Habakkuk 1:5 Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. -LORD God
Isaiah 17:1 The oracle concerning Damascus. “Behold, Damascus is about to be removed from being a city and will become a fallen ruin.”
Jeremiah 49:23 Concerning Damascus. “Hamath and Arpad are put to shame, for they have heard bad news; they are disheartened. There is anxiety by the sea, it cannot be calmed.
December 31, 2016: There is news out of Syria involving all three cities mentioned in the two prophetic verses; Damascus, Hamath (modern day Hamah), and Arpad (northern suburb of modern day Aleppo).
See video link for geographical detail.
Hamath: The name means “fortress”. In the times of Jeremiah, Hamath was a city in valley of the Orontes River. Hamath was considered the capital of the northern kingdom of Syria. In the early 21st century, this is the city known as Hamah, Syria. It has a population of roughly 854,000 per 2009 census. It is the fourth largest city in Syria (Wikipedia).
Arpad: The name means “I will be spread out.” Per Ellicott’s Commentary, the modern day location is approximately 14 miles north of Aleppo, Syria. The city is effectively on the Turkey border. Scholars believe the modern day city is Tel Erfad, Syria (Barnes Notes on the Bible).
Multiple reports out of the region are indicating ISIS has cut water supplies to the cities. The United Nations estimates up to 15 million people across Syria have been affected.
The Euphrates River is the main water source for Aleppo, specifically the al-Khafsa stations.
Up to 4 million people in and around Damascus have been affected. Water springs north and west of Damascus have been poisoned with diesel by the rebels or Al-Nusra or Al-Qaeda in Syria (group supported by Obama Administration). The areas are Wadi Barada and Ain al-Fija springs. These springs provide 70% of the water for the city of Damascus. Water trucks are distributing water to Damascus. Fighting continues in and around these springs as of December 31, 2016.
Local news sources indicating these findings are Shia. Sources indicate Sunni Muslims are carrying out these crimes against humanity.
Nahum 1:8 But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue his enemies into darkness.
Nahum 2:6 The gates of the rivers are opened and the palace is dissolved.
The prophet Nahum describes the judgment of ancient Nineveh or 21st century Mosul, Iraq. It comes with a flood after a long history of bloodshed.
Fears of the Mosul Dam collapse are on the rise again. Scientists and engineers are expressing great concern for the future of the dam. Iraqi politicians are not as concerned. They say these concerns are overblown.
The Italian engineering firm Trevi continues to repair the Mosul Dam. They have been on the job for six months providing logistical work and planning. Scientific experts state Trevi has approximately 18 months to complete the work. Or the dam runs a high risk of catastrophic failure. The primary problem is the foundation of the dam continues to sink. The dam was built on gypsum.
“I don’t know if it’s a race against time, but we have the know-how and the technology to make the dam safe for the time being,” per an anonymous Trevi spokesman.
Trevi has a $300 million contract to complete repairs for the dam on the Tigris River. Trevi is also training locals on maintenance techniques. The World Bank is providing the money for the project. Trevi states more money is necessary to complete the task.
That is the contractor company line to the current situation.
Enter Nadhir al-Ansari. He is a professor of water resources and environmental engineering at Lulea University in Sweden and a published expert on the Mosul Dam. Al-Ansari has a different opinion.
“No matter how much grouting and maintenance the company will do, it may expand the life span of the dam, but it is just going to delay the disaster. It is just a matter of time. It will be worse than throwing a nuclear bomb on Iraq.”
On the lake side of the dam, sinkholes are increasing in size and number. The size of the sinkholes are 60 feet and larger.
Azzam al-Wash is an Iraqi environmentalist. He does not have much confidence in the repair work on the Mosul Dam.
“This is akin to putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound and pretending that everything is going to be all right,” Azzam al-Wash.
A 26% collapse of the dam would be a disaster. Here are the results of the latest studies released.
“This simulation … results in a very high wave of water, up to 25 meters (about 75 feet) high…arriving at Mosul after 100 minutes. The capital Baghdad is reached after 3.5 days with a maximum water height of 8 meters (about 24 feet) and a mean of around 2 meters (about 6 feet). Floodwater will destroy the infrastructure of all the cities along the Tigris banks, including Tikrit, until the water eventually stops 700km south of the dam.”
Then there is the Iraqi Government take on the dam situation.
Iraqi minister of water resources Mohsin Al-Shammari told media outlets, “The danger is not imminent, it’s far off. The danger is 1 in 1,000…The danger for Mosul Dam is no greater than that of other dams.”
