motif of the Hellmouth, a monstrous animal into whose mouth the damned disappear at the Last Judgement, found in Anglo-Saxon art from about 800 AD, and later all over Europe. The Leviathan of the Book of Job is a reflection of the older Canaanite Lotan, a primeval monster defeated by the god Hadad. Parallels to the role of Mesopotamian Tiamat defeated by Marduk have long been drawn in comparative mythology, as have been wider comparisons to dragon and world serpent narratives such as Indra slaying Vrtra or Thor slaying Jörmungandr, but Leviathan already figures in the Hebrew Bible as a metaphor for a powerful enemy, notably Babylon (Isaiah 27:1). This particular creature is mentioned six times in the Bible (Job 3:8, Job 40:15–41:26, Amos 9:3, Psalm 74:13–23, Psalm 104:26 and Isaiah 27:1).

8 Behemoth — the description of this animal has long puzzled the biblical commentators. Many of them now agree that it represents the hippopotamus; it might possibly correspond as well to the rhinoceros. This certain beast mentioned in Job 40:15–24 is generally translated as "great beasts". Other theories taken into consideration are identities that range from a mythological creature to an elephant or buffalo. Some Young Earth creationists believe it to be a description of a dinosaur. Metaphorically, the name has come to be used for any extremely large or powerful entity. Since the 17th century AD there have been many attempts to identify Behemoth. The reference to Behemoth's "tail" that "moves like a cedar" presents a problem for most of these readings, since it cannot easily be identified with the tail of any animal. Biologist Michael Bright suggests that the reference to the cedar tree actually refers to the brush-like shape of its branches, which resemble the tails of modern elephants and hippopotamuses. Some have identified the cedar as a Behemoth's penis, since the Hebrew word for "move" can also mean "extend", and the second part of the verse speaks of the sinew around his "stones". The Vulgate seems to endorse such a reading by using the word "testiculorum". Russian-language speakers have used the cognate word бегемот (begemot) to refer to the hippopotamus from third quarter of the 18th century. Even the description of this creature leaves one imagination wide open.

7 Dove — the dove is mentioned in the Bible more often than any other bird (over 50 times); The dove is first spoken of in the record of the flood (Genesis 8:8–12); later on we see that Abraham offered up some in sacrifice, which would indicate that the dove was very early domesticated. In fact several allusions are made to dove-cotes, with their "windows" or latticed openings. But in antiquity as well as now, besides the legions of pigeons that swarm around the villages, there were many more rock-doves, "doves of the valleys", as they are occasionally termed (Ezekiel 7:16; Song of Solomon 2:14; Jeremiah 48:28), that filled the echoes of the mountain gorges with the rustling of their wings. The metallic lustre of their plumage, the swiftness of their flight, their habit of sweeping around in flocks, their plaintive coo, are often alluded to by the different sacred writers. The dark eye of the dove, encircled by a line of bright red skin, is also mentioned; its gentleness and innocence made it the type of trust and love, and, most naturally, its name was one of the most familiar terms of endearment. Jesus spoke of the dove as a symbol of simplicity; the sum of its perfections made it a fitting emblem for the Holy Spirit.

6 Lion — now extinct in Israel and in the surrounding countries, the lion was common there during the BC era. Mentioned in the Scriptures, in one form or another, the lion is alluded to 130 times. It represents the classical symbol of strength, power, courage, dignity, and ferocity. The Lion of Judah is the symbol of the Hebrew tribe of Judah (one of the 12 Tribes of Israel). According to the Torah, the tribe consists of the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob. The association between Judah and the lion, can first be found in the blessing given by Jacob to his son Judah in the Book of Genesis. The Lion of Judah is also mentioned in the Book of Revelation, as a term representing Jesus, according to Christian theology. During the 8th century BC, artwork was commissioned by Solomon in the decoration of the temple and of the king's house. The craft and ferocity of the lion, on the other hand, caused it to be taken as an emblem of Satan (1 Peter 5:8) and of the enemies of the truth (2 Timothy 4:17). In a mythological sense, the roar of a lion is considered as the voice of a Goddess. According to pagan belief, a lion's roar stops you, it is a terror that shakes you up and draws you into something beautiful. When referring to the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth, a favorite saying is that the lion will lay down with the lamb; however, there are no biblical passages that refer to the lamb and the lion lying down together. Isaiah 11:6 states, "And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead them."

