Middle-Eastern Politics
Middle-eastern politics at the best of times can be complicated and understanding the overall picture of what is happening is a very daunting task. No one can see it all. Yet as we see the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus drawing nearer and continue to read and study our Bibles we will also start to see more clearly what will happen to the nations mentioned by name in Bible prophecy in relation to Israel.
God is the God of History and says; “For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10)
The Bible tells us what will happen in the last days leading up to and including the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah and gives us the bigger picture and some insight into God’s overall plan to bring the nations into complete and utter subjection to His rule through the Messiah. There is no doubt that the major flashpoint for Israel right now is the Golan Heights. Israel’s security depends on who controls this small but strategic strip of real estate. Since 1967 Israeli forces have occupied it and continue to do so. It seems that the forces gathering on Israel’s Northern border is the crisis Israel faces. In Syria you have an Iranian, Turkish, Syrian, Russian and American military presence each with their own agenda including the matter of who controls the Golan Heights. Added to this you have Lebanon controlled by Hezbollah.
A looming crisis
Prime Minister Netanyahu is faced with a looming crisis. He also has to consider how to deal with Hamas in Gaza that are now sending more rockets than ever into Israel. Also he has to deal with many of the militant ‘Palestinian’ Arabs causing problems in Northern, Central and Southern Jordan. Why are the nations gathering in Syria? It seems the nations mentioned in Bible Prophecy that will attack Israel in the last days are gathering their forces to do this and the door into Israel is the Golan Heights. Also to mention in passing some time ago some Israeli officers said that Bozrah in Southern Jordan was probably Israel’s most vulnerable area for an attack, Bozrah being the gateway into Saudi Arabia. Bozrah means “sheepfold” and was a pastoral city in Edom southeast of the Dead Sea. According to the Bible it was the capital city of Edom and the homeland of Jacob’s twin brother, Esau. Ishmael and Esau were the fathers of the Arab nations we see today arrayed against Israel. The descendents of Jacob and Esau are still at war with each other today. Possibly it may well be Bozrah is Israel’s Achilles heel? The Messiah after He has returned is seen fighting at Bozrah and his garments are stained with the blood of His enemies. (Isaiah 63:1-2) (Revelation 19:13)
Rouhani is at it again!
Coming back to the mounting crisis on the border between Israel and Syria the recent exchange of words between Iran and Israel is fuelling the potentially explosive situation there at the Golan Heights. According to a report in the Jewish online publication Arutz Sheva earlier this week it said; “Iranian president calls for Islamic nations to unite and destroy Israel. Netanyahu blasts Rouhani’s ‘hate speech’. Calling Israel a “cancerous tumour” Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani urged Muslim nations worldwide to unite and destroy Israel. Speaking at a conference, Rouhani said that “one of the ominous results of World War II was the formation of a cancerous tumour in the region”, adding later that Israel is a “fake regime”. Prime Minister Netanyahu said that Rouhani’s rhetoric showed that the international community should join the United States in sanctioning Iran.
A betrayal ?
“Israel is well aware of defending itself against the murderous regime in Iran,” said Netanyahu. “Rouhani’s hate speech calling for the destruction of Israel proves once again why the nations of the world should join sanctions against the Iranian terror regime, which also threatens them” Rouhani also attacked the United States, saying that “we have a choice to either roll out red carpets for criminals or to forcefully stand against injustice and remain faithful to our Prophet, our Quran and our Islam”. “Choosing to stand by the US is a betrayal of the Muslim world.”
