Many were floored by President Trump’s recent announcement that the US will be making a “full and rapid” withdrawal of US troops from Syria. (See source A, at bottom.) Yet, in the light of Bible prophecy, we shouldn’t be surprised. Another puzzling tidbit of news was overshadowed and (thus far) little talked about. We were clued in today that the US State Department is pushing for missile sales and anti-aircraft/anti-missile system sales from the US to Turkey. (Source: B, at bottom.)
Could this have anything to do with the timing of pulling out of Syria? It sure looks that way after reading the article (Source B). Not only is it a 3.5 billion-dollar deal, but the US hopes (in vain) to strengthen ties with Turkey. Turkey has recently threatened to buy missiles and the S-400 anti-aircraft/missile system from Russia.
By giving in to what Turkey wants, the unwise folks in Washington DC think they can continue a “seven-decades old US-Turkish relationship” with Turkey. And of course President Trump doesn’t want Russia to gain more of a hold over Turkey. But at what cost? And will this work, or backfire?
If and when Turkey buys our US Patriot air and missile defense system, they will then have access to some of our most sensitive technology. Did the State Department people not consider that Turkey may very well share this technology with Russia? I certainly believe it’s likely they will.
The timing is also odd. The proposed deal must be approved by Congress. And “the State Department has put together a special deal which only gives Congress a short 15 days to review and act on the deal.” Does the president hope to get this accomplished prior to the new 2018 mid-term Congress being sworn in? Let’s not forget that the House will then be majority-Democrat held.
Is Pres. Trump making a last ditch effort to ‘make a deal’ with the (current) Republican-held Congress in the last hours of having a slim majority in both the House and Senate? Could that ‘deal’ look something like this? “You give me the WALL funding, and I’ll make an arms deal with Turkey and retreat from Syria?”
Just a thought. Yet one I think is very plausible. Especially considering the timing. There sure won’t be any deals made after the Democrats take control of the House in January. So the timing is much more than just suspect.
Pres. Trump knows his window of opportunity to get the wall funding passed is rapidly evaporating. He must realize that he won’t get a wall (even by shutting down the government) for the next two years when the extreme obstructionists Democrats get into the House, holding the majority. The question is, how badly does he want the wall? Another question: How much does he like to make deals? Is his ego so big that he would make a deal for the wall at any cost?
Here’s another question: Why else would Pres. Trump choose now to abandon the Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians in Syria knowing full well that Turkey has full intentions of invading that area and massacring them all? Can you think of any other plausible reason for Pres. Trump to throw Israel under the bus as well as the Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians in Syria?
We all know he wants the wall very much. We all know he’s all about the “art of the deal.” Many of us (myself included) voted for him because he promised to both be a friend to Israel and to build a wall and beef up the military and US security (which his predecessor left in shambles and depleted). But none of us ever dreamed those two things would ever come in conflict with one another. Nor could we have imagined a scenario like this one where they would! They seem to be mutually exclusive. But are they? Is anything mutually exclusive when it comes to the “art of the deal”?
Yes, we need a wall. But at what price? This? No. The price is too high. And if this goes through, we’ll know the deep state has control over the Republicans in Congress as well. Will they sell their souls for pork and pet projects? When haven’t they? I’m sure that also will be part of the ‘deal’ the deep state is offering to broker for Congress if they hold their nose and throw Israel (and Kurds, Yazidis, and Syrian Christians under the bus).
Nasty deals are made in Congress all the time. They’ve sold the US citizens out long ago. Do we really think they would think twice about selling out Israel, Kurds, Yazidis, and Syrian Christians? Yes, I suppose there are a few good Congressmen and women still in office. But I don’t think it’s a far stretch to conclude that there are far more sell-outs there to line their pockets and get rich in these perilous last days.
Will the current Republican-held House and Senate stand up against this and do the right thing? When have they? We’ve been waiting for two years for Congress to do something. Especially since it was (for those two years) a majority-held Republican congress. Have we gotten anything from them over the last two years but empty promises? Think about it.
