The nations are disquieted over Syria
verse by verse through Jeremiah 49:23-27
By Craig C. White
The Prophet Jeremiah asks the question “How is Damascus not there?”. Damascus is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. One day it will no longer exist.
Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
What is Jeremiah telling us? Obviously this prophecy is concerning Damascus, Syria. In the verse above, Jeremiah mentions two cities. Hamath and Arpad (or modern day Tell Rifaat) are both located in northwestern Syria near the Turkish border. Today Hamah is Syria’s fifth largest city.. Hamah is further south but still close to the Turkish border. Arpad is modern day Tell Rifaat located about 25 miles north of Aleppo and about 20 miles south of the Turkish border. These cities are located along the path of an invasion launched from Turkey headed towards Damascus.
According to Jeremiah 49:23 the people of northwestern Syria will hear intelligence reports that the Turkish army is about to invade Syria. The army’s target is Damascus and they are coming through their cities! The people of northwestern Syria are terrified. Their hearts faint with fear
There is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet. The sea in Bible prophecy can refer to the Mediterranean Sea when it is accompanied with the definite article “the”. The sea can also refer to the nations. There is no article used here in the original Hebrew. I think that Jeremiah is saying that the nations will have great anxiety over the coming Turkish invasion into Syria. The Hebrew word translated sorrow means anxiety, fearfulness, carefulness, or heaviness.
So the nations will be very nervous concerning the coming Turkish invasion into Syria. The Turkish army’s goal is the destruction of Damascus. The English says it well here. The nations will not be able to be still. The Hebrew word translated quiet is defined below. The nations of the world will not be able to be at rest. They are already feeling uneasy concerning Syria.
quiet – shâqat, shaw-kat’
A primitive root; to repose (usually figuratively): – appease, idleness, (at, be at, be in, give) quiet (-ness), (be at, be in, give, have, take) rest, settle, be still.
Jeremiah 49:24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
Damascus is waxed feeble. This is the idea of failing in your old age. Damascus is about to die. Damascus turneth herself to flee. This could refer to the city preparing to relinquish its life and it could also refer to the cities inhabitants as they attempt to escape.
The Hebrew word translated fear means to tremble with terror. Anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail; literally Damascus is feeling a localized tightness like a woman about to give birth.
Jeremiah 49:25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
Two different Hebrew words for city are used in the verse above. The city of praise is a fortified city that has been celebrated in song. When God says “how is the city not left” he could be communicating his astonishment that even after a terrible assault on Damascus, the city has still not surrendered. When God calls Damascus “the city of my joy!” he is specifically saying that he delights in the cities old buildings. So we are looking for the destruction of the old part of the city. The neighborhood of “Old Damascus” is the capital of Syria. Damascus is the oldest continually inhabited city on earth. It was founded by the Aramaeans over four thousand years ago, and was inhabited two thousand years before that. Damascus is a living depiction of human history.
Jeremiah 49:26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
In this verse the young men are contrasted to the men of war. The men of war obviously represent the Syrian Army. Lately Syrian citizens have joined Assad and the Syrian Army to help defend their country. The Syrian National Defense Force is a newly formed civilian guard. I think that the Syrian National Defense Force could be represented by the young men in this verse.
It sounds like the young men of Damascus will stay behind to defend the city. Perhaps they will be the first line of defense. The young men of Damascus will die in its streets. The Syrian Army will be bunkered in Damascus. When God says that all the men of war shall be cut off he means that every Syrian soldier will die defending Damascus. Jeremiah isn’t necessarily saying that this assault on Damascus will last only one day. That day refers to the entire duration be it one day or longer.
Jeremiah 49:27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
The phrase “kindle a fire” leads many to imagine a nuclear explosion but that is not what is pictured here. The terminology “kindle a fire” is used in several other Bible passages. The terminology “kindle a fire” mean that God will send an army against a city or a nation. I think that God will send the Turkish army against Damascus.
Please allow me to defend the future fulfillment of the destruction of Damascus. Many Bible scholars claim that the destruction of Damascus has already taken place. They say that the Assyrian conquest of Damascus in 734 BC fulfills the Damascus prophecy. Well Damascus was conquered by Assyria in 734 BC and several cities around Damascus were burned with fire but Damascus has never been completely destroyed. These Bible teachers argue that the Assyrian conquest of Damascus happened shortly after Isaiah gave his prophecy about the destruction of Damascus.
fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
In this verse the young men are contrasted to the men of war. The men of war obviously represent the Syrian Army. Lately Syrian citizens have joined Assad and the Syrian Army to help defend their country. The Syrian National Defense Force is a newly formed civilian guard. I think that the Syrian National Defense Force could be represented by the young men in this verse.
It sounds like the young men of Damascus will stay behind to defend the city. Perhaps they will be the first line of defense. The young men of Damascus will die in its streets. The Syrian Army will be bunkered in Damascus. When God says that all the men of war shall be cut off he means that every Syrian soldier will die defending Damascus.. Jeremiah isn’t necessarily saying that this assault on Damascus will last only one day. That day refers to the entire duration be it one day or longer.
Jeremiah 49:27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.
The phrase “kindle a fire” leads many to imagine a nuclear explosion but that is not what is pictured here. The terminology “kindle a fire” is used in several other Bible passages. The terminology “kindle a fire” mean that God will send an army against a city or a nation. I think that God will send the Turkish army against Damascus.
Many so called Bible scholars claim that the destruction of Damascus has already taken place. They say that the Assyrian conquest of Damascus in 734 BC fulfills the Damascus prophecy. Well Damascus was conquered by Assyria in 734 BC and several cities around Damascus were burned with fire but Damascus has never been completely destroyed.
Jeremiah was a prophet around 600 BC. Jeremiah gave his prophecy one hundred years after Assyria conquered Damascus. So the Assyrian conquest of Damascus can not possibly fulfill Jeremiah’s prophecy. The Assyrians conquered Damascus in 734 BC. I think that Jeremiah is prophesying about an invasion of Damascus that is forming now.
In Jeremiah 49:27, The palaces of Benhadad refer to the ancient thrones of Syrian Kings in Damascus. Like the ancient invasion, this future invasion will also destroy Syria’s seat of government in the neighborhood of Old Damascus.
So the Turkish army will march down from Syria’s northwestern border terrorizing cities along the way. Their goal is the destruction of Damascus. The nations of the world will be in a tumult. They will not be able to calm down. Damascus will prepare to die. The people will flee and the young men and army will fight to the death never surrendering. The oldest city on earth will be destroyed along with its historical buildings. Jeremiah describes a city under siege not a city obliterated by a single bomb.
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High Time to Awake 
Exposition by others made me believe the destruction of Damascus will come from Israel nuking it, as I would naturally anticipate.
Q’s: i) Why does NATO not back up this Turkish attack? Although Turkey is not attacked first, Israel will respond massively and in such a scenario the allies are meant to protect their member.
ii) What weapons will Turkey use against Damascus because conventional weaponry cannot annihilate a city,never to be re-inhabited?
iii) Why does Turkey has to attack Syria first instead of Israel then her fellow Muslim nation join her against Israel?
iv) Do you envisage the U.S. breaking its commitment to NATO to side with her ally Israel?
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First, the west wants Turkey to control Syria. World powers are dividing the old world into four regions in order to create the next world empire.
https://hightimetoawake.com/the-leopard-is-upon-us/
Assyria attacked Syria and then northern Israel in 734 BC then came back and attacked southern Israel in 701 BC. This is a model for the future destruction of Damascus and invasion into Israel; then after a while the battle of Armageddon. This time Turkey plays the role of Assyria! https://hightimetoawake.com/the-assyrian-is-the-antichrist/
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Craig,
Today Turkey’s government voted overwhelmingly to engage it’s military into Syria. Specifically, Edergon stated that their highest priority was to replace the administration in Damascus, and protect the Suleman Shaw Mosque. You spoke of this earlier, so what are your thoughts on this now?
David
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Hi David. Thank you for the update. It looks like the end time is upon us. I still think that Turkey will lead Al-Qaeda from Libya and Hezbollah from Iran and Sudan into Israel. They are all fighting in Syria today
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I found it very interesting that Edergon also said that ” Turkey will not be used for temporary solutions.” His implied message was that Turkey will complete their objective to move towards Damascus. Do you think that there will be some push back by Russia and Iran towards western allies that have supplied arms to syrian forces?
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Hi David. Iran has made closer relations with Turkey over the past year. Ezekiel 38 says that Iran will join Turkey in the invasion into Israel. I think Iran will be represented by Hezbollah from Iran now fighting in Syria.
I will bet that Turkey the US and the Muslim Brotherhood have already made a deal with Russia to allow them to take Ukraine and other countries along Russia’s western border in exchange for Syria. Russia already has a new union. It is represented by the bear in Daniel chapter 7. https://hightimetoawake.com/the-leopard-is-upon-us/
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Wow, a deal with devil. What are we thinking. I did not think about the implications of he Ukrainian situation. I used to be quite a prophecy student
in the seventies and eighties, but I saw some of the traditional scenarios unraveling with the break up of the soviet union. i never thought we would see the year 2,000 from an earthly view. Recently I have been discerning that It might be time to rekindle my watchman spirit, and pay closer attention to
current events and their prophetic implications. I find your writing to be
refreshing, humble, and non condescending to the layman. I also like the fact that you write with an urgency, and sincerely offer your readers a way of escape through Christ Jesus.
Keep it up brother,
David
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David. Thank you for your encouraging words. You sound like you have a good understanding of the bible and of end time events. You are absolutely right to think that now is the time to keep watch. I think that the Church age ends after the Antichrist is revealed and before the Tribulation. I also think that Erdogan is the Antichrist.
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In stating your belief that Erdogan is the antichrist, do you believe he fits the description “he is an Assyrian, more stout than his brothers, fierce in his countenance.” I believe those descriptions mean; prideful, arrogant, boastful and aggressive in his leadership…which seems to be the characteristics of Erdogan, but not sure whether he is an Assyrian, or not.
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Hi Victoria. I think the Antichrist is called the Assyrian not because he is from Assyria but because he will do the same things that the Assyrian kings did. They invaded Syria and then northern Israel in 734 BC. Then they invaded southern Israel in 701 BC. By the way the capital city of the Assyrian Empire was Nineveh. Nineveh today is the city of Mosul in northern Iraq. So if the Assyrian is from Assyria then he would be the ISIS leader. That is possible but I think that God will wipe out ISIS in Mosul soon. https://hightimetoawake.com/the-assyrian-is-the-antichrist/
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Hi Craig,
I returned to review your commentary on Damascus. It looks like Turkey has made good on it’s promise to protect the Sulleyman Shrine. It was back in October 2014 that Turkey said it would do two things: protect the sacred sites and replace the Assad Government. Well last niight we saw the first promise kept, so we may be closer to that “next great world headline.” Looks like you have hit the mark again.
This is off the topic, but have you ever written any commentary on the quote that says “not every who says “Lord, Lord will…..” Lately, with the rise of new world religions I have been thinking it would do Christians a world of good to really understand that quote.
Hope all is well and keep up your most important work.
David
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Hi David. Thanks for your update. The Suleyman Shah tomb is near Kobane that the Kurds just took away from ISIS. Perhaps the Turks are expecting more trouble there. Or perhaps Turkey wants to secure the tomb so it isn’t damaged when Turkey invades Syria. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31572257
To answer your question, nothing on “not every who says “Lord, Lord”.
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Pastors are teaching Russia is Gog/Magog, saying it is “uttermost” North. Is it or isn’t Russia true north? Your explanation makes more sense. How would you interpret “uttermost”?
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Hi Elizabeth: The Hebrew words translated as “north quarters” in Ezekiel 38:6 are used a lot in the Old Testament. They almost always refer to a territory in the north part of a nation or in a northern direction within a nation. They do not refer to another nation beyond borders. The “north quarters” in the verse below refer to a northern Province inside of Turkey.
Eze 38:6 Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee.
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Hi Craig,
What I don’t understand is this, Russia is an extensively a far superior military power than Turkey, given that, why would Putin allow the military might of Turkey invade Syria with the intent of reaching Damascus to push out Assad when the Russians want him to stay in power.
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Hi Stewart. My guess is that Russia doesn’t want to dedicate more resources to defend Syria. Russia is more concerned with controlling the nations around them like Ukraine. Plus world powers are now trying to make a deal with Russia to give up Syria.
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VOX 2/23/16: ‘Don’t buy the hype: Russia’s military is much weaker than Putin wants us to think’ … The article basically states that Putin is counting on the West and other opposing powers to believe that Russia is more militarily formidable than it really is. Russia is suffering economically and presumably cannot sustain a prolonged military operation in Syria. So maybe Erdogan/Turkey & his allies can see through Putin’s “bluff” on the matter.
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I’d bet on it. Russia is much more interested in controlling Ukraine and other regional nations than it is in fighting a large scale war over Syria. Russia doesn’t even have a large presence in Syria. Russia is not even mentioned in the Bible in conjunction with Syria. The Bible tells us how Syria will fall. Turkey will enter Syria from its northwest border which they are just about to do. Then they will march down to Damascus to destroy the old part of the city (Jer 49:23-27). Turkey and Russia may have a real fight at some point but I don’t think that it will be over Syria now. I know that nobody wants to listen to the biblical perspective. People would rather imagine some sort of cataclysmic World War with Russia.
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How does President Trump fit into endtime prophecy?
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Trump is not mentioned in the Bible.
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