A Prophecy against Damascus

“A Prophecy against Damascus: ‘See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites,’ declares the Lord Almighty.

In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when reapers harvest the standing grain, gathering the grain in their arms – as when someone gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Raphaim. Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs,’ declares the Lord, the God of Israel.

In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the alters, the works of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense alters their fingers have made.

In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation.

You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.

Woe to the many nations that rage – they rage like the raging sea! Woe to the peoples who roar – they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the people roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before the gale.

In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us.” (Isaiah 17: 1-14)

The darkness that is about to fall upon mankind is one that we have been warned about for generations.  We have been told that there would be a day that the world would be so engulfed with war and terror that no one would be able to recognize this world.  Unfortunately, it appears the warnings we are given long ago are pointing to our current time.  We are witnessing the unfolding darkness that will bring upon global terror.

The rumors going around about war ships being deployed to the Middle East and Venezuela, combined with the recent escalation between Gaza and Israel, show that we are heading toward a military escalation that could change the landscape of our world.   Syria has threated to regain the Golan Heights at any cost while the United States gives Israel its full support to annex this territory. Iran is threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, while the trade war between China and the United States has global markets in a panic. We even have tensions between Canada and the Philippines about Canada’s illegal trash dumping on Philippine soil.  President Duarte has threated war against Canada within the week due to this crisis.  This list only scratches the surface to the tensions around the world and still many refuse to believe that we are in the prophesied time spoken about in Scripture.

Those that do believe are believing a lie. They refuse to study Scripture for themselves and accept the teachings provided to them from their leaders.  Those same leaders who enrich themselves on the teaching of tithing and have no care for the wellbeing of their congregation.

Why won’t people wake up?  Why has laziness corrupted so many that they refuse to find the truth about the most important time in the history of mankind?  The thought of those being lead directly into eternal damnation saddens my soul, but this must happen. We were all warned, and many chose not to listen.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture, the teaching that Israel will win any war against them, the 3 days of darkness, the flat Earth, the prosperity gospel, and the teaching that America will be blessed during the end times are but a few of the false teachings being taught to the masses today. So many people want to be known as prophets or watchman that false doctrine is spreading like wildfire. Those without a foundation in Scripture are being led astray by so many teachings. We were all warned to study as the time may come when we will need that knowledge, the knowledge provided within Scripture about what is to come.  We were given time, but few took advantage of the head start our God provided.  We squandered that time and now the prophetic time is upon us.

The Destruction of Damascus is being talked about by many “teachers” due to the recent events unfolding in the Middle East.  They are teaching that the city’s destruction will be a sign that will provide validity to their timeline of the end. The truth is that yes, the city of Damascus will be destroyed, and this prophecy is very important but so many refuse to continue reading the prophecy given by the prophet Isaiah.  Further in the chapter it also talks about the destruction of Israel along with the destruction of Damascus. When we understand both sides receive massive destruction is brings light into the false teaching that Israel will win any future conflicts due to their covenant with God. This is against what Jesus specifically stated would happen during the end of the age:

“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.” (Luke 21: 20-22)

The End of the Age is not a time of celebration or triumph for the nation of Israel but a time of punishment, a time of judgment upon an unholy people. Israel has been warned throughout its entire history to not turn away from God and God has repeatedly punished them for their evil ways.  The modern land of Israel is no different as we are told about Jacob’s trouble and the destruction that will come.  During this destruction, Israel is punished but God stops short of destroying his people:

“This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says; ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.’

These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: ‘This is what the Lord says: ‘Cries of fear are heard -terror, not peace. Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale? How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time for trouble of Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.

‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will break the yoke off their necks and will tear off their bonds; no longer will foreigners enslave them. Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel; declares the Lord. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make them afraid. I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord.

‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’ (Jeremiah 30: 1-11)

Our world is headed full steam into the greatest climax that mankind has ever witnessed. Our generation will witness prophecy unfolding as we are the ones chosen to witness God in all his glory. The time is short, and we must understand that every human and nation will be judged.  No one will be exempt from what is coming, and we must be ready to endure trials that few within mankind have witnessed.

“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel – let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.

How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now – and never to be equaled again.

‘If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.’” (Matthew 24: 15-22)

Clinton Kowach

5/6/19