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Missile heading into Syria (AP photo via VOA)

COGwriter

US President Donald Trump ordered bombing against Syria and France and the UK also participated:

April 14, 2018

PENTAGON — World reaction ranged from support to sharp criticism for air strikes carried out early Saturday by United States, French and British forces against government targets in Syria.

Western warplanes and naval vessels fired a barrage of missiles at three Syrian chemical weapons sites, the opening salvo in what could be a sustained campaign against the government of President Bashar al-Assad and his supporters.

In a televised news conference in London Saturday, British Prime Minister Theresa May said the purpose of the coordinated strike was not to bring about “regime change,” but rather “to degrade and deter” the Assad government from using chemical weapons. She added the international community cannot standby and “merely watch” as the Syrian regime uses chemical weapons on its people.

In Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron issued a statement saying, “We cannot tolerate the normalization of the use of chemical weapons,” adding that “the facts and the responsibility of the Syrian regime are not in doubt.”

U.S. military officials said the bombardment, a coordinated effort involving both Britain and France, began at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Washington time) Friday and rained down more than 100 cruise missiles on Syrian facilities in the capital, Damascus, and the city of Homs.

“Right now, this is a one-time shot,” U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told Pentagon reporters late Friday, cautioning more strikes could be in the works. …

“The purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread and use of chemical weapons…a vital national security interest,” Trump said.

“We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents,” he added. https://www.voanews.com/a/us-britain-france-syria-chemical-weapons/4347934.html

14 April 2018

What we know so far:

• US, UK and French launch air strikes on Syria in revenge for what Trump dubs as ‘evil’ chemical attack
• Tomahawk missiles fired from US Navy guided missile destroyers in the Mediterranean in a strike twice the size of 2017 raid
• French military launches cruise missiles from warship 
• RAF Tornado jets bomb Syria chemical weapons factory with Storm Shadow missiles
• A chemical research facility in Damascus and storage facilities near Homs were struck
• Syrian media says three civilians were injured in “a flagrant violation of international law”
• PM Theresa May says the attack was “absolutely in Britain’s national interest’ because chemical attacks must not go unpunished
• Jeremy Corbyn, called the strikes “legally questionable” and said May should have recalled parliament from a holiday
• Putin warns of ‘consequences’ for an “act of aggression” which had ‘destructive influence on the entire system of international relations’
• Nato members will be briefed on the outcome of the strikes later today

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Theresa May said there was ‘no practicable alternative to the use of force’ after Donald Trump announced the retaliation to reports of chemical attacks which killed 75 men, women and children.

Russian ambassador Anatoly Antonov said on Twitter: “A pre-designed scenario is being implemented. Again, we are being threatened. We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences.

“Insulting the President of Russia is unacceptable and inadmissable. The US – the possessor of the biggest arsenal of chemical weapons – has no moral right to blame other countries.”

Theresa May has today defended her decision to launch the Syrian airstrikes – and insisted it sent a message to the world’s tyrants that they cannot use chemical weapons. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6050462/russia-syria-bombings-response-chemical-attack-vladimir-putin/

Twice as many bombs were dropped this year (about 120) than last year (about 59) (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43764344), when the USA did something similar (for last year, see Trump bombed Syria: How might this align with biblical prophecy?).

Russia is not pleased:

April 14, 2018

MOSCOW, April 14 (Reuters) – Russia on Saturday called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council as Moscow said it would consider supplying S-300 missile systems to Syria following U.S.-led strikes.

“Russia convenes an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss aggressive actions of the U.S. and its allies,” President Vladimir Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website. …

Moscow may consider supplying S-300 surface to-air missile systems to Syria and “other countries,” Colonel-General Sergei Rudskoi told a televised briefing on Saturday.

Russia had “refused” supplying those missiles to Syria a few years ago, he added, “taking into account the pressing request of some of our Western partners.”

Following the U.S.-led strikes, however, “we consider it possible to return to examination of this issue not only in regard to Syria but to other countries as well,” Rudskoi said.

Syria’s air defense system, which mostly consists of systems made in the Soviet Union, has intercepted 71 of the missiles fired on Saturday by the U.S., British and French forces, he added. https://www.aol.com/article/news/2018/04/14/russian-president-vladimir-putin-condemns-trumps-syria-attack-calls-for-emergency-un-meeting/23411152/

April 14, 2018

Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, says: “None of our aircraft or missiles involved in this operation were successfully engaged by Syrian air defenses.” He says there also is no indication that Russian air defense systems were employed early Saturday in Syria.

The Russian military had previously said Syria’s Soviet-made air defense systems downed 71 out of 103 cruise missiles launched by the United States and its allies. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/latest-israel-syria-brought-airstrikes-54464243

Consider the following:

April 14, 2018

A third world war may be coming and it’s starting from Syria

Yonden Lhatoo warns the threat of a wider global conflict has become alarmingly real, now that US President Donald Trump and his allies are taking unilateral action against Syria and risking retaliation by Russia …

Tucker Carlson’s rant this week against bombing Syria and potentially starting a third world war made total sense. … far more informed commentators than me, as well as senior officials involved, are warning of the real threat of a third world war. http://www.scmp.com/comment/insight-opinion/article/2141717/third-world-war-may-be-coming-and-its-starting-syria

Russia doesn’t have the conventional military strength to stand up to the US and its allies, so if attacked, it may feel the need to respond asymmetrically or even brandish its nuclear force in a way that could bring about World War III. …

For the US, the path to punishing Syrian President Bashar Assad for what it sees as repeated gas attacks against civilians could easily veer into a massive conflict with Russia. …

In Syria, all the makings of World War III are there, http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-syria-caution-may-avert-war-2018-4 …

The strike on Syria is not the start of World War III.

WWIII is not a USA, UK, France war against Russia, Syria, and Iran (see also World War III: Steps in Progress).

Russia does not care for what happened, but it is not seriously considering a nuclear war because of this.

But there are prophetic ramifications of this.

Consider that it is possible that operatives of the Syrian government (and there are thousands of Syrian refugees in the USA, Canada, UK, and France, and various parts of Europe) will take some type of terrorist actions consistent with the following:

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — … 11 Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-9, 11-12)

As far as other prophecies, Daniel 11:40-43 and Psalm 83:4-8 apply–which means that Syria will have to change. Notice something I posted about that back in 2012:

Syria will change, now or later. The King of the South will rise up (Daniel 11:40), it will not be Iran, and thus Syria (directly or indirectly) is likely to play a role in that occurrence. Syria will end up being a supporter of that king–thus the situation in Syria must change.

Various former COG writers have tied Syria in with an end time confederation and/or the King of the South.

Daniel 11 also mentions some of the Mideast peoples who will be involved in that struggle among the nations at the close of this age. The belligerents will include the “King of the North,” the leader of the European Union (or its final outgrowth, called the “Beast”). The “King of the South” (an Islamic leader—apparently from Egypt {or} some other Muslim state) is also referred to. The following lands/peoples are specifically mentioned: Egypt, the Holy Land (Israel/Palestine), the Ethiopians (modern Cushites, south of Egypt), Libya, Edom, Moab and Ammon. Many descendants of the ancient peoples known as Edomites or Idumeans now live in the West Bank, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Arabia, Yemen, the Persian Gulf states, etc. (McNair R. Solving the Arab-Israeli Impasse! Copyright Raymond F. McNair 2005, Church of God—21st Century).

King David of ancient Israel in a prophetic psalm (Psalm 83) provides additional insight into the Mideast picture. Germany (Assyria in Bible prophecy) and perhaps the rest of Europe will be in league in the future with a union of Arab nations–a vast confederacy bound together in an effort to crush out the name “Israel” from the face of the earth! This Arab-Moslem confederacy may very well be the previously mentioned “king of the south”–a sphere of power encompassing vast portions of the Islamic world.

“They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom [Esau or modern-day Turkey, a non-Arab but Islamic nation], and the Ishmaelites [Saudi Arabia]; of Moab [part of Jordan], and the Hagarenes [anciently these peoples dwelt in the area known as Syria today]; Gebal [Lebanon], and Ammon [modern Jordan], and Amalek [part of the Turks]; the Philistines [the modern Palestinians] with the inhabitants of Tyre [Lebanon]; Assur [whose descendants, the Assyrians, migrated to Germany] also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot [Jordan and Western Iraq]” (Psalm 83:4-8)…(Stump K. The Arab World in Prophecy. The Plain Truth, December 1979) …

The Bible shows that Syria’s capital city Damascus will be destroyed:

7 thus says the Lord God: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus (Isaiah 7:7-8)

3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. (Amos 1:3)

1 The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

23 Against Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are shamed, For they have heard bad news. They are fainthearted; There is trouble on the sea; It cannot be quiet. 24 Damascus has grown feeble; She turns to flee, And fear has seized her. Anguish and sorrows have taken her like a woman in labor. 25 Why is the city of praise not deserted, 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,” says the Lord of hosts. 27 “I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, And it shall consume the palaces of Ben-Hadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch. There will be changes in Syria and Damascus will be destroyed. The continuing violence there is likely to play a role in that. (Thiel B. ‘Damascus Volcano’ and CP: ‘Damascus a Ruinous Heap?’ COGwriter, July 21, 2012)

Egypt will be part of an end-time confederation according to the Bible (Ezekiel 30:1-9).

A confederation that will include Syria. Even though Syria’s current President Bashar Assad is a Shi’ite Muslim, he will not be able to stop this from happening. …

An Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria and Egypt is coming (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-9; Psalm 83:4-8) is coming.

A worsening situation in Syria and dictatorial situation in Egypt would seem to be factors in speeding up this occurrence. (Thiel B. Leaders issue warnings about Damascus, Israel, and Egypt. COGwriter, December 17, 2012)

And notice something from 2013:

Syria’s Assad can make claims, but making them happen is another matter. …

Since the Bible suggests that Syria will support the coming final King of the South (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8) and a change in or from the Assad regime will be necessary for this to happen–and it will come to pass.

An Islamic confederation that will include the land of Syria is coming (Daniel 11:40-43; Ezekiel 30:1-8; Psalm 83:4-8) is coming. A worsening situation in Syria would seem to be a factor in speeding up this occurrence. (Thiel B. Syria’s Assad says his side is going to win, but the Bible indicates otherwise. COGwriter, January 6, 2013)

The bombing of Syria is a weakening blow against the Assad regime.

A reader sent me a link to an article by Tim McHyde that contained the following:

Many prophecy pundits who expect this prophesied Middle East war often think that it will lead next to the Ezekiel 38-39 Gog Magog war. The reason for this is Ezekiel also talks about an attack on Israel. The attacker named as Gog of Magog is popularly thought of to be Russia, or lately, even Arab or Islamic hoards. But if you put the Magog identity question aside and focus on the timing of this war through linking it up with two parallel prophecies, you’ll see that it has nothing to do with any pretrib war. https://escapeallthesethings.com/damascus-israel-isaiah-nuke/

The above writer is correct that Ezekiel 38-39 is not talking about a pre-tribulation war. Many who point to Ezekiel 38 overlook aspects which make that impossible, such as the following verses:

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.” (Ezekiel 38:8-9)

The tiny nation of Israel is NOT dwelling safely–that will NOT happen until a time AFTER Jesus returns.

Now getting back to Tim McHyde’s writings, he has errors in  his teachings:

What has to happen first is revealed in another prophecy. In Psalm 83 … This describes a massive Arab attack on Israel by a confederacy of nations that has never happened in history (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq and probably Syria). Like Isaiah 17 it predicts a devastating defeat for Israel’s attackers …

Instead of the Gog Magog war, the effects of this war sets up for something much worse. The Great Tribulation cannot commence until the Arabs are taken out of the picture.  …  this war must come next is that this Middle War prophecy spoken of in so many OT passages cannot fit any other time. 04/13/18 https://escapeallthesethings.com/damascus-israel-isaiah-nuke/

He, like many others (including those in many COGs), misunderstands the prophetic sequence. Psalm 83 is related to the start of WWIII, the start of the Great Tribulation. While the Arabs will be defeated, they are not defeated until AFTER the start of the Great Tribulation.

First, they are involved in a deal with the Europeans:

15 So the king of the North … 25 … And the king of the South …  27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. (Daniel 11:15,25,27)

The King of the North is a European power and the King of the South is a power from the Middle East and North Africa (Daniel 11:40-43). Psalm 83 may well be part of the lying discussion we see in Daniel 11:27.

Now, related to the sequence of events, notice something that Jesus taught:

15 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. 19 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! 20 And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:15-21).

That abomination is mentioned in Daniel 11:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. (Daniel 11:31)

This is what Jesus referred to in Matthew 24:15. Of course, that prophecy about the sacrifices stopping will not be fulfilled until after the sacrifices are resumed, which having a Jewish nation could (and at some point in time will) do (see also Why is a Jewish Temple in Jerusalem Not Required?).

Now seeing that, let’s look at the sequence in Daniel 11:

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done.

37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all.

38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things.

39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

40 “At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

41 He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon.

42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.

43 He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. (Daniel 11:36-43)

So, after the abomination, a militaristic leader destroys the strongest fortresses and then an Arab-related coalition called the King of the South.

Daniel 11:39 is the start of WWIII. Since it is the USA that has the strongest fortresses in the 21st century, this is a reference to the destruction of the USA (see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses)–and that is by a European power as Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 13 help make clear (for additional details, watch the video Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

At some point in time, likely prior to the start of the Great Tribulation, Damascus will be destroyed as Isaiah 17:1 clearly states.

Syria will change and support the coming King of the South.

But, that King of the South power will also one day be defeated–but that will be AFTER the start of the Great Tribulation.

The latest bombing by the USA, UK, and France is helping set the stage for change to come and various prophecies to be fulfilled.

UPDATE 04/15/18: We just uploaded a new video related to this:

15:58

Syria and the start of World War 3

On April 14, 2018, Syrians were awakened by the sounds of about 120 missiles/bombs sent against areas of their country. The United States of America, United Kingdom, and France launched this attack related to claims of chemical weapons use earlier that week. Will Syria’s capital one day be destroyed as prophesied in Isaiah chapter 17? If so, could this be before the start of the Great Tribulation? Are there prophecies about Syrians and the UK and USA? Is this attack against Syria leading to WWIII between the USA/UK/France and Russia/Syria/Iran? Is there an Arabic power that will rise up and be destroyed before the Great Tribulation as Tim McHyde has written related to Psalm 83? Is Ezekiel 38/39 about to be fulfilled? Who is the biblical King of the North and the biblical King of the South? Will the Beast power destroy the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies (like the UK, Canada, Australia, & New Zealand)? Could this be WWIII and the start of the Great Tribulation? What is the prophetic sequence of events according to Jesus and Daniel the prophet? Dr. Thiel addresses all of these matters and more.

Here is a link: Syria and the start of World War 3.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 14th, 2018 at 8:00 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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