5 Dragon — the word “dragon” appears 21 times in the Old Testament (King James Version). The Psalmist jubilantly declared, “Praise the LORD from the earth, you dragons, and all deeps:” (Psalm 148:7). The author of the book of Revelation repeatedly makes mention of the dragon, by which he means "the old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world" (Revelation 12:9). According to the ancients, the dragon represented a monstrous winged serpent with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious creature. Modern Bible translators, who were dubious about having dragons (which they believed to be mythical) in the Bible, prefer the jackal interpretation. The Hebrew word for jackal is “tan” and the plural is “tanim.” So there is a similarity. Ezekiel 32:3 talks about netting a dragon and subsequently hauling it up onto the land. Ezekiel 29:3 refers to inserting hooks into the dragon’s jaws to draw it into the open field where the carnivorous animals would feed on its carcass. Another translation infers it is the name of some unknown creature inhabiting desert places and ruins (Job 30:29; Psalms 44:19; Isaiah 13:22; 34:13; 43:20; Jeremiah 10:22; Micah 1:8; Malachi 1:3). In the New Testament the word "dragon" is found only in Revelation 12:3-4; 12:7; 12:9; 12:16-17, and is used metaphorically to describe "Satan."

4 Lamb — this creature is typically featured as a sacrificial animal throughout the bible. To the Jews the lamb is called the "Paschal Lamb" during Passover: the ewe was both a commemoration of the deliverance from the bondage in Egypt, and a prophetic figure that would be sacrificed to free His people from their slavery to sin and death.  In Christianity, the lamb represents Jesus Christ, as both suffering (crucifixion) and triumphant (resurrection), and referred to as the "Lamb of God". This particular name, "Lamb of God", is mentioned 31 times in Bible: twice in the Old Testament/Torah and 29 times in the New Testament (with 27 of those listed in the book of Revelation). The Jewish Passover sacrifice (Paschal Lamb) was mandated for Jews and Samaritans to ritually slaughter a lamb on the eve of Passover, and eat on the first night of the holiday with bitter herbs and matzo. The Christian religion believes the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus represents a new Passover, and therefore He is the Lamb [of God] for the new Passover (John 1:29). In the King James version [of the Bible] the word - 'lambs' appears 81 times; the word - 'lamb' appears 105 times; and, the word - Lamb's appears twice. It is interesting to note that lambs eventually grow up to be sheep and the word 'sheep' appears 187 times in the Bible, more than any other creature throughout the holy scriptures. 

3 Unicorn  — a biblical creature that is mentioned only nine times in the Old Testament/Tanakh books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Job, Psalm and Isaiah. Most modern readers have trouble with the definition of a unicorn as the word infers something mythological. Yet, a single-horned feature is not uncommon for the Creator's animal design (such as the rhinoceros and narwhal). The Bible/Tanakh describes unicorns skipping like calves (Psalms 29:6), travelling like bullocks, and bleeding when they die (Isaiah 34:7). According to archaeologists associated with the Assyrian period, the biblical unicorn could have possibly been the auroch (a wild ox known to the Assyrians as "rimu"). The aurochs horns were symmetrical and often appeared as one horn in profile. Fighting rimu was a popular sport for Assyrian kings during antiquity. Tiglath-Pileser I (who ruled during the 11th century BC) boasted of slaying the auroch in the Lebanese mountains. Whether this creature had one horn or two horns, the Bible describes it as an animal of great ferocity and strength, as well as untamable. And it definitely was not the mythological horse, with a single horn sticking out of its head, that authors and artists brought to life through their literary writings and artwork.

