The New York Times has written a blistering critique of President Trump’s pull out of troops along the Syrian border that has resulted in not only Turkey trying to eliminate Kurds, but also firing on remaining US military and placing US nuclear weapons housed in Turkey at risk. The Times says it is rare to see the impact of a foreign policy decision so quickly, and that the move helped Russia, Syria and Iran. The past three presidents foreign policy decisions, however, have caused turmoil in the Middle East—Iraq invasion by Bush; Arab Spring by Obama; and now Turkey invasion by Trump. All helped Russia, Syria and Iran continue to gain an edge. The Trump move also helps Turkey and coalesces a prophetic force.
In Daniel 8:19, Gabriel says, “Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be. The ram which you saw having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia.” Strong’s Concordance interprets the word “Grecia” in Hebrew as “Yavan, a son of Japheth (the third son of Noah), his descendants and their land.” The Genesis 10 table of nations indicates this area was not only Greece (as Bible interpretations imply), but also the Eastern Mediterranean, including parts of modern Turkey (Magog, Tubal, Meshech). The ram would correspond with modern Iran.
According to the prophet Isaiah (17:1), “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” Many point to this verse to speculate when and how Damascus will be destroyed. There has been a lot of talk that this is the time that perhaps Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Damascus, after all, is hardly a city nowadays. It is maintaining a heartbeat after years of civil war and fighting that includes various al Qaeda terrorist groups, Hezbollah from Iran, Russian interests, American interests, Turkey, the Islamic State, and, of course the Assad government. Ezekiel 38 says that in the end of days, God will put a hook in Gog of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal (all in Turkey), to lead a coalition of Persia (Iran), Libya; and Ethiopia (Sudan) against Israel.
The ingredients for the end time battle are amassing, but a careful read of the scriptures in their context would reveal that the end is not yet. The words “in that day” and “on that day” are significant because they correspond to the Day of the Lord, such as Gabriel’s interpretation saying “for at the time appointed the end shall be.” These current events are bringing together many of the end-time players, but according to the prophets, it is not yet the end. There are many events Jesus describes in Matthew 24 that must occur. Another consideration is that in all the prophets’ descriptions of these wars and battles, it is God, not men, who destroys Israel’s enemies: Isaiah 17:7 and Ezekiel 38:23 both say that men will know their maker and nations shall know “that I am the Lord.” Keep watching and praying. These are prophetic times.