Damascus destroyed
It may well be we are soon to see the war erupt between Israel and Iran as Daniel prophesied (Daniel 10:12-14; 20-21) Ultimately in the future, after this war between Israel and Iran has been fought, we will see the Time of Trouble for Jacob commence, a time that the nation of Israel will go into but be saved out of it at the end but only after three and a half years of Islamic occupation. (Jeremiah 30:1-10) (Daniel 7:25; 12:7) Turkey, with the armies of the Islamic nations in its train, will make its assault on Jerusalem most likely taking the Golan Heights after it has destroyed Damascus, if israel has not already destroyed Damascus themselves. This may well happen if Israeli Jets strike the city on their way to strike at Iran. Having said this, most likely it will be Turkey that takes out Damascus. President Erdogan wants Assad gone and he has stated this publically. The Assad regime is the last barrier to be broken down for the establishment of the revived Turkish Ottoman Caliphate.
Why are they there?
Why are these nations in Syria? And what is their ultimate agenda? God knows why they are there of course but we can know that they are there for the following reasons. Firstly; God is using these foreign nations against Israel to bring His covenant people back to Himself as He has used nations in the past to be His instruments of correction when Israel have turned away from Him. Secondly; God wants to show Israel how much they need Him and to bring them face to face with their Messiah our Lord Jesus and the salvation He has provided for them. Thirdly; God wants Israel to know that He is a covenant keeping God. Fourthly; God wants to show the nations His absolute power and love for Israel and for all of His saints on earth and that He is the judge and final arbitrator of righteousness and justice in the earth!.
What is on the agenda?
What is the agenda of these nations wanting the Golan Heights? What will happen to them in the end? While Biblical prophecy is an unveiling of unsealing what has been hidden and sealed up for centuries, as the Second Coming of the Messiah our Lord Jesus gets closer things become clearer. The answer to these questions are found in the Word of God. Our opinions in the end do not matter but only what is revealed in the Word of God. While we seek to have a clearer understanding of these things we must look to the Word of God and to the revelation that is given by the blessed Holy Spirit Himself. He who knows the deep things of God and reveals to the Bond-Slaves of the Lord Jesus, the things He Himself knows about God.
As for Syria:
They want to have the Golan Heights back under their control as this would give them access to attack and oppress Israel as they have always done in past history when the opportunity has availed itself. Syria will be destroyed either by Turkey or by Israel. Most likely Turkey will destroy Damascus on their way towards their invasion of Israel but they have to take the Golan Heights first. God himself “will set fire to the walls of Damascus” and Damascus itself will become “a ruinous heap.” Already we see the harbinger of Damascus’ ultimate destruction with the bombed cities already there in Syria. See:(Isaiah 17:1) (Jeremiah 49:23-27)
As for Iran:
Their ‘sabre rattling’ against Israel has now moved to a deeper level of malevolence and aggressive militancy towards israel and towards the United States as well. Iran wants to destroy Israel and America but needs access to the Golan Heights to destroy Israel and so they are supplying Hezbollah with rockets to use them in order to advance Iran’s agenda in the region. Iran does not care about the Assad regime either but sees Syria as a means to an end. Added to this Iran must also be aware of the natural gas and oil reserves underground on the Golan Heights. Iran will have no problem following the Supreme Turkish Caliph of Islam if it turns out to be the man from Turkey, President Erdogan, the prophesied Mahdi of the Islamic world and the defender of the so called ‘Palestinian cause.’ If Iran attacks Israel they will be repelled by Israeli forces and ‘be down but not out for the count.’ Iran, after licking its wounds, will return with the forces of the Islamic Antichrist from Turkey and be destroyed on the mountains of Israel along with the armies of the Antichrist. As for the Iranian regime in Iran, it will be taken out by God and there in Iran God will establish His throne in that nation. The Iranian people as a nation will come to faith in the Messiah and be a righteous nation in His Millennial Messianic Kingdom. See:(Ezekiel 38:5; 39:4-6) (Jeremiah 49:34-39)
As for Turkey:
