Hey friends, let’s get back to our “signs of the times” discussion, and focus on Syria.  For a couple years now we have heard disturbing news of civil war out of Syria.  But what does it all mean?  Does it really matter?

Though I don’t pretend to understand the meaning of all the news out of Syria, I do want to share some tidbits that help us not only begin to understand, but also encourages us to put things into perspective, according to God’s Word!  And rest assured…what happens in Syria really does matter!

Let’s start with a basic fact about the Middle East:  for the most part, problems there are much more spiritually driven than politically driven.  It is very important to understand that, and to keep it in mind as we try to make sense of what goes on there.  It is also helpful to keep that in mind when evaluating America’s response to things in the Middle East, and even to discern what political candidates to vote for at election time. (Those who fail to understand the spiritual element of the Middle East conflict will not be able to form effective foreign policy to stop it.)

There is a battle within a battle in the Middle East.  The battle we see and perhaps understand a bit more is the battle which generally pits Arabs vs Israel.  Indeed it exists.  However, to more fully understand the Middle East conflict, we must know that there is also a Sunni Muslim vs Shia Muslim battle that has raged for centuries.  Sunnis and Shi’ites consider one another infidels and have been killing each other over their differences since the death of Mohammad.  (Qu’ran: The Islamic Holy Book, Is Islam a House Divided?)

With that as our backdrop, let’s turn our sites toward Syria.  Roughly 700 years before Christ, the prophet Isaiah predicted that Syria’s capital, Damascus, will be removed from being a city, and will become a fallen ruin.  (Isaiah 17:1)  Though Damascus has been overrun at times, never in the 2700 years following that prophecy has Damascus ceased from being a city.  In fact, it is one of the longest continually inhabited cities in the world.  The prophecy is awaiting fulfillment, but Damascus today may be teetering on the brink of collapse, as the two sides seek to annihilate each other.  Today’s headlines describe a civil war marked with the use of chemical weapons and atrocious brutality.

Hebrews 1:1 clearly tells us that God spoke through the prophets long ago.  So why would God speak a prophecy of destruction upon Damascus?  God has nothing against the people of Damascus.  On the contrary, I believe He loves the people of Damascus and wishes to save them for eternity.  But God is also a just and righteous God who is jealous for His own.  Thus, He will bring judgment upon the leadership of those who seek to do Israel harm.  So, we will examine Syria’s history in relation to Israel.

The Jewish state was reborn on May 14, 1948, and the very next day, Syria joined at least 4 other Arab nations in attacking Israel.  From the beginning, Syria and others violently resisted her existence.  Israel miraculously survived, but Syria occupied the Golan Heights and incessantly rained down bombs into Jewish towns and villages during the mid-1960’s.  By 1967 they had amassed 40,000 troops and over 250 tanks on the Golan Heights and Israel was again facing destruction.  With their own troops massed in the Sinai, protecting the southern border, Israel launched a surprise attack on Syria and Egypt, destroying virtually their entire air forces in six days.

Yet, Syria remained determined to destroy the tiny Jewish state, so on Yom Kippur (Israel’s holiest day) 1973, Syria attacked.  Caught totally off-guard, and again severely out-manned, Israel once again faced elimination.  At the Prime Minister’s plea, the US airlifted supplies and munitions to Israel and, again, the Jewish state was miraculously victorious.

Relatively peaceful years followed, until 2007.  That year, Israel launched their most highly-sophisticated satellite ever, and it made a very significant discovery: with North Korea’s help, Syria was building a nuclear reactor.  Israeli intelligence was immediately supplied to the US, who hesitated in favor of “more proof.”  So, Israeli commandos went secretly to the reactor site, gathered soil samples and….BINGO!  Tests confirmed that the soil was radioactive.  Still, the US made no move to assist its ally, so Israel alone sent F-15’s in to take out the nuclear reactor.

Syria now finds itself facing possible implosion.  I am reminded of God’s message to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12:3:  I will bless those who bless you [Israel], and the one who curses you I will curse.  Syria has cursed Israel since her re-birth.  But why?

While it is true that an Israeli-Arab conflict exists, remember that the problems are more spiritually driven than politically driven.  Recall the battle-within-the-battle?  It applies here!  The Assad regime in Syria is Shi’ite Muslim, which means they have the backing of Iran and radical Shi’ites.  They also have the backing of Russia, though not for spiritual reasons.  Russia is all about oil and gas, and they don’t want to lose their “position” in the oil-rich Middle East.  But, they are deeply in cahoots with Iran (due to the oil supply there), and Syria is a pawn for both Russia and Iran.  On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is a staunch enemy of Iran…which makes them an enemy of Syria.  Iran wants to establish a worldwide Shia caliphate, while Saudi Arabia purposes to create a worldwide Sunni caliphate.

So, if Assad’s regime survives the onslaught of ISIS, then Russia and Iran have a paved highway through Syria to march into Israel in what Ezekiel 38-39 describes as a northern invasion.  (Russia will likely be after Israeli oil and gas.)  If ISIS is successful in driving out the Assad regime and establishing Sharia law under the Sunni flag, then ISIS takes over Syria and establishes strong terror cells at Israel’s doorstep!  Russia will never stand for that, and thus I suspect they would ultimately make a move against ISIS.  It almost certainly won’t be as simple as that, but my point is this:  The Bible tells us that Damascus will be destroyed.  Regardless of which way it falls, the destruction of Damascus seems to be the linchpin of end times prophecy.  The destruction of Damascus may be the first domino to fall, leading to the northern invasion.

Of course only God knows the course and timing of history, and He will direct it all.  But, as I read today’s news in light of Bible prophecy, I see that the day of the Lord is drawing near.  Birth pangs are happening, and the contractions are closer together and more intense than at any time in history.  Tribulation is coming, friends, but we have the confidence that our Blessed Hope will return to rescue His followers from the wrath that is to come!