Is the Psalm 83 Battle, the destruction of Damascus in one night, and the Battle of Gog and Magog one battle or three (Psa. 83; Isa. 17; Jer. 49:23-27; Ezek. 38-39)? Are they one war or three wars? Well, that depends upon which prophecy teacher you ask.
It is difficult to get a clear answer because there are differences of opinion on these wars.
Some prophecy teachers believe there will be a Psa. 83 War, but others don’t.
Some prophecy teachers believe the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place before the Rapture, but others believe it will take place after the Rapture.
Some prophecy teachers believe the Battle of Gog and Magog will take place before the Tribulation Period, but others believe it will start at or near the middle of the Tribulation Period and continue until the Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Tribulation Period.
So, there are differences of opinion on these events.
But regardless of these differences of opinion, there are at least two things that most of the best prophecy teachers agree on: One, in that day (at the time of the end), Damascus, Syria will be destroyed in one night; and two, there will be a Battle of Gog and Magog in the latter years and latter days.
When I am talking about a potential Psa. 83 War, the destruction of Damascus and the Battle of Gog and Magog, I usually treat them as three different battles.
When asked about the sequence of these battles, I usually tell people it is just my opinion that they will happen at or about the same time.
If there is a Psa. 83 War (and I won’t argue about it, but I tend to agree with those that teach it), I believe it will be before the Battle of Gog and Magog.
But I hasten to tell people that I believe a war between Israel and her neighbors could trigger a war between Israel and Syria. And either one of these wars could trigger the Battle of Gog and Magog.
War could break out as one battle on one front and wind up being several battles on several fronts. One event could also follow another by only a matter of days.
Having said that, on Oct. 10, 2017, Israel’s Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, told a group of listeners that “the lines between countries and regions are rapidly disappearing.”
He said, “The next outbreak of violence would require the mobilization of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) on multiple fronts.”
Lebanon and Hezbollah are now essentially one entity, not two. Both are dominated by a third power called Iran. A war with one could be a war with all three.
Russia and Iran dominate Syria. Both have bases, troops and weapons in Syria. A war with Syria could turn into a war with Russia and Iran.
Iraq is dominated by the Shiite government of Iran.
Hamas, a terrorist group in Gaza, is building a base in Lebanon with Hezbollah support.
The Fatah-run PA government in Gaza has signed a reconciliation agreement with the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza to enhance their opposition to Israel, etc.
This is the point: These groups have become so intertwined that a war with one of them is essentially a war with all of them.
This means Israel must prepare to fight all of them on several fronts, not just one of them on one front.
And that is what Israel is doing.
Israel has issued warnings to the whole world, but no one is listening.
Israel has tried diplomacy, but that has not worked.
Israel has now concluded that war is the only option and that the Jewish nation is running out of time to act.
The world may view all of this as one battle, but it could fulfill one, two or three prophecies before it is over.
About this, keep in mind the fact that Israel, the Arabs and the U.S. have formed an alliance to oppose Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons, to discuss Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish nation and to explore the possibility of a Mid-East peace treaty.
This opposition to Iran’s acquisition of nuclear weapons may have influenced Pres. Trump’s Oct. 13, 2017 decision to de-certify the JCPOA (Iranian nuclear deal).
Congress now has 60 days to act. If Congress doesn’t act in 60 days, Pres. Trump will be free to act as he sees fit.
It is just possible that Iran’s desire for nuclear weapons, the Arab and Israeli opposition to it, and Pres. Trump’s desire for the ultimate deal (a peace treaty in the Middle East) are all coming together at the same time in history to fulfill several prophecies in rapid succession.
Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com