NOTES ON THE SECOND SEAL AND THE DRUMS OF WAR: THREE GREAT CONFLICTS TO COME IN THE MIDDLE EAST Part II

PART II: THE WAR OF ISAIAH 17

SCRIPTURE. “The mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Damascus [capital of Syria, and Israel’s bulwark against Assyria]. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.” – ISAIAH 17:1, AMPC

QUOTATIONS

“We shall remember…Damascus, the ‘Pearl of the East’, the Pride of Syria, the fabled Garden of Eden, the home of princes and genii of the Arabian Nights, the oldest Metropolis on Earth, the one City in all the world that has kept its name and held its place and looked serenely on while the Kingdoms and Empires of four thousand years have risen to life, enjoyed their little season of pride and pomp, and then vanished and been forgotten” – MARK TWAIN, ‘The Innocents Abroad, or The New Pilgrims’ Progress,’ 1869; edited

“By branding the rule of President al-Asad as illegitimate, Western countries may have been morally just, but they thereby prematurely blocked any opportunity they might have had to play a constructive role in finding a political solution to the Crisis. The question was what should have Priority: Being Morally Correct or helping to find a Solution?” – NIKOLAOS VAN DAM, ‘Destroying A Nation: The Civil War in Syria,’ 2017; edited

Selah. Selah.

  1. FIRST THOUGHTS

I had mentioned in the last Commentary that doing this Series on War in the Middle East is, to say the least, daunting. This second installment is no less daunting, and quite possibly, all the more so. And here is why, at least in part.

Syria has been a Nation at War since its inception, nonetheless true today in the midst of its bloody Civil War that has savaged so many, including precious children. As J. P. MCFADDEN wrote of this butchery of children in a special edition of ‘The Human Life Review’ in the Fall of 1989:

“The long and the short of it is that the exaltation of pleasure entails the annihilation of the child.” A Despot’s ‘Pleasure’ in War-Making’ included in this dark assessment.

Secondly, those individuals or nations who prefer Violence and War to Peace through the Rule of Law will pay a Heavy Price for it. Jesus Christ said it best, of course.

“Then Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back in its place; for all those who habitually draw the sword will die by the sword.’” – MATTHEW 26:52, AMP

This is as true for The United States of America as it is for Syria, or Israel, or Russia, or China, or Iran – or any other Nation. We shall indeed ‘Reap’ whatever it is that we have Chosen to Sow over a sustained, policy and philosophy-driven Agenda.

“Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap.” – GALATIANS 6:7, AMPC

You feeling this, beloved? Good. Now to work on a ‘Brief History of Syria,’ as run up to the Teaching on the Prophecy regarding the Ruin of Damascus.

  1. HISTORY OF SYRIA

I’ll try to keep this brief (I know, I know), as I ponder the fact that Syria is arguably the oldest inhabited Region on the face of this entire earth. I will Bullet Point it and insert its long History of Warfare to drive home my Thesis, along the way.

SOURCES. Include an assembly of predictable ones, including Wikipedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, and History.com, among a few others.