2 Ass (Donkey) — the word "ass" in scripture refers to the donkey, and appears approximately 87 times in the King James Bible. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke relate a story of Mary riding upon an ass during the journey to Bethlehem and Egypt, but the top tale about a donkey appears in Numbers 22:21-38. The story begins with Balaam leaving with the princes of Moab, which made the Creator angry. He sent an angel to block his way, but Balaam did not see him. However, his ass did. Three times the donkey stepped aside from the angel and each time the animal was disciplined and rebuked by Balaam. The angel opens the animal's mouth and the words flowed out in reprimand of her master, as well as questioning Balaam's loyalty... Upon the third time of striking his faithful animal, the angel of the Lord made himself known to Balaam, charging him “Why have you struck your ass these three times?" And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, “I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me." Balaam's attention was now held in fear, for he knew he had angered the Creator. Then the Angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but only the word that I speak to you, that you shall speak.” (Numbers 22:32-35).  So Balaam went with the princes of Moab and did as the angel bidded him to do. Surely the relationship between man and beast was forever changed after such a celestial episode, as well as Balaam learning the Creator sees, hears and knows all.

1 Serpent — is commonly associated with a snake, especially in the Garden of Eden narrative. Many scholars claim the snake originally had legs before the "fall of man", but when looking at Genesis 3:13–15, there is no direct indication that the serpent had legs, only that its curse would be “on your belly you shall go.” In Deuteronomy 32:33, it speaks of a snake's deadly venom and in the book of Job it declares the wicked as sucking the venom of péthén, in punishment whereof the food he takes shall be turned within him into the gall of this poisonous reptile (Job 20:14 & 16). The viper is almost always portrayed as a loathsome creature, directly associated with poison and craftiness. Snakes show up in various verses throughout the Bible: in Pharoah's court (Exodus 7:12), in the wilderness (Numbers 21:7), on the island of Malta (Acts 28:3) and, according to the revelation of Jesus, the serpent was thrown down to earth, along with his angels (Revelation 12:9). As amoral creatures, snakes are not "evil" [in themselves], but the viper can be used as a handy metaphor for evil in many passages scattered throughout the Hebrew and Christian Bibles. Jesus was quoted as saying, He had come to save us all from the serpent’s bite: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him” (John 3:14–15; cf. Numbers 21:6–9). This is a direct reference that Jesus will one day return and save mankind from the serpent's bite. The serpent (snake) gets plenty of attention in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and is mentioned over 80 times in the Christian Bible.

Islamic Apocalypse: 6 Things You Should Know

The following article was obtained from the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies and written by Warren Larson.

Islamic Apocalypse: 6 Things You Should Know 

1. Geography matters

An ancient prophecy quotes Muhammad as saying Dabiq (near Aleppo in Syria) will be where Islam defeats Christendom (Sahih-Muslim, Vol. 4, Ch. 41, 1501). Yet, only within the last year has ISIS linked that prophecy to its territorial ambitions, and even launched a digital publication under that name. This monthly magazine, filled with images of blood and gore, is a major means of recruitment. Though most Muslims reject such claims, the apocalyptic emphasis in Islam is only second in importance to tawhid (monotheism).

2. There Will be Signs and Wonders

Several Qur’anic verses describe the dramatic events leading up to “The Day”: “When the sun is folded up; when the stars fall, losing their luster" (81:1-2); “When the oceans are suffered to burst forth; and when the graves are turned upside down” (82:3-4); “What is the day of noise and clamor? … It is a day whereon men will be like moths scattered about and the mountains like carded wool” (56:4-6).

One Islamic website is entitled, “50 Signs of the Day of Judgment From the Words of Allah and His Messenger,” whereas a tradition mentions ten signs (Al-Muslim, Vol. 4, 1503f):

Thereupon he [Muhammad] said: “It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made mention of the smoke, Dajal [Anti-Christ], the beast, the rising of the sun from the west, the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and land-slidings in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.

3. There Will be Moral Decay

Moral conditions at that time will be at an all-time low: “Narrated Anas Allah’s Apostle said, ‘From among the portents of the Hour are the following: Religious knowledge will be taken away by the death of religious learned men; Religious ignorance will prevail; Drinking of Alcoholic drinks will be very common; There will be prevalence of open illegal sexual intercourse’” (Al-Muslim, Vol. 4, 1503-1504).  And, “Women will increase in number and men will decrease in number so much so that fifty women will be looked after by one man  (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 1, 68).  It is also said that musical instruments will precipitate much of the moral decay.

4. It Will be Terrifying

This is only one of many traditions describing the prevailing terror (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, 354).

Narrated Abu Huraira, Allah’s Apostle said: “The people will sweat so profusely on the Day of Resurrection that their sweat will sink seventy cubits deep into the earth, and it will rise up till it reaches the people’s mouths and ears.”

If this isn’t bad enough, the most terrible moment will be when each person is handed a book of deeds done on earth, and these are then weighed upon a scale. The final obstacle is a bridge to be crossed–for al-Ghazali–the most frightful of all.  He referred to it as “The Traverse,” for it stretched over hell and was “sharper than a sword and thinner than a hair.”  The saved would cross over and enter the gates of paradise but the damned would slip off and be caught by the “angels of hell with their hooks and grapples.” (Al-Ghazzali: The Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife,  205-206).

5. Hellfire and Brimstone

Some Qur’anic verses seem to suggest no one will escape hell: “And for this did He create them: and the Word of thy Lord shall be fulfilled: “I will fill hell with jinns [spirits] and men all together” (11:119). And, “Not one of you but will pass over it; this is with thy Lord, a decree which must be accomplished”(19:71). Moreover, the  Hadith describes the extent to which people will suffer (Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 8, 368-369):

Narrated An-Nu man bin Bashir: “I heard the Prophet saying, ‘The least punished person of the hell fire on the Day of Resurrection will be a man under whose arch of the feet two smouldering embers will be placed, because of which his brain will boil just like Al-Mirajal (copper vessel) is boiling with water.”

6. Jesus has A Key Role

Muslim theologians often consider the return of Jesus to be the most significant event at that time (connected with eight of the fifty signs referred to above). When he returns he will slay the false Messiah (Anti-Christ, or dajjal), and establish peace and righteousness on earth. Qur’anic commentators usually link the this verse to Jesus: “And on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them” (Qur’an, 4:159).

Al-Bukhari  adds several other actions of Jesus (Vol. 3, 233-234).

Narrated Abu Huraira, Allah’s Apostle said, “By Him in whose hands my soul is, son of Mary, Jesus will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims) as a just ruler and will break the cross and kill the pig and abolish the Jizya” (tax taken from the non-Muslims under the protection of the Muslim government).

For most Muslims, death and the grave speak of fear and uncertainty, whereas the Bible gives Christians ample assurance they can face the Judgment with confidence and hope. For example, “But we know that when he appears, we shall see him as he is.  Everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as he is pure” (I John 3:2-3). We must, therefore, lovingly tell our Muslim friends that faith in Jesus as the crucified, risen and coming Messiah makes all the difference in this world–and the world to come.

Ishmael and Isaac: The Sons of Abraham

Abraham, originally known as Abram, is the common patriarch of the three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam. In Judaism he is considered the founding father of the Covenant [or the special relationship between the Jewish people and God]; in Christianity, he is the prevalent prototype of all believers, Jewish or Gentile; and in Islam he is seen as a prevailing link in the chain of prophets that begins with Adam and culminates in Muhammad.  

When God changed a person's name and gave him a new name, it was usually to establish a new identity. God changed the name Abram [meaning "high father"] to “Abraham,” [meaning "father of a multitude"] (Genesis 17:5) and his wife's name from “Sarai,” [meaning “my princess,”] to “Sarah,” [meaning “mother of nations”] (Genesis 17:15–16).

According to the Jews, Christians, and Muslims, Ishmael was the firstborn son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaiden, Hagar. (Genesis 16:3-4). Most know the story of how Sarah grew impatient to bare the 'promised child' in her old age and insisted that Abraham take her Egyptian slave as a concubine to fulfill the Creator's promise to make Abraham a father of a great multitude. From the seed of this union would rise the modern Muslim nations.

In the Genesis account of the story:

"Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?" ~ Genesis 18:18

In the Qur'an, it states: 

"And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands, which he fulfilled: He said: "I will make thee an Imam to the Nations." He pleaded: "And also (Imams) from my offspring!" He answered: "But My Promise is not within the reach of evil-doers." (Surah Al-Baqara, 124)

The Book of Genesis and Islamic traditions consider Ishmael to be the ancestor of the Ishmaelites and patriarch of Qaydār. This is where the similarities stop between the Muslim, Jewish and Christian factions. According to Muslim tradition, many Islamic scholars portend the ancient Jews rewrote the holy scriptures of the Torah to state Isaac was the 'chosen' lineage to seal the Covenant with God, instead of Ishmael. Islam believes the Covenant was established exclusively with Ishmael, by way of his birthright as being the oldest son. 

