The Prophetic Cycle

There are portions of scripture, Isaiah 17 included, which point to future events in Middle Eastern nations. These sections of God’s word are often difficult to read and pray because the prophets follow a pattern: exposure of sin, description of the consequences of that sin, a call to repent, and finally the promise of future restoration. Reading through the consequences coming to these nations because of rebellion against God and mistreatment of His people is painful.

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However, these promises of restoration and healing – for Israel and her enemies – are glorious and certain if those nations obey His word, repent and return to covenant faithfulness.  As we pray into these passages, remember that most prophetic texts in scripture have multiple fulfillments – there is both a ‘now’ expression and a fuller fulfillment coming at Christ’s return.

Damascus, Syria

Recent upheavals in Syria call us to find out what God’s word has to say about this large northern neighbor of Israel. In Isaiah 17, Isaiah foresees a time when Damascus will “cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins”. Throughout scripture, Damacus is associated with wars against Israel. In 732 BC, Damascus was sieged and attacked by the king of Assyria but the city did not disappear. In the current conflict involving Israel, Iran, Russia and even Turkey, the possibility of utter annihilation is a reality.

A prophecy against Damascus: ‘See, Damascus will no longer be a city
but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted
and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no-one to make them afraid.
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. Is.17:1-3 NIVUK

As Israel has defended herself against her enemies attacking from seven fronts since October 7, 2023, cities in both Lebanon and Syria have been bombed and attacked. These cities were hiding places of Hezbollah terrorists, their headquarters or munitions depots, or the meeting places of terror groups plotting evil. Damascus has been one of those cities. With Hezbollah leadership decimated by Israel, Sunni terrorist groups and other terrorist factions have begun to rebel against the Assad regime and its Iranian and Russian backers, bringing danger to Christian populations in Aleppo and other cities, and ushering in greater instability in the region. The long border of Israel with Syria makes future attacks against her major cities inevitable.

Damascus and the Time of Jacob’s Trouble

Isaiah 17 goes on to describe the utter destruction of Damascus’ leaders and the sad fate of the population. The following verses, 4-6, link these events in Syria with the advent of the ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’. This will be a time of terrible suffering in Israel, where her former glory wanes, her ‘flesh grows thin’ and only a few survivors will be found in the land.

‘In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away.
It will be as when reapers harvest the standing corn, gathering the corn in their arms –as when someone gleans ears of corn in the Valley of Rephaim.
Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten,
leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs,’ declares the Lord, the God of Israel.Is.17:4-6 NIVUK

Both the devastation coming to Damascus, and Syria- an already war-torn nation abandoned by her leaders- and the time of terrible shaking coming to Israel, arouse our intercessory compassion. God’s desire is always that none should perish but all come to saving faith (2 Peter 3:9). He has come to save the whole world (John 3:16).

Good News

The next verses, Isaiah 17:7-8, express the outcome of these events on the populations of Israel and Syria – each one will turn to the Holy One of Israel and away from idolatry. This is good news!  God’s discipline results in salvation and healing if it is heeded.

In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.
They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. Is.17:7-8 NIVUK

Let’s pray

Holy One of Israel, Lord of Angel Armies, God of all compassion, we remind You of Your word in Isaiah 17. We see nations raging (Ps.2; Is.17:12-13) and know that it is because Your Son, the Jewish Messiah, will return in His glory to sit on His throne in Jerusalem. As this conflict of kingdoms increases in the Middle East – ethnos against ethnos and nation against nation – we cry out for the salvation of the peoples of both Israel and Syria. We ask for Your watchful care over the believers in Syria, especially those in the city of Aleppo now threatened by terrorists. The nation of Syria has long endured corruption of its leaders and the subjection of its peoples to the ambition of terrorist nations like Iran and Russia. Pour out Your Spirit and reveal Yeshua to Syrians, especially those in Damascus, a city destined for ruin. You have promised that though there will be devastation, there will be a turning to You and a rejection of idols both secular and religious. Expose the empty lies of Islam and call people to the glorious sacrifice of Your Son. Send laborers into the Syrian harvest field even now and strengthen believers in the land to boldly preach the gospel of the kingdom.

Jer. 49 predicts a similar time of destruction for Damascus as well as the destruction of Iran’s wicked leadership along with the ‘breaking of Elam’s bow’, the power of Islam. Even as You are already growing the Body of Messiah in Iran, setting up Your throne in her midst, do the same in Syria! Allow the church in Iran to witness to the Syrians.

And as Israel continues to battle for its very existence, we thank You for the promise to restore her after her time of trouble, causing her to look to You, her Maker, the Holy One of Israel. Bring revival in the nation of Israel among soldiers, leaders and both Jewish and Gentile civilians. Watch over Your word to perform it we pray, in Jesus’ Name.

Final Word

Psalms 69:13 reads. “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, Hear me in the truth of Your salvation.” The Middle East conflict is historically long and complex. As we read and pray God’s perfect word, He alone determines the timing of its fulfillment. We trust that as we pray, He hears and answers according to His perfect timing. Do not grow weary in this work of prayer knowing, in time, we will reap a harvest of righteousness! (Gal.6:9)

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Lori Meed is a leader on IFA’s Headline Prayer Live and an IFA contributing writer. In 2004, God moved her family from Canada to the U.S., imparting to them His heart for this country and for revival. Having walked out her own journey of freedom after being radically born again in 1992, Lori has a heart to see others set free to walk fully in their destiny. She is also passionate about teaching on aliyah (“going up,” the return of the Jews to the land of Israel), the feasts of the Lord, and the rich connections of the gentile churches to Israel. Lori is now blogging at All Things Restored at Word Press.com. Photo Credit: Mahmoud Sulaiman on Unsplash.