Syria using Iranian weapons against its protesters
Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad (Source: Agência Brasil, Wikipedia)
بشار الأسد
The following is demonstrating the ties and dependency that the Assad regime now has on Iran:
24 March 2012
WASHINGTON — Iran is providing a broad array of assistance to Syrian President Bashar Assad to help him suppress anti-government protests, from high-tech surveillance technology to guns and ammunition, U.S. and European security officials say…
“Over the past year, Iran has provided security assistance to Damascus to help shore up Assad. Tehran during the last couple of months has been aiding the Syrian regime with lethal assistance – including rifles, ammunition, and other military equipment — to help it put down the opposition,” a U.S. official said. http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/24/10842227-iranian-weapons-help-bashar-assad-put-down-syria-protests-officials-say
Something will have to change in the region. While Iran acts like it wants to cooperate to get out of sanctions against it, some believe this is simply a delay tactic by Iran (e.g. US, EU welcome Iran nuclear letter, suggest talks)–the regime in Iran has clearly stated that the elimination of the nation of Israel is one of its goals. While not all in Iran want conflict, the current regime may decide that it needs to do this to 1) fulfill its understanding of Islamic prophecy and 2) to keep itself in power longer. And a serious war between Iran and Israel will most likely involve Syria.
The Syrian government has its own problems, and is getting more and more cut off from the international community. Syria’s President Assad might decide his personal best option is to more closely support Iran and perhaps be involved in an invasion of Jerusalem and Israel. If so, this might be how certain scriptures involving Syria/Damascus is fulfilled.
Notice what the Bible shows will happen to to Syria’s capital Damascus:
1 An oracle concerning Damascus:
“See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. 2 The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down,with no one to make them afraid. 3 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. (Isaiah 17:1-3)
3 Thus says the Lord:
“For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four,
I will not turn away its punishment…5 I will also break the gate bar of Damascus,
And cut off the inhabitant from the Valley of Aven,
And the one who holds the scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Syria shall go captive to Kir,”
Says the Lord. (Amos 1:3, 5)
Of course technically, Syria is still at war with Israel as it never did sign a peace deal with Israel. So an actual war involving Syria and Israel is quite feasible. If so, Israel may hit back so hard that it might eliminate Damascus as Isaiah 17:1 says will happen. Iran may also get “neutralized” in such a regional conflict (either militarily and/or politically) as it is not shown to have an important direct role in scripture until after the King of the South is eliminated (Daniel 11:40-43), and that King has not risen yet (nor will he be Iranian).
Notice also the following:
Islamists seek influence in Syria uprising
AP – March 21, 2012
The gunmen in eastern Syria, wielding grenade launchers and assault rifles, announced on the Internet they were forming the “God is Great” Brigade and joining the country’s rebellion. They swore allegiance to the Free Syrian Army and vowed to topple President Bashar Assad.
But unlike many other rebel bands, they wrapped their proclamation in hard-line Islamic language, declaring their fight to be a “jihad,” or holy war, and urging others to do the same…
The groups diverge from violent jihadi movements to political moderates like the Muslim Brotherhood, which has already used the Arab Spring revolutions to vault to power in Tunisia and Egypt elections.
Their growing influence is seeding divisions within an already fractured opposition. A week ago, several prominent figures quit the Syrian National Council, the body of exiles that has tried to emerge as the opposition’s political leadership. They complained the fundamentalist Brotherhood dominates the group.
The council is “a liberal front for the Muslim Brotherhood,” said Kamal Labwani, a veteran secular dissident, who broke away. He said the Brotherhood was trying to build allegiances on the ground in Syria…
The Brotherhood “are lying low, waiting to see how events unfold and reap the fruits of the fight.”
And while Iran will not become the final King of the South, various Islamists, perhaps like the Muslim Brotherhood, will. Syria is currently trying to use force and Iranian weapons to stop this from happening. But the reality is that an Islamic power is starting to ruse up throughout North Africa and the Middle East. And Syria will apparently end up being part of that, despite interim steps that its President Assad is now taking.
As Jesus said in Mark 13:37, we all should watch.
Some articles of possibly related interest may include:
The Arab World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What does Islam teach about the Imam Mahdi?
Is There A Future King of the South? Some no longer believe there needs to be. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Is he the Imam Mahdi? What does the Bible say?
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