In Judaism and Christianity, they disagree with the Islamic concept. They believe the sanctioned promise was given to Abraham and his wife, Sarah. In this aspect, Isaac also becomes a 'firstborn son'. From the seed of this union rose the modern Jewish nation. 

It is recorded in Genesis 17:19, the Covenant was established with Issac (Sarah's son), not Ishmael. But Abraham's oldest child was not forgotten by the Creator. In Genesis 17:20, God promised to make a great nation from Ishmael (Hagar's son) through 12 sons of his own. These sons, known as the 12 Tribes of Ishmael, include: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Another argument concerning the Ishmael and Issac debate is the "sacrifice of Abraham's son". While the Jews contend that Isaac was the one offered up for sacrifice by Abraham, the Muslims argue that it was Ishmael. 

The Encyclopedia Judaica, Volume 9, under the heading "Ishmael", describes:

"It is related that a renowned traditionalist of Jewish origin of the Qurayza tribe, and other Jewish scholars that converted to Islam, told Caliph Omar Abd al-Azizi (717-20) the Jews were well informed that Ishmael was the one bound for sacrifice, but they [the Jews] concealed this fact out of jealousy."

The strongest case for Ishmael is in the Qur'an, which decrees that directly after the sacrifice narrative, Abraham is told of the coming of Isaac's birth; therefore, it must be Ishmael who was about to be sacrificed if Isaac had not yet been born.

Since its beginnings Islam’s finest scholars have debated which son Abraham was commanded to sacrifice, yet both Judaism and Christianity host no such discussion. The reason for this is simple, the Torah names Isaac multiple times, while the Qur'an keeps the boy’s identity a secret. In the absence of a name Muslim scholars sought answers from those who walked with Muhammad. Incredibly, 38 of the companions of Muhammad confirm the Jewish narrative and are recorded as saying it was Isaac, not Ishmael, who became the sacrifice. 

In the Torah (Genesis 22:1–18)

"After these events, God tested Abraham. “Abraham!” He said. “Yes?”, “Take your son, your only one, whom you love – Isaac, and go away to the Moriah area. Bring him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I will designate to you”.

In the Quran (Suwar 39:99-113)

"And [then] he said, “Indeed, I will go to [where I am ordered by] my Lord; He will guide me. My Lord, grant me [a child] from among the righteous”. So We gave him good tidings of a forbearing boy. And when he reached with him [the age of] exertion, he said, “O my son, indeed I have seen in a dream that I [must] sacrifice you, so see what you think.”

So which view is authentic? Proving one opinion over the other is not as important as both views having a legitimate stance in both Jewish and Islamic traditions. And, modern Jews, Christians and Muslims may never come to terms with or agree upon the actual sacrifice and who was offered up to the Lord for a Covenant with their people. 

The only accepted and common narrative in the sacrifice story is that child sacrifice, which was a common practice during antiquity, was not an appropriate form of worshiping the Creator. Both the Jews and Muslims can agree on this.

Another thing Judaism and Christianity can agree upon is that both Ishmael and Isaac came to their father (Abraham) in his old age, right before his death. They stood united as brothers as they buried their father in the Cave of the Patriarchs [in modern-day Hebron, Palestine] (Genesis 25:8-9). For a moment in time, they presented one of the most fascinating stories of unity in the entire Bible/Tanakh.

Ishmael and his mother, Hagar, are said to be buried next to the Kaaba in Mecca (Saudi Arabia). According to the Genesis account, Ishmael died at the age of 137 (Genesis 25:17).

According to tradition, Isaac was buried in the Cave of the Patriarchs [in Canaan, present-day Hebron] at the age of 180. (Genesis 35:28-29)


Related Stories:

Abraham Sacrifices His Son
Chayei Sarah (5769) – On Judaism and Islam