  • ORIGINS. While contemporary science dates the origins of Syria to the Paleolithic Period (800,000 BC) to an ostensible Middle-Paleolithic Period (200,000-40,000 BC), I take a much more conservative archeological perspective that at the earliest, takes us to approximately 10,000 BC as one of the centers of Neolithic Culture (Pre-pottery) where agriculture and cattle breeding appeared for the first time in the world. But more likely and conservatively still, we look to the ruins of Ebla, near Idlib in northern Syria, discovered and excavated in 1975. Ebla appears to have been an East Semitic speaking City-State founded around 3,000 BC. At its zenith, from about 2500 to 2400 BC, it appears to have militarily controlled an Empire reaching north to Anatolia, east to Mesopotamia and south to Damascus. 
  • EARLY WARS. Ebla was probably conquered into the Mesopotamian Akkadian Empire (2335-2154 BC) by Sargon of Akkad around 2330 BC. The City re-emerged, as the part of the Nation of the Semitic speaking Amorites, a few centuries later, and flourished through the early Second Millennium BC until conquered by the Indo-European Hittites. Parts of Syria were controlled by the Neo-Sumerian Empire, Old Assyrian Empire and Babylonian Empire between the 22nd and 18th centuries BC. The region was fought over by the rival empires of the Hittites, Egyptians, Assyrians, and Mittani between the 15th and 13th centuries BC, with the Middle Assyrian Empire (1365-1050 BC) eventually left controlling Syria. From the 10th century BC the Neo-Assyrian Empire (935-605 BC) arose, and Syria was ruled by Assyria for the next three centuries, until the late 7th century BC. After this empire finally collapsed, Mesopotamian dominance continued for a time with the short lived Neo-Babylonian Empire (612-539 BC), which ruled the region for 70 or so years.
  • CLASSICAL ANTIQUITY. In 539 BC, CYRUS THE GREAT, King of Achaemenid Persians, took Syria as part of his Empire. Due to the character of King Cyrus, known in the Region as ‘the Gracious Monarch,’ and called by the Scriptures as ‘Jehovah’s Shepherd’ (Isaiah 44:28), and its location on the Eastern Mediterranean coast, its navy fleet, and abundant forests, Persians showed great interest in easing control while governing the region. Persian dominion of the Region ended with the conquests of the Macedonian Greek king, Alexander the Great in 333–332 BC, after the Battle of Issus which took place south of the ancient town Issus, close to the present-day Turkish town of Iskenderun. Syria was then incorporated into the Seleucid Empire by General Seleucus who started, with the Seleucid Kings after him, using the title of King of Syria.
  • ERA OF THE SIX WARS. A series of Six Syrian Wars were fought between the Seleucid Empire and the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, during the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC over the region then called Coele-Syria, one of the few avenues into Egypt. These conflicts drained the material and manpower of both parties and led to their eventual destruction and conquest by Rome and Parthia. Mithridates II, King of Parthian Empire, extended his control further west, occupying Dura-Europos in 113 BC. By 100 BC, the once formidable Seleucid Empire encompassed little more than Antioch and some Syrian cities. In 83 BC, after a bloody strife for the throne of Syria, governed by the Seleucids, the Syrians decided to choose Tigranes the Great, King of Armenia, as the protector of their kingdom and offered him the crown of Syria. 
  • THEN CAME ROME. The Roman General Pompey the Great captured Antioch in 64 BC, turning Syria into a Roman Province and ended Armenian rule, establishing the City of Antioch as its capital. Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Alexandria, with an estimated population of 500,000 at its zenith, and being a commercial and cultural hub at the Region for many centuries later. The largely Aramaic-speaking population of Syria during the heyday of the Empire was probably not exceeded again until the 19th century. Syria’s large and prosperous population made it one of the most important Roman provinces, particularly during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. In the course of the second century AD, the cities of Palmyra and neighboring Emesa (modern-day Homs) rose to wealth and prominence and both would be notably active in the third century, both in resisting the Parthian Empire but also in raising up Roman usurpers. 
  • SUMMARY. Syria was the region that was located to the northeast of Palestine. Its principal city was Damascus. In Old Testament times, the Region was called Aram. The King of Syria was an ‘Opponent’ of King Solomon (1 Kings 11:23-25). Later, a King of Syria joined with King Ahaz of the Northern Kingdom of Israel in an attempt to throw off Assyrian Domination. When the Southern Kingdom of Judah Refused to join the rebellion, Syria and Israel attacked Judah in a conflict known as the Syro-Ephraimitic War. The Assyrians conquered the Syrian capital in 732 B.C. In New Testament times, Jesus’ reputation as a healer spread into Syria (Matthew 4:24). Paul’s encounter with the Risen Christ took place near Damascus in Syria (Acts 9:1-9). There were a number of Christian communities in Syria, which Paul visited on his missionary journeys.

TRANSITION. This brings us through the Early New Testament Era, that provides us with enough History for understanding my Thesis: Like so many largely Pagan Nations in early history, War and Military Conquest were pretty much the Norm for Syrian monarchies and despotisms as well. 

Selah. 

  1. BIBICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF DAMASCUS

Now to a more focused study of the Scriptural Mentions of the City of Damascus, that help us further to appreciate God’s Dealings with that ancient City, and its larger Nation, under consideration.

SOURCES. This section is adapted from the EDITORS of ‘Bible Study.org,’ retrieved on October 29, 2020; edited. Scripture references are taken from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC).

  • BACKGROUND. “Damascus, in the KJV Bible, is directly named at least sixty times. The City’s first mention is in the Book of Genesis, where it is connected with Abraham’s military victory over a confederation of kings led by Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:15). The City was both a strategic and commercial hub as it was the starting point for the major north-south route, east of the Jordan River, called the King’s Highway. Naaman, a Syrian officer, complained to Elisha that his healing from leprosy should take place in one of Damascus’ two rivers instead of in the Jordan. He ultimately relented, however, bathing in the Jordan and miraculously healed (2 Kings 5, see also Luke 4:23- 7).”
  • PAUL’S ROAD. “Saul’s Repentance, which eventually turned him into the Apostle Paul, began with a trip to Damascus. Before his conversion, He traveled to the City to haul off to jail all those in the synagogues who believed in Jesus (Acts 9:2). God, however, strikes him blind during his journey begins to lead him to repentance. The Lord, after Saul had fasted for three days, contacts a disciple named Ananias in the City. He commands him to not only visit and heal Saul of his blindness, but also to baptize him (Acts 9:10-18). After Saul receives God’s Spirit, he immediately begins to evangelize the city. His teachings and the ability to prove that Jesus is the Messiah are so effective that Jews in Damascus quickly seek to murder him (Acts 9:20-25)! Paul, after he fled Damascus, stays in Arabia to be taught by Jesus. He returns to the City after leaving Arabia.”
  • 2 SAMUEL 8:5. “And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew 22,000 of them.”
  • 2 KINGS 8:7. “Elisha came to Damascus, and Ben-hadad king of Syria was sick; and he was told, The man of God has come here.”
  • ACTS 9:3-5. “Now as he traveled on, he came near to Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me [harassing, troubling, and molesting Me]?’ And Saul said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is dangerous and it will turn out badly for you to keep kicking against the goad [to offer vain and perilous resistance].’”
  • 2 CORINTHIANS 11:32-33. “In Damascus, the city governor acting under King Aretas guarded the city of Damascus [on purpose] to arrest me and I was [actually] let down in a [rope] basket or hamper through a window (a small door) in the wall, and I escaped through his fingers.”
  • GALATIANS 1:17. “Or did I [even] go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia, and afterward I came back again to Damascus.”

IN SUM. Now we are in a much better position to dive into the Study proper of this fiery Scripture regarding God’s Judgment of Damascus. While it sounds harsh indeed, recall that all the Lord does is mitigated by three things:

God’s perfect Wisdom. God’s perfect Love. God’s perfect Justice. 

  1. THE TEACHING

“The mournful, inspired prediction (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Damascus [capital of Syria, and Israel’s bulwark against Assyria]. Behold, Damascus will cease to be a city and will become a heap of ruins.” – ISAIAH 17:1, AMPC

PREFACE. You will note so carefully the Wording of the passage: “The mournful, inspired ‘Prediction’ (a burden to be lifted up) concerning Damascus.” Though the theologians still debate whether or not this has already happened in the past, the Spirit who penned the words made it clear – this is a War yet Future.

More on that from the Commentaries that follow. But first, the Breakdown of Key Elements, as always.

  • CEASE FROM BEING A CITY. The Hebrew text here uses this word for Cease, is ‘Sur’ [סוּר]: “Literally, to turn off; to apostatize or rebel; to turn aside out of one’s course, from following [truth or honor]; to depart from the way; to be removed from the oppressor’s yoke (of lifeless things); to come to an absolute end; to forsake, pass completely away; be removed (imp. from the face of the earth).”
  • TO BECOME A RUINOUS HEAP. Here two Hebrew terms come together, ‘Mappalah’ [מַפָּלָה], from a root word meaning, “To fall away or drop into utter ruin due to a violent event of some kind, as in falling in battle.” And ‘Mei’ [מְעִי], translated as “A pile of contorted rubbish; from a root word meaning to be bent, crooked, or writhe as in sinning or doing wrong; to turn upside down and make impassable [or uninhabitable, completely useless].” 

IN SUM. From this we further Conclude that whenever this shall take place, as a closed door to the doubters, the City shall be for the first time in all its thousands of years of history, Nonexistent. Webster (1828) says, it shall “stop from moving” or being. It shall be no more, as in it shall utterly “Cease from being a city,” no longer capable of providing a habitat for humanity, to borrow a phrase.

For Jackals perhaps, but not for Man.  

COMMENTARY. “Sin desolates cities. It is strange that great conquerors should take pride in being enemies to mankind; but it is better that flocks should lie down there, than that they should harbour any in Open Rebellion against God and Holiness…The people had, by sins, made themselves ripe for ruin; and their glory was as quickly cut down and taken away by the enemy, as the corn is out of the field by the husbandman. Mercy is reserved in the midst of Judgment, for a Remnant. But very few shall be marked to be saved. Only here and there one was left behind. But they shall be a Remnant made holy. The few that are saved were Awakened to Return to God. They shall acknowledge His hand in all events; they shall give Him the glory due to His name.” – MATTHEW HENRY, ‘Exposition of the Old and New Testaments,’ 6 vols., 1708-1710; edited

The Point here is well taken, in fact, several points are worth considering. 