Spokesman Mahdi Rasheed of the Iraqi minister of water resources stated, “It stressed multiple times that the situation in Mosul Dam is nothing to worry about. The Mosul Dam is working very naturally, and grouting and additional construction and repairs are constant.”
A solution would be to build a second dam. That would cost $2 billion. Iraqi leaders are suspicious and do not want outside assistance. They fear long term western occupation.
Zechariah 12:9 And in that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Zechariah 12:3 It will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
December 28, 2016: As of the posting of this article, the 2,500 year old prophetic last sentence of Zechariah 12:3 (And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it) is a true statement. All the governments of the world, including the current government of the United States, are against Israel.
The United Nations recently voted against the Israeli construction of neighborhoods and settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The vote was 14-0. The following countries voted against Israel: New Zealand, Senegal, Britain, France, Russia, China, Japan, Ukraine, Angola, Egypt, Uruguay, Venezuela, Malaysia, and Spain.
The United States could have blocked the resolution by voting no. Instead, the United States Ambassador abstained in voting. This allowed for passage of the resolution. This is the first time since Israel became a nation in 1948 the United States did not support Israel.
In response Israel has recalled ambassadors to Senegal and New Zealand. Israel has also limited a working relationship with the other countries except Venezuela and Malaysia.
Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claim President Obama was behind the drafting of the UN resolution against Israel. Israel states Obama was the force behind “ganging up” on Israel at the UN.
A spokesman for Israel David Keyes made the following claim, “We have rather iron clad information from sources in both the Arab world and internationally that this was a deliberate push by the United States and in fact they helped create the resolution in the first place.”
Israel Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer further stated, “We will present this evidence to the new administration through the appropriate channels. If they want to share it with the American people, they are welcome to do it.”
John F. Kerry has been the Secretary of State since February 2013. Multiple attempts to secure peace in the Middle East have been a failure during his tenure. Now with roughly three weeks left in the Obama Presidency, Secretary Kerry has a vision for peace.
Secretary John Kerry believes “the two state Israel/Palestine peace solution is in jeopardy.”
Secretary Kerry stated the framework for peace lies in the Oslo Accords. The Oslo Accords were based on the Camp David Accords in 1978 under the Jimmy Carter Administration. The Oslo Accords were signed in 1993 and 1995 during the Bill Clinton Administration.
Kerry was highly critical and scolding of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. He stated the Israeli construction of settlements in “occupied territories” is a threat to peace. The Secretary denied United States involvement in the drafting of the recent UN resolution against Israel.
Secretary Kerry finished his remarks with a six principle plan and framework for Middle East Peace and a two state solution for Israel and a future Palestine.
“No American administration has done more for Israel’s security than Barack Obama’s,’’ John Kerry.
The nations of the world are desperate to force the issue with Israel and the Palestinians. The United Nations knows time is short before the swearing in of Donald Trump as President of the United States on January 20, 2017.
Five days before President Trump would take control…on January 15, 2017 France is scheduled to hold a Middle East peace conference in Paris. Representatives from seventy (70) countries are scheduled to attend.
If seventy nations rings a bell, see Genesis 10-11 and the original table of nations. This is the original UN emerging from the Tower of Babel, seventy countries.
“January 15 is the date that has been fixed and 70 countries are invited. We are not going to give up now.” – Jean-Marc Ayrault, French spokesman
Israel and Palestine representatives will meet separately after the meeting. Israel prefers direct negotiations with Palestine.
We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but…….not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!
Israel is becoming more and more isolated on the international stage.
Obadiah 1:15 For the day of the Lord draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head.
Luke 2:16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.
Isaiah 9:6b …a son will be given to us…
Delivered and fulfilled.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
This prophecy was written 700-800 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.
Isaiah is the author. His name in the original Hebrew is ישעיהו/Yesha’yahu. It means “Yahweh is salvation” or “Yahweh has saved”. God is our salvation and He saves. (Strong’s Concordance).
“Yahweh is salvation” is prophesying about the One who will be born and will save. The promise is Jesus or Yeshua in the Hebrew. Yeshua means “to rescue or deliver.”
The prophet Isaiah writes one sentence regarding the birth and promise of the coming of Jesus. One sentence is written about the giving of the Son.
But, Isaiah elaborates regarding the coming promise of His eternal kingdom. Complete peace in the kingdom will be limitless. God will make it happen. He is committed to the cause.