They need to take the Golan Heights to invade Israel from the North. Under the revived Turkish Ottoman Caliphate Turkish Military forces can lead the Islamic nations against Jerusalem and gain control over the Temple Mount for all Muslims. The last King of the North which would have to be Turkey needs Syria under their Caliphate and the Syrian regime is in the way of this happening. Ankara in Turkey is directly North of Israel. Damascus must be destroyed and the Syrian regime of Assad completely dismantled. The armies of Turkey will also fall on the mountains of Israel and any other armies of the nations that join them in their obsession to occupy Jerusalem and to subjugate the Jews to Islamic law. Armies from Libya and Sudan will also be with Turkey and likewise fall upon the mountains of Israel. See:(Ezekiel 38:1-6; 39:4-6)
As for Russia:
They are currently seeking to control the Ukraine as is the only country in this neighbourhood with a unique civilization, rooted in Russian Orthodoxy and language. It has a long imperial history, a robust economy that is based on energy and abundant natural resources, and the capacity to defend its territory and project power abroad. In the international arena, the United States and China are in the same category although Putin is often scathing about the United States. However, few other states have independent standing. Even being pre-occupied with Ukraine Russia still has its sights on the Golan Heights. It seems Putin may want the oil reserves under the ground of the Golan Heights. While Russia supplies the Syrian regime with weapons and armaments it has no love for the regime itself. Russian armies may prove to be a thorn in Turkey’s side militarily and China as well. (Daniel 11:44) Russia may in the end also come into Israel for the sake of their oil and natural gas reserves and there along with the others armies of the nations also fall on the mountains of Israel. According to the Word of God all nations that hate Israel, that seek to divide up the land and seek its destruction will be gathered against Jerusalem to be judged by God in the Valley of Decision. See: (Joel 3:1-3) (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14:1-3; 14:12)
As for America:
The United States has built a dozen or more bases from Manbij to Al-Hasakah, including four airfields, and American-backed forces now control all of Syria east of the Euphrates, an area about the size of Croatia. In September this year the Trump Administration has said that they will not leave Syria until Iran leaves. This potentially may put America on a collision course with Russia who back Iran. While the USA supports Israel it also has financial investments in the oil underground on the Golan Heights and right now there are American Oil Companies drilling for oil with the blessing and support of the Israel government. The media has been virtually silent on this one. If the visions and prophecies given by the late David Wilkerson and Romanian Pastor Dumitru Duduman about American cities burning are correct then America may well face missile attacks on their own soil and not be able to go to Israel’s aid when they are attacked. When the fire of God’s judgement finally falls on the armies invading Israel the coastlands living safely will not escape either. By this time the whole world will be in an advanced state of spiritual decay. Every level of society around the world in all of the nations will be shaken. In fact every institution and empire of man that God has not established will be shaken and removed from its place. See: (Ezekiel 39:6) (Isaiah 24) (Haggai 2:6)
As for Lebanon (and Gaza):
These regions will ultimately fall to Israeli forces led by the Messiah Himself when He returns. Northern, Central and Southern Jordan will all fall into Israeli hands. In that day Israel will “possess their possession” and “possess the gates of their enemies.” See: (Isaiah 11:14) (Ezekiel 25:15-17) (Isaiah 10:34)
As for Saudi Arabia:
The desert of Saudi Arabia will go up in smoke and Mecca incinerated and the rest of the Arab nations destroyed at Bozrah in Southern Jordan the gateway into Saudi Arabia the heart of the Muslim World. God’s word tells us that Edom stretches into Saudi Arabia; God’s Word says; “For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion (Israel and by extension and inclusion the faithful Church).Edom’s streams (underground oil reserves) shall be turned into burning pitch (oil), and its dust into brimstone. It shall not be quenched night or day; Its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; No one shall pass through it forever and ever.” The Messiah is seen fighting at Bozrah and in Edom being Southern Jordan including the Saudi Arabian Peninsula. See: (Isaiah 34:5-17) (Isaiah 63:1-6) (Ezekiel 25:12-14) (Revelation 17:16)
As for the Nations:
