Will we be here to witness the destruction of Damascus?

[CINDY S.]

I see differing opinions and wonder if any of you bible
scholars can narrow it down.
It would be such a witnessing tool as I have told several
family members it's in the bible and it's going to happen.

[glorydays]

CINDY,

Welcome! That's a tricky question -- it all come down to whether Zech 11:1-3 is before the rapture or after. I tend to think after myself.

In Zech 10, we see Saddam (pride of Assyria) brought down, Egypt will lose it's sceptre next (can't tell what that would be). Then Israel will "walk up and down in the land" -- which I see as Bush's Israeli-PLO peace covenant. I believe this is the "peace and safety" that 1 Thes 5:3 talks about.

But in Zech 11:1-3 comes the "sudden destruction" of a regional war Israel vs Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. I believe it starts because the maker of the peace and his power (military, economy, will) are thrown into disarray by the rapture. I believe also that Israel will resort to nuking Damascus, the premier "den of thieves" even today!

After Israel wins that war, the AC will step in and "confirm the covenant with many for 7 years," Dan 9:27, which is what we see next in Zech 11 --- that and that he plucks up 3 shepherds within a month of his ascendancy!

Anyway, try that scenario on them.

[dusty]

I think there's differing views because the exact time when it happens is not revealed (for a certainty). It always seemed to me to be something that would happen after the rapture, but I think it could be either way. :)

[Xtreme]

I too have told people about this event... and while I would hate to see a city destroyed, I'm kind of hoping it happens before we're raptured. Why you ask? :eek Well.... this would give me the opportunity to go back to these people and get one more shot at witnessing to them with that as ammunition. Also, I think it would realy get me in high gear as far as the rapture being right around the corner. Now, I realize its imminent, but Damascus getting nuked would be a HUGE red flag!

P.s. I hope when we're raptured we will be transformed instantly and will for all intents and purposes be invisible to those left behind... then we'll look up and see Jesus waiting in the sky as we take flight and soar towards heaven for a reunion of a lifetime! I just thought I'd throw that in. Peace be with you.

:D

[BarbT]

I'm on pins and needles wondering if we'll witness this terrible event in Damascus.

If we are still here for it, I will waste no time going back to my loved ones to confirm what I have been telling them all along!

[ChopinFan]

Originally posted by BarbT
I'm on pins and needles wondering if we'll witness this terrible event in Damascus.

If we are still here for it, I will waste no time going back to my loved ones to confirm what I have been telling them all along!

I have really been thinking about this too. The guy who rules Syria is an absolute lunatic. I don't think it's beyond belief that he would launch a pre-emptive strike on Israel if he felt threatened in any way. ....then Bingo-Isaiah 17 fulfilled before our very eyes. I am leaning ever so slighty to the notion that it will happen prior to the rapture-kinda like one more altar call from God before the trumpet sounds........but that's only speculation on my part. It's very fascinating to me that Christians everywhere are beginning to sense that very same feeling. Yes, I realize that with Syria being on the news, it does put it in the forefront of our minds, but.......

Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets

I'm not saying we're prophets, but it is perfectly within the character of God to warn His people of future events.

[Hootmon]

If Damascus IS destroyed before the Rapture, it would be one heck of a witnessing tool.

It would also shore up my own personal somewhat-shakey-at-time belief.

[glorydays]

guys,

Y'all looking for signs before the rapture -- what about "Egypt's sceptre shall depart away?" I think that clearly comes before the rapture and in perfect order with all our recent events as depicted in Zech 10:11-12:

1) Israel fight back waves of external attacks (sea) from her neighbors up to 1968.

2) "Rivers" of internal erosion, terrorism, "dry up" ending soon.

3) "Pride of Assyria brought down" literally in Saddam!

4) Egypt's "sceptre depart away."

5) Israel walk up and down in the land at the end of the "roadmap for peace!"

Plenty of "Signs of the fig tree and of the trees" as Luke 21:29 puts it. But are you willing to declare them?

[Hootmon]

My point was that Damascus being a smouldering ruin would be hard for ANYONE to ignore. Even unbelievers.

[7Rock]

Originally posted by glorydays
Plenty of "Signs of the fig tree and of the trees" as Luke 21:29 puts it. But are you willing to declare them?

"Look at the fig tree and all the trees"

The fig tree is Israel, right?
What are "and all the trees"?

[MrMannn]

Isaiah: 17 and Amos: 1 talk about this war. Amos goes into more detail. God is angry at Syria for making 3 unjust wars against Israel. The forth war will be disaster for Syria. God states that syria will be utterly destroyed as a nation.

Since 1948, syria has initiated 3 wars against Israel, and even now gears up for a fourth.

I don't know if we will be here or not. I think Syria's fall sets into play a series of events that result in the Gog Magog war.

The only reason I think we will be here is just my opinion. God's timing is his own. If we are privledged to see this terrible prophecy come to pass, start witnessing. We may not have much time left. Tho we should be witnessing now.

[Mailman Dan]

I've heard this question asked before. There's nothing that says if this is a tribulation event or not, but I don't know that it will occur before the rapture.

The logical reason would be, that since the rapture takes places as a suprise, the destruction of Damascus would have been a major wake up call to the sleeping prophetic community. They most certainly would have been watching if Syria had just been blown up.

It'll be a real wake up call in the Arab world though...



Dan~~~>thinks all debate will be ended....soon

[glorydays]

7ROCK,

"All the trees" are all the other nations. We're getting now to the point where coalitions of nations are emerging -- western nations into the white horse, Muslim into the red horse/king of the south, Russia the black horse/king of the north, etc. Also Zech 11:1-3 -- we know that a MidEast peace will include Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. They will break the peace and attack Israel after the peace and AC will jettison them as "shepherds" (Zech 11:8) after he confirms the peace with many for a week/7 years.

This is the kind of thing we are to "watch" for as we pray "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus."