Who will destroy Damascus?

End time Syria in a nutshell

By Craig C. White

Russia and Iran have given the Turkish Army permission to enter Syria. Some Bible pundits expect to see a war between Russia and Turkey. But I don’t find a military clash between Turkey and Russia described in Isaiah chapter 17 (the destruction of Damascus), or in Jeremiah 49:23-27 (also the destruction of Damascus), or in Ezekiel chapter 38 (the Turkish led invasion into Israel). Other Bible pundits expect to see a war between Iran and Turkey. But in Ezekiel 38:5 Turkey leads Iran, Libya, and Sudan into Israel. So it is doubtful that Iran will fight against Turkey beforehand.

Ezekiel 38:5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet:

Iran and the Syrian Army are now in southern Syria causing trouble for Israel. Still other Bible pundits say that Israel will destroy Damascus. Israel wants to avoid starting a regional war so they must tread somewhat lightly against Iran and Syria. Israel certainly doesn’t want to destroy Damascus. Nowhere in the Bible does it identify Israel destroying Damascus. As a matter of fact the Prophet Jeremiah describes the northwestern Syrian cities of Hamah and Arpad (Arpad is called Tell Rifaat today) being terrorized before Damascus is destroyed. The Turkish Army is in northwestern Syria now and they are beginning to terrorize these cities. Since the destruction of Damascus begins in Hamah and Tell Rifaat; it is evident from Jeremiah 49:23-27 that Turkey will destroy Damascus.

Jeremiah 49:23-27 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. 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. 25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! 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. 27 And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.

A similar scenario happened in 734 BC. Back then Israel asked Assyria (northern Iraq) to help fight the Syrian Army. After Assyria conquered Syria then they invaded northern Israel (2Kings 16-17). I think that this will happen again. I think that this time Israel may ask Turkey to help fight the pro-Syrian forces on Israel’s northern border. After Turkey destroys Damascus then they will lead the forces that are now fighting in Syria (namely Iran, Libya, and Sudan) into the Golan Heights of Israel. Ezekiel chapter 38 says that Turkey will lead Iran into Israel.

Iran is a Syrian ally. Iran and Turkey are on opposite sides of the Syrian war but make no mistake; Iran and Turkey have been getting along very well over the past several years. Since Ezekiel 38:5 describes Turkey leading Iran into Israel we should expect to see Iran join forces with Turkey soon.