They will ultimately be drawn into “a war to end all wars.” This is what people said about WW1 but the weaponry to be deployed in WWIII will see a third of the world’s population perish by tremendous firepower which most probably will be due to nuclear detonations. Fallout and pollution by radiation and chemical weapons will kill many. Food, water and the basics of life will be scarce. The economies of the world will have collapsed. At this time the four horsemen of the Apocalypse will take their final ride across the surface of the earth. See:(Isaiah 24) (Revelation 6:1-8) (Zechariah 6:1-7) (Revelation 9:15-19)
As for the Messiah:
Our Lord Jesus said that if He does not come back then no flesh will be saved but for the sake of His elect saints and to rescue Israel He will come back to destroy the Antichrist and his military forces arrayed against Jerusalem. His Second Coming will be “immediately after the Tribulation of those days.” At that time the rapture and resurrection will occur. See: (Zechariah 12:1-9; 14) (Joel 3:1-3) (Matthew 24:21-24, 29-31)
As for the Messianic Kingdom:
This will see the Lord Jesus co-reigning with the saints over the nations that have survived the Time of Trouble for Jacob, also called the Great Tribulation. The Second Coming of our Lord Jesus the Messiah will see “the regeneration of all things” that He Himself spoke about. See: (Isaiah 2:1-5) (Ezekiel 37:15-28) (Jeremiah 30 & 31) (Micah 4:1-5) (Matthew 19:28)
Peace and safety?
When you look at what is happening around the world things are spiralling out of control. It may well be a time will come when things will actually look as if they are going to improve and everyone will breathe a sigh of relief and say peace and safety for the whole world. However the Apostle Paul writes; “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)
A day of darkness and gloom is coming upon the earth unlike anything the world has ever experienced before. For those living is spiritual darkness that darkness will become darker. Confusion, anxiety and fear will be rampant within nations with their leaders not knowing the way out. However, those who are walking in the light of God’s Word and sheltering by faith under the Blood of the Messiah will have the light of life and God’s protection when the destroying angel passes throughout the Egypt of this world. Those sheltering under the blood of the Passover Lamb will have the consolation and encouragement of the Lord Jesus and the certain assurance from the blessed Holy Spirit Himself in their hearts that they will never experience the wrath of God because they belong to the Lord Jesus. (Romans 5:9) He, who saves His people from their sins and from its power and penalty and from that coming wrath, who are not destined for wrath but to obtain salvation through Him. (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9-10) They will have the oil of the blessed Holy Spirit in the lamp of their spirit enabling them to see in the darkness and be empowered to wait patiently with endurance for the Lord Jesus to be revealed from heaven with his powerful angels.
Have you wandered away?
If you are reading this dear brother and sister and you have wandered away from your strong refuge in the Lord Jesus then run again to Him, avail yourself of that atoning blood that cleanses and keeps from sin, be washed once again in that fountain opened in Jerusalem for uncleanliness and sin. Let the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot or blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to once again serve and love the living God. Through repentance and by faith lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily entangles and continue to run the race with perseverance and endurance looking only to the Lord Jesus to obtain that unfading crown of His glory and to hear from Him; “well done thy good and faithful servant, enter ye into the joy of your LORD.” May we all be ready to meet the Lord in the air and be gathered around Him when he comes back! ***
*** In writing these things, as in all matters of Biblical Prophecy, we cannot be dogmatic but always guided first and foremost by the Word of God and not by our personal opinions even though they cannot be discounted completely as we grapple with the deeper truths of God’s Word. Bible prophecy is a gradual unveiling or unsealing of what has been veiled and sealed up for centuries and I believe God is unsealing today what has been previously sealed up until the last days. We must allow for progressive revelation in seeking to understand Bible Prophecy as we see events unfolding with increased frequency and intensity in the Middle-East and keep reading our Bibles. As the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus gets closer Bible Prophecy will become clearer if we are open to the Holy Spirit in these end-time matters.”