One, God’s Motive, even in blistering Judgment, is to turn people’s hearts back toward Him. Second, He only resorts to such fiery Reproof as an Instrument of last resort, following a long period of Warnings (as with 120 years in Noah’s Day; Genesis 6:3). I treat that Final Point below, for its terrible and wonderful importance.

THE REMNANT. From the Books of Moses beginning in Genesis to John’s ‘Apokalupsis’ on the barren rocks of Patmos, the Principle of the Remnant streams strong and steady through it all. A simple explanation is offered by MARK FONTECCIO in an online Bible Q&A Forum. – ‘Return to the Word,’ Retrieved October 29, 2020; edited

“The Remnant Principle, as seen in Scripture, is that historically ‘God Moves in the Minority.’ This can be seen all the way back with Noah, in Genesis 6–7. Noah and his family survived, but everyone else perished. Genesis 18–19 once again reveals the Remnant Principle to us with Abraham and Lot. Or, consider the Nation of Israel; it was the Minority of the people who came back from exile because most of the Jewish people had turned away from God…Postmodernism is forcing churches to take sides. Churches are splitting over issues like Open Theism, the Emergent Church, the Seeker Sensitive Movement, and the Purpose Driven Movement. This is a part of the Remnant Principle that is healthy for the Body of Christ. How much better it is for the Bride of Christ to Take a Stand for the Savior, rather than just trying to get along with the world and concede to the doctrines of men.”

I loved his Conclusion and Call to Become Faithful to the Truth and Orthodoxy in these Last Days – something that you will hear from this writer till I have no more breath nor ink nor Ideas from the Holy One.

  1. CONTEMPORARY ASSESSMENTS

A Question that remains largely unanswered is this: Just Who is it that God uses to destroy the City of Damascus? Here a few possibilities as I begin to draw us toward a single Conclusion.

WAYNE CROWLEY. Author and prophecy scholar, Mr. Crowley, holds an MBA graduate degree in Finance, undergraduate degrees in Managerial Economics and Political Science (with honors), and is the recipient of the prestigious Clyde Jacobs and Larry Peterman Distinguished Scholar Award. 

Here is how he addressed the Question.

“The events of Isaiah 17 will not occur before the start of the End Times or even at the start of the End Times. The fulfillment of Isaiah 17, particularly the Destruction of Damascus, will come during the latter portion of the End Times, near: (1) The start of the end time Siege of Jerusalem. (2) The Coming of the Lord. (3) The arrival of the Fullness of the Gentiles. The attackers will likely travel through Syria and northern Israel and leave a wake of destruction as they advance to besiege Jerusalem.” – “Pinpointing the Timing of Damascus’s Destruction,” ‘Prophecy Proof Insights,’ May 2013; edited

MIKE TAYLOR. Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church in Gainesville, Georgia, and blogger on End Time events, Mr. Taylor offers what I consider to be savvy geopolitical insight to join with Mr. Crowley’s earlier ideas. Here is a summary of his analysis in answer to the Question about Who attacks and levels Damascus.

“Israel takes a hard hit from this War in her northern part of the Nation, as the verses above attest to [Isaiah 17:2-6]…In this prophesied event, northern and central Israel are named as taking damage and casualties, although comparatively less than Damascus (Damascus loses the kingdom, but Israel only the fortress). War is never completely one-sided. If Israel is prompted to attack Damascus, they will certainly suffer casualties in the process. Going further in the prophecy we can see that, as has usually been the case, Syria will not be acting alone against Israel…

God Almighty Deals with these Arab Nations [who, I assert, attacked Israel in the Psalm 83 War] in His own way.

A Multitude of Nations attack ‘us’ or the Nation that Isaiah addressed in his prophecies: The southern kingdom of Judah (as opposed to the northern nation of Israel). The Jewish people make up the modern State of Israel (which is why they almost called it the State of Judah). Therefore, the description fits yet another Middle East War where Israel is attacked by her mainly Arab and Islamic neighbors such as Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and probably also Iran (who is not Arab). Yet, like before, Israel will be victorious—and probably even quicker than in the Six Day War of 1967. Notice in verse 14 that it takes only from one evening until the next morning to achieve decisive victory.

