Damascus, Syria is the oldest inhabited city in world history. We are now seeing many Mideast events that could cause it to "cease to be a city", igniting the Psalm 83 War.
Once it all begins, it will be like a chain of dominoes falling.
“See, Damascus will cease to be a city but will become a heap of ruins" Isaiah 17:1
It is important to note that as a result of the coming Psalm 83 War, victorious Israel will no longer be bordered by her enemies. Her enemies will be vanquished and she will own all the land.
It appears very possible that Syria has now sent either chemical or biological weapons across the border of Syria, into the Golan Heights:
"Israel quarantines base in Golan Heights, near Syrian border, after outbreak of infection "
http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/07/25/israel-quarantines-base-in-golan-heights-near-syrian-border-after-outbreak-of-infection/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/158216#.UBCR0SLS3mU
A complete lock down of this military base, with people in Hazmat suits sanitizing every square inch, does not sound like any typical infectious process.
Surely, Israel has launched an intensive medical investigation into the exact source of the illness.
Once Israel fully investigates the disease process and it is determined to be either chemical or bio-warfare, Damascus would be a prime target.
We are but 2 days away from the 9th of Av, which "commemorates a list of catastrophes so severe it's clearly a day specially cursed by God."
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/946703/jewish/What-happened-on-the-Ninth-of-Av.htm
It would make sense that the prophesied "Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Israel's Trouble), would commence on the 9th of Av.
Thereby, it would send the message to all of Israel that the coming trials are those which were supernaturally prophesied, by the Holy One of Israel.
Please refer to Isaiah 17-18, which appears to shed much light on where we are prophetically headed at this very moment.
All the following players of the Psalm 83 War appear to now be on center stage:
Psalm 83 Coalition-
Tents of Edom = [decedents of Esau] Palestinian Refugees and Southern Jordanians
Ishmaelites = Saudi Arabians
Moab = Palestinian Refugees and Central Jordanians
Hagrites = Egyptians
Gebal = Northern Lebanese
Ammon = Palestinian Refugees and Northern Jordanians
Amalek = Arabs South of Israel
Philista = Palestinian Refugees and Hamas of Gaza Strip
Inhabitants of Tyre = Hezbollah and Southern Lebanese
Assyria = Syrians and perhaps Northern Iraqis included
Children of Lot = Moab and Ammon=Palestinian Refugees and Central and Northern Jordanians
Israel has developed a strategy if she is attacked by weapons of mass destruction (WMD's). This protective move is named after Samson in the Bible.
Like Samson, who killed himself in order to destroy his enemies, Israel has the "Samson Option".
This is the military strategy wherein:
Israel would respond with massive retaliation according to the "alleged deterrence strategy of massive retaliation with nuclear weapons as a "last resort" against nations whose military attacks threaten its existence, and possibly against other targets as well"
http://en.wikipedia.org/
The Samson Option would probably be employed if Israel is forced to strike Damascus. The Psalm 83 nations/allies of Syria would assuredly quickly jump into the fray once Israel has struck.
Scripture appears to indicate that Israel herself will suffer mass casualties in this conflict. However, her surrounding enemies will be decimated.
If Israel annihilates Damascus in order to protect her population from being annihilated by Syria's
WMD's, the world would blame only Israel.
After the Psalm 83 war, the anti-Zionist countries of the world would probably be reeling with hatred towards Israel at the carnage.
They viciously hate Israel anyway so it would really inflame them if Israel was to also take the land of her conquered enemies (especially Saudi Arabia's oil rich land).
No longer is it acceptable to seize and own land after military defeats as in the days of the "empires". The world would be livid about Israel's new "occupation" of the land of her defeated enemies.
This is where the "confirm a covenant with many" of Daniel 9:27 comes to play-
Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.
Everyone has always thought that the "covenant with many" would be a peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians.
The Palestinians will never agree to anything less than ALL of Israel and it’s total destruction There will never be any "peace plan" acceptable.
Many have tried through the years but all have failed at their "peace plans". After the Psalm 83 war, a Mideast peace plan will be a moot point because the Palestinians will have perished in it.
The antichrist’s “covenant with many”, in the Book of Daniel, has to be an agreement already in place, as it is going to be "confirmed".
It appears that this covenant that is confirmed will not be of of men, but of God, as His covenant is all that is important-God does not care about mere men's agreements!
The covenant in question would be God's covenant with Abraham giving His land to Abraham and his descendants!
Genesis 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:19The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,20And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,21And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
When Israel defeats her many adversaries and victoriously wins much/most of her Abrahamic Covenant land back, the nations of the world will vehemently protest the mass acquisition of her covenant land.
It may be that after the Psalm 83 war, the antichrist will stand up, against the protests of all the nations, in favor of Israel's right to keep her God-given land.
He may even do so by acknowledging the fact that this land is actually God's covenant land given to Israel. Thus, he would "confirm" the covenant (God's covenant) with many.
Since the antichrist figure would be instrumental in Israel being able to retain and redeem her covenant land it would be thought by the children of Israel that he is their long awaited Messiah.
As per the preceding Temple Mount Faithful link:
"The complete redemption of Israel, the rebuilding of the Temple, and the coming of Messiah Ben David are the next stages in G-d's end-time plans with Israel and the entire world."
In Judaism, they believe their coming Messiah is mandated to bring the world into alignment with the Word of God.
So, if/when the antichrist protects Israel's right to redeem God's covenant land, it would reason that he would be viewed as their long-awaited Messiah.
Since Israel would be recognized to own the land, the 3rd Temple could also be rebuilt.
All the preparations to build the Third Temple are completely ready:
http://theworldisshaking.blogspot.com/2010/07/third-temple-ready-and-waiting.html
According to the below, the revealing of the antichrist, by his role in confirming the above ”covenant with many", will be after the Rapture.
2 Thessalonians 2:6-8".. now you know what is restraining him from being revealed at this time; it is so that he may be manifested (revealed) in his own appointed time. For the mystery of lawlessness (that hidden principle of rebellion against constituted authority) is already at work in the world, but it is restrained only until he who restrains is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one (the antichrist) will be revealed "
Therefore, it appears that the Rapture of the Church will be coincide closely with the destruction of Damascus and the Psalm 83 war.
Many reputable Christians have validated their reasoning and are of the mindset that Obama may possibly be THE antichrist (or at least a forerunner).
Even though Obama is presently anti-Israel and pro-Arab-Muslim he could flip-flop (as is his method of operation).
After there is no Palestinian presence to give Israel's land away to, Obama could change his tune and instead advocate in favor of Israel, regaining her Covenant land.
If not Obama, someone else could come as a broker, to "confirm" this covenant, allowing Israel to redeem the rest of her Covenant land.
The Psalm 83 War would probably be of very short duration due to all of our high tech, modern weapons of mass destruction.
The Rapture may instantly coincide with the coming sudden destruction, or in close proximity.
Therefore, there may not be a chance for people to continue a "wait and see" attitude, in order to decide to give up the things of the world, and to focus on God.
Those who choose to do so would be the foolish virgins, not having enough oil in their lamps.
God knows the intent of the heart. The discerner of men's hearts knows whether the affections for the world are only being released, because it is all about to be ripped away.
To be among the readied Bride, we have to love, obey and be so devoted to God that He is our focus, not the world.
To put the world over God is to be found in a state of adultery when Jesus, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, comes. Those found in such a condition will not be among the true Bride.
There will be much "weeping and gnashing of teeth" by those who allowed themselves to be entrapped by the fleeting allures of this life.
The time to REPENT and PUT GOD FIRST is TODAY, before it is too late!!