Isaiah 9:6c-7 And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Today, we remember the birth of the Promise and we wait patiently…
December 23, 2016: Today, the United States chose not to vote on the UN resolution banning further construction of Israeli settlements. By abstaining, the measure passed unanimously 14-0. The measure calls on Israel to stop construction immediately. Yesterday, Egypt brought forth the proposal. Today, Malaysia introduced the resolution to the UN.
The Palestinian Authority celebrated the vote as “a day of victory.”
US Ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power stated, “We cannot stand in the way of this resolution…two states living side by side in peace and security. The settlement problem has gotten so much worse. One has to make a choice between settlements and separation. We would not have let this resolution pass had it not also addressed counter productive actions by the Palestinians.”
Israeli cabinet minister Tzachi Hanegbi said the non vote by the Obama administration is a “spits in the face” of President Elect Donald Trump.
“Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the U.N. and will not abide by its terms. At a time when the Security Council does nothing to stop the slaughter of half a million people in Syria, it disgracefully gangs up on the one true democracy in the Middle East, Israel, and calls the Western Wall ‘occupied territory. Would you ban the French from building in Paris?” -Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel.
In response to the vote, the United States Congress threatened to defund the United Nations. The United States is responsible for 22% of the UN funds.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina made the following statement. Graham is in charge of the purse strings to the UN.
“This provocative action by the United Nations is an outrage and must be dealt with sternly and forcefully. If the United Nations moves forward with the ill conceived work to form a bipartisan coalition to suspend or significantly reduce United States assistance to the United Nations. In addition, any nation which backs this resolution and receives assistance from the United States will put that assistance in jeopardy.”
Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma also issued a statement.
“By allowing the United Nations’ anti-Israel resolution to be adopted by the Security Council, in the face of fierce bi-partisan opposition, the actions of the Obama Administration will forever be remembered as a dark, shameful moment for our country. The resolution passed today will only serve as a greater barrier to peace, which can only truly be achieved through negotiations. Instead of pressuring the Palestinians to be a partner for peace, President Obama chose to break with long standing diplomatic practices and allowed the one-sided, anti-Israel United Nations to be used as a tool to bludgeon Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East.
We applaud the efforts of Republican Senators, led by Senator Graham, to strip funding to the United Nations, which has time and again showed their anti-Israel bias. What happened today will forever be on the heads of the President, his Party, and groups like J Street that remained silent.”
“As to the UN, things will be different after January 20,” President Elect Donald Trump tweeted.
December 22, 2016: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel encouraged President elect Donald Trump to offer his opinion on the United Nations vote to stop the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The United Nations was to vote on the construction of Israeli settlements. The settlements have been a sticking point in the peace process. Egypt had written a proposal to stop all construction in “occupied territories”. The draft stated Israel had “no legal validity”.
The UN resolution drafted by Egypt stated Israel “immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem; no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.”
Later, Egypt postponed the vote. There appears to have been multiple contacts between Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and President elect Trump. Allegedly, Trump called al-Sisi specifically after the vote was postponed.
Trump later issued a statement.
“The resolution being considered at the United Nations security council regarding Israel should be vetoed. As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations. This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.”
December 23, 2016: The drama is not over. New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela and Senegal were co sponsors to the Egyptian draft. These countries stated they have the ability to “proceed to put it to vote ASAP.”
Revelation 2:8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
The first and the last…The idea of the Messiah being the first and the last goes back to the Old Testament prophets. The phrase is the calling card to identify the Messiah. Jesus identifies Himself as the first and the last in Revelation 1:17.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me”.
Isaiah 48:12 Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last.
At the last of the book of Revelation and the Bible closes with this reminder.
Revelation 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. -Jesus
…who was dead, and has come to life… The gospel message is simply stated in the first sentence to the church at Smyrna. We know Jesus died on a cross. We know He was buried. We know He resurrected. Jesus is the person talking. Christ proclaims His good news.
Revelation 2:9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
The English word “tribulation” is the Greek word τηλιπσισ/thlipsis. Per Strong’s Concordance it is defined as: pressing, pressing together, pressure; metaphorically it means oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits.
In other words, as believers in Jesus Christ, we are going to come under pressure from the world. This life promises stress and oppression. What we believe will come under affliction.
“Tribulation” or τηλιπσισ/thlipsis is not the same word used for God’s “wrath”. The Greek word for “wrath” is οργε/orge. The word is defined as: wrath, indignation; anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself; of punishments inflicted by magistrates.
A couple of example of God’s wrath are noted below.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…
Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrathof God through Him.
The church does not come under God’s wrath. But the body of Christ was, is, and will be pressured during our earthly lives.
…(but you are rich)…The church at Smryna was materially poor of wealth and worldly possessions. The reality, they were wealthy in an eternal sense. The Greek vocabulary says these folks were people of virtue and character. And they believed in Jesus Christ, their Heavenly possession.
…but are a synagogue of Satan. This is the first of four references to Satan in the book of Revelation.
The Greek word for “synagogue” is not the same Greek word used for “church”.
The word for “synagogue” is the transliterated word συναγογε/sunagoge. Two points about this word. One, it is a physical structure or building. Two, it is an assembly of men.
The Greek word for “church” is εκκλεσια/ekklesia. It means: a called out group of Christians; the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth. The church is not a building.
Satan’s synagogue is different than Jesus Christ’s church.
Satan’s crew, the so called Jewish congregation had some character issues. They used the Lord’s name in vain and they were liars.
Zechariah 12:2 “Behold, I am going to make Jerusalem a cup that causes reeling to all the peoples around; and when the siege is against Jerusalem, it will also be against Judah.
December 13, 2016: The real estate of Jerusalem, Israel continues to be a hot piece of property. The buyer is President Elect Donald Trump of the United States government. The real estate mogul turned elected leader of the free world has sent a team to Jerusalem. The team is looking for a place to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Earlier in December 2016, President Obama signed a waiver and delayed the moving of the U.S. Embassy another six months. President Elect Trump remains committed to fulfilling a campaign promise. Moving the embassy to Jerusalem remains a “very big priority”.
One piece of property being assessed is the Diplomat Hotel in the Talpiot neighborhood. The hotel is currently privately owned. It houses approximately 500 elderly people from the old Soviet Union. The property is allegedly not available until 2020. This building is adjacent to the U.S. consulate compound.
A second piece of property is also in the Talpiot neighborhood. The Trump delegation is meeting with Israel’s Foreign Ministry. They are looking at the availability of a specific plot of land. The real estate was purchased by the U.S. government in 2014.
President elect Trump appears to have options. The area is approximately two miles south of the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.
The rest of the world is watching and listening intently.
Israeli officials are very supportive of the idea. The mayor Nir Barkat of Jerusalem and Prime Minister Netanyahu are on board.
Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem, “The United States of America has embassies in all of the world’s capitals with the exception of Israel. That’s absurd, and moving the embassy to the capital of the Jewish people, to Jerusalem, is a straightforward, standard thing to do.”
International response has not been as promising. The Iranian Defense Minister sent out a tweet stating, “Israel will be destroyed if Trump sparks war in Middle East.”
Adnan Husseini, Palestinian Authority minister for Jerusalem affairs,“Any attempt to move the embassy to Jerusalem will not help achieve peace.”
Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestine National Initiative, “If the US takes such a decision, it will not only be violating international law, but violating a unanimously respected international principle that no country can annex another’s territory by force.”
Revelation 2:8a And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write…
Ancient Smyrna today is Izmir, Turkey. It is located about 35 miles north of Ephesus. Smyrna was founded by the Greeks approximately 3,000 years ago. The city was rebuilt by Alexander the Great in roughly 340 BC. Later, the Romans were given control of the city in 133 BC as a part of Eumenes III will and testament.
Ancient Smyrna was a port city and relied on commercial trade.
The martyr Polycarp was the Bishop of Smyrna. He was killed in 155 AD.
Smyrna became a territory in the eastern leg of the Roman Empire. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 178 AD.
Eventually, Smyrna became part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century.
Today, Izmir is the most populous Aegean port city in Turkey. The city is predominantly Muslim. It is the third most populous city in Turkey. Izmir is home to Turkey’s second largest Jewish community of about 2,500. (Wikipedia)
Since the last update on this topic on November 21, 2016…Earth has rumbled and rumbled and rumbled…
November 24, 2016: Western coast of El Salvador, 7.0 magnitude.
November 25, 2016: Karakul, Tajikistan, 6.6 magnitude.
December 1, 2016: Huarichancara, Peru, 6.3 magnitude.
December 5, 2016: Palue, Indonesia, 6.3 magnitude.
December 6, 2016: Sigli, Indonesia, 6.9 magnitude.
December 8, 2016: Northern coast of California, 6.5 magnitude.
December 8, 2016: Last but definitely not the least, Solomon Islands, 7.8 magnitude. This Pacific location northeast of Australia has recorded at least 62 additional after shocks of 4.5 magnitude or greater in the last two days.
World wide, there has been at least 132 earthquakes 4.5 magnitude or greater logged.