It sounds like Israel is faced with no other option, but ‘The Samson Option,’ and she brings out her nuclear weapons and Damascus is ‘taken away from being a City,’ as she has been the lifeline for the continued attempts to destroy Israel. It will mean the complete annihilation of her enemy armies and not to mention 10’s of millions of civilian casualties. No wonder that Isaiah says that the situation shifts overnight from a terror for Israel and the tragedy for her enemies.”

BRIDGE TO THE NEXT WAR. “Israel will finally feel safe in her own country, as she has defeated all surrounding enemies. She has defeated the Palestinians, the terror group of Hamas, Hezbollah, and all nations that border hers in a decisive victory that may be shorter than the Six Day War of 1967 when she uses this Sampson option. Note that in Ezekiel 38 when they talk about the countries of modern-day Arab nations, none of the inner ring of Arab nations are mentioned? Only ones you will find will be the major suppliers that got the other nations destroyed by Israel and by God. 

Israel is now safe (for a little while)…She will become gloriously wealthy and the larger Arab nations, and the Persian nation of Iran who all are Muslim, will not let this stand. With large sums of arms, cash and weapons from Gog and Magog, which many believe is Russia, she will think an evil thought.” – “Isaiah 17: The Destruction of Damascus,” ‘Pastor Mike Taylor Blogspot,’ December 13, 2019; edited

ISREAL IN RETALIATION.  The Logical Calculus in all this admitted, though informed, Surmise, is that one war leads to the next war and then to the next – all increasing in both violence and lethality, as I argued earlier. 

Further, I agree with both the soft suggestions of Mr. Crowley and the harder ones by Mr. Taylor that it is most likely Israel in Retaliation against – now watch this – the Non-Signatory Nations to the Abraham Accords Agreement proposed by President Trump and his ‘agente provocateur,’ Jared Kushner. This then, in my view, responds best to the Question about who attacks Damascus.

  1. LAST THOUGHTS

Let me begin to Conclude by reminding you of something I wrote of recently, “The Butterfly Effect.” The idea that Small Initial Conditions often if not always lead to rather Massive Consequences. Kind of like an Historic ‘Ricochet’ Effect:

RICOCHET. Defined from an early gunnery strategy wherein you “fire a bullet, shell, or other projectile) where it Rebounds one or more times off a surface; properly, the motion of an object or a projectile [or idea] in rebounding or deflecting one or more times from the surface over which it is passing or against which it hits a glancing blow.”

My thought here is that Early Events and Ideas have a powerful, Later Effect as they impact, then ‘Ricochet’ off one another in history, in often unexpected ways, to create entirely Different and Disastrous Conditions or Consequences than the ones intended.

Rename it: The Law of Unintended Consequences, yet One stands above all of it as Sovereign Designer, to insure it reaches its ‘Telos,’ or End Point – as with The Last Days.

Selah.

JUST AND UNJUST WARS. From the perspective of Christian Theism and the English Common Law Tradition, some wars are ‘Justifiable,’ and others are not. Here is a thumbnail review of the SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF THE JUST WAR.

Taken from JEFF MCMAHAN of the New York Times, in ‘Berfrois,’ November 24, 2012; and DR. JOHN MESSERLY, writing for ‘Reasoning and Meaning,’ May 8, 2015; edited

“THE ORIGIN of Just War Theory is usually traced to the writings of Augustine [and later, Thomas Aqinas], though many of the theory’s elements became well established only much later, during its ‘Classical’ period between the early 16th  and mid-17th centuries. The Principles of Just War Theory were then understood to be part of a unified set of objective moral principles governing all areas of life. Like the principles concerned with truth-telling, commerce, sexual relations, and so on, Just War Principles were to be used in guiding and judging the acts of individuals. Later, however, as individuals became more firmly sorted into sovereign States and the regulation of Warfare through Treaties between States became increasingly effective, the Theory began to conceive of War as an activity of States, in which individual soldiers were merely the instruments through which states acted…

‘JUS AD BELLUM’ (‘Right to War’), to determine if Violence is ever to be Justified.

