Middle East Peace or War?

by Michael G. Mickey

(10-1-06)

As I've been documenting a great deal lately, there is a renewed interest in Middle East peace in the aftermath of the Israeli-Lebanon conflict that is so great it could well be bringing the advent of the Antichrist into view. On the other hand, however, there is suddenly concern that Syria may be about to initiate a military conflict in the Golan Heights which could plunge the Middle East into another great conflict, this coming as the Israeli Defense Force completes its pullout of Lebanon "ahead of the onset of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar", as seen in a Yahoo News story.

Meanwhile, according to DEBKAfile, "Israel is acting on the premise that the Syrian army may seek to mark the anniversary of the Yom Kippur war with a repeat of its initial success 33 years ago in driving as far as the hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee before being thrown back. The Israeli-Lebanese border is also on high alert in case Hizballah decides to use its restored presence and free hand in southern Lebanon for a spectacular operation."

Interesting, huh? Hezbollah, in spite of UN guarantees which I knew were worth as much as Confederate money is worth at your local WalMart, is restored in presence in southern Lebanon even as Israel leaves the area and is already moving about unopposed - another example of why I often refer to the United Nations as an impotent player in such matters, at least where the safety of Israel is concerned.

DEBKAfile isn't alone in its concern that something may be on the verge of taking place militarily in the Middle East between Syria and Israel, the international community having convinced the enemies of Israel that a war against the nation of Israel can be waged without serious repercussions.

As seen in an Israel National News article, Israeli military intelligence, "changing its long-time assessment regarding the Syrian threat", "now believes Damascus might launch a military action against Israel." Echoing the Israel National News article, a Telegraph article indicates "Damascus is "seriously examining" military action." Surely, there is something going on to merit such strong concerns being voiced in the media! This raises a frightening possibility, should Syria and Hezbollah jointly act against Israel. Could Israel, as suggested by a Mail & Guardian Online article, think it time to "lift its nuclear veil", especially at this time when the clock is ticking toward Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon? Time will tell but, if Israel feels threatened enough to lift its nuclear veil, will the end of Damascus be brought to pass as prophesied in Isaiah 17:1?

Damascus, Syria, founded in approximately 2500 BC, is either one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world or THE oldest continuously inhabited city in the world as documented by Wikipedia. Interestingly, especially in light of present events, the Bible seems to make it clear that the day is going to come when Damascus will no longer remain a city at all!

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

*At this point it should be noted that there are historical records of Damascus being destroyed as a kingdom by the Babylonians, but the destruction of the city of Damascus itself? I can't find it in history other than a reference to it being destroyed in 732 BC by Tiglath-Pileser III which is contradicted, of course, by the claim that Damascus remains, since around 2500 BC, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Both, of course, can't be true which leaves me, as I look at present events alongside the list of the attacking forces which will attempt a destruction of Israel in the prophetic future as described in Ezekiel 38 & 39, among which Syria is nowhere to be found, wondering if Damascus is going to fall prey to God's wrath to the extent it will never be a major player in the end times again - potentially in the not-too-distant future.

While I don't pretend to know what is up next in God's prophetic plan leading to the visible, physical, bodily return of Jesus Christ to the earth, we may see, yet again, another birth pain on the path to that taking place that will involve a military event occurring between Israel and Damascus, Syria. If that conflict is aided by a barrage of Hezbollah rockets from inside Lebanon, Israel may, as the Mail & Guardian article implies may soon be necessary, feel it's time to lift its nuclear veil that everyone in the Middle East bent on its destruction, most notably nuclear weapon-seeking Iran, see how foolish their plottings presently are. But something could quickly go wrong, the outcome of which few will have anticipated if so.

The question presently in my mind is: Will something go dreadfully wrong if present fears that Syria may force Israel into a fight in the Golan Heights are accurate? The answer is unknown, but the possibility certainly exists. I say that because Syria's Bashar Assad, according to a Middle East Newsline article dated 9-25-06, "buoyed by Hizbullah's success against Israel, has ordered his military to prepare for a regional war with the Jewish state."

Regardless of whether any conflict develops between Syria and Israel, what we're seeing clearly points toward the coming of the Lord drawing near. Why? Because Jesus told us, as recorded in Matthew 24:6-8:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

The Middle East: Will it be war or peace? Clearly, there are proponents in favor of each, which means those of us watching for the return of Jesus Christ will have much to consider in the days ahead, each of which will bring us closer to the day when we will meet our Savior face-to-face.

Keep looking up, Christians! Jesus Christ is coming soon!

SEE ALSO: 'Gaza readying for war' (Weapons flowing, Palestinians training for battle)