  1. JUST CAUSE – The reasons for going to war need to be just, and can’t be solely for recapturing things taken or punishing people who have done wrong.  In addition, innocent life must be in imminent danger and intervention must be to protect life. 
  1. COMPARATIVE JUSTICE –  While there may be rights and wrongs on all sides of a conflict, to override the presumption against the use of force, the injustice suffered by one party must significantly outweigh that suffered by the other.
  1. LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY – Only duly constituted public authorities may wage war.
  1. RIGHT INTENTION – Force may be used only in a truly just cause and solely for that purpose—correcting a suffered wrong is considered a right intention, while material gain or maintaining economies is not.
  1. PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS – Arms may not be used in a futile cause or in a case where disproportionate measures are required to achieve success.
  1. LAST RESORT – Force may be used only after all peaceful and viable alternatives have been seriously tried and exhausted or are clearly not practical. It may be clear that the other side is using negotiations as a delaying tactic and will not make meaningful concessions.
  1. PROPORTIONALITY – The anticipated benefits of waging a war must be proportionate to its expected evils or harms.”

BOTTOM LINE. All Wars fought must be based on these largely theologically sound Principles, which in effect resolve to this: A Just War is one authorized by the Divine Will of the Father, and waged according to His means and methods.

Having said all that as we together consider the gravity and savagery of War, perhaps we need reminding of this classic address by Union Army General WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN. 

To the graduating class of Michigan Military Academy on June 19, 1879, he said this.

“I’ve been where you are now and I know just how you feel. It’s entirely natural that there should beat in the breast of every one of you a hope and desire that some day you can use the skill you have acquired here. Suppress it!’ You don’t know the horrible aspects of War. I’ve been through two wars and I know. I’ve seen cities and homes in ashes. I’ve seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I TELL YOU, WAR IS HELL!”- Emphasis my own

THE UNJUST WAR. The Converse of all this organically derived from rich Biblical Soil is its Opposite: The Despot, the Madman, the Tyrant’s use of Military Power. The Consequences of which are at times, nearly Unspeakable.

Think Shoah here. Selah.

CODA. As we close, I want to remind all here that for those who know and fear God, there is a Final Arbiter of all Wars, who Manifests Himself in Isaiah’s War in ways that are universally instructive to us now.  

Listen closely to our Ultimate Security.

“The nations will rush and roar like the rushing and roaring of many waters—but [God] will rebuke them, and they will flee far off and will be chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind, and like rolling thistledown or whirling dust of the stubble before the storm.” – ISAIAH 17:13, AMPC

ALBERT BARNES COMMENTS: “The word ‘Rebuke’ means that He would disarrange their plans, prevent their success, and defeat their purposes. It shows the great power of God, that he can thus by a ‘Rebuke’ – a word – arrest mighty nations, and discomfit them when they are tumultuously hastening onward in the confidence of victory.” – ‘Commentary and Notes on the Old and New Testaments,’ 14 volumes, 1830-1839; edited

In matters of War and in matters of Peace, there is One Sovereign over it all. And we do well to heed the words of President Abraham Lincoln on such occasion:

“During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln was purportedly asked if God was on his side. ‘Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side,’ said the President, ‘my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.’”

POSTSCRIPT ON THE AMERICAN SOUL. With Lincoln’s Wisdom in mind, let’s move to this Final Point.

It’s October 31st, on a Full ‘Blue Moon’ Saturday, as America prepares to – and this is the only thing that came to mind – ‘CROSS OVER’ – a Rubicon of sorts, to some ‘New [‘Chadash,’ חָדָשׁ] Place.’ 

And I believe with all my heart, that as never before in our entire History, GOD IS WATCHING – The Nation, and especially, The Church, for how they shall Choose this coming TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020.

  • THE FAITHFUL. He will Mark their vote and heart, ever so carefully, to Confirm them as they Fearfully Choose both God and His Canon.
  • THE APOSTATE. Likewise, He shall ever so closely Watch their vote, and the “desires of their hearts,” as Evidence of their Reckless Departure from God and His Canon.

One way or the other, beloved, America is about to ‘SING A NEW SONG’ (Psalm 33:1-5). – For God and Truth and Honor. Or for the Adversary and the Lie and for Dishonor.

Toward a ‘Song of Rejoicing’ as over against, a ‘Funeral Dirge.’

JESUS SAID IT: “For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.” – MATTHEW 12:37, AMP

Choose Well America, Choose Well, Church. Your Future depends on it. Or as my people might have said it: “Tiempo para todo el Juego de Pelota.” And remember journalist TED KOPPEL’S CRY to the graduating class of Duke University in May 1987:

“Truth even whispered is a Howling Reproach.”

Ever your servant, DK

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