One thing is for sure: President Trump wants a wall pretty badly. He knows it won’t happen any time within the next two years after the Democrats take majority control of the House of Representatives. He’s already called for the removal of troops in Syria, and already said he’d sign onto selling Turkey US missiles and anti-aircraft/missile systems. Did he make a ‘deal’ with the demonic deep state for the wall? My opinion is that it’s very likely. I sure can’t think of any other reason why he’d do something so foolish and damaging to all our Mideast allies (and no, Turkey isn’t our true ally, even though they are a NATO member).
What else would cause the president to throw our actual allies under the bus in preference of a fake ally (Turkey)? Has he forgotten it’s only been two and a half years since Erdogan staged a fake coup and locked down the US airbase in Incirlik, Turkey? The Turks even shut off electricity and food supplies to US troops during that time. Turkey even tried to blame the US for inciting the obviously fake coup.
Things were very tense during that time because the US had 50-90 tactical nuclear weapons at the Incirlik air base. Erdogan loyalists took to the streets yelling “death to the US” and called for the immediate closure of the Incirlik base. You can find plenty of articles about this (hopefully without leftist lunacy spin), as there was a lot of coverage at the time by conservative media. Strangely (or not so strangely), the leftist-run mainstream media had little to say about it (since Obama was in office at the time).
Here’s a “Gateway Pundit” article (Source D, at bottom) about the Incirlik air base lockdown (dated: July 16, 2016) The title: “Erdogan Holds 1500 US Servicemen Hostage at Incirlik” (In case you weren’t aware of what happened, or had forgotten).
Who did that fake coup benefit? Only Erdogan and his loyalists. All others who were in opposition to him becoming the supreme ruler and basically the dictator of Turkey were ‘conveniently’ locked up in prison, Most of whom still reside in prisons there today – even those whom he simply suspected of it, without any proof whatsoever.
Erdogan has extreme delusions of grandeur. He thinks he will revive the Ottoman Empire and will himself be the Caliph over all of Islam. There’s not space here to get into Islamic eschatology (both Shia and Sunni). But it is the mirror opposite of true Biblical end-time prophecy.
Regardless, not many are even mentioning the proposed Turkish deal. They haven’t yet connected the dots. However, many in the military are speaking out loudly about this abrupt announcement to withdraw all US troops from Syria. Most generals are scratching their heads and wondering what the president is thinking and whom he’s getting such bad advice from.
Politics aside, in the light of Bible prophecy, we shouldn’t be surprised by either event. Both are hastening Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39.
In today’s podcast (12-19-2018, Source C), Mark Levin was outraged as well. He rightly laments over the fact that a US withdrawal will put Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians in peril. It will very likely be a bloodbath when Turkey steps in to seize control of northern Syria. And yes, it will also make it easier for Russia, Turkey, and Iran to take action against Israel.
Here’s what I believe to be far worse than those things Mr. Levin mentioned: What’s worse? (And this is something else most people aren’t connecting the dots on, but should be.) If the US sells missiles and anti-aircraft/anti-missile systems to Turkey, think of how we (as American citizens) would feel about our very own US missiles and systems being used by Turkey against Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians in Syria. Think about how we would feel about those same systems being used by Turkey against Israel (or attempted to be used against Israel, as the case will be when God destroys those who come against Israel in the Ez. 38-39 war).
What is the president thinking? No ‘deal’ (not even a wall) is worth this. Yes, I do agree a southern border wall is needed here in the US. But not at this cost. Especially not when Turkey is just an ‘ally’ in name only. Not only the cost to our own troops in any future action (should the Lord tarry) after Turkey shares our sensitive missile-system information with Russia. The US will be at an extreme disadvantage militarily once Russia gets access to our systems secrets via Turkey.
But worse? If and when Turkey uses these same weapons against our allies the Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians in Syria, and even worse, if they use these US-made systems against Israel (or attempt to – even though we know via scripture it will be an unsuccessful attempt). Nevertheless, how proud will any of us be of our US-made missiles and systems once Turkey uses them for any of these reasons?
Levin didn’t mention the possible US sale of missiles and anti-aircraft/missile system to Turkey in his podcast. I wonder what he will have to say about that? Will he be able to connect the dots also? But he certainly does see how bad this complete withdrawal of US troops from Syria is. He was livid over it.
Levin (in the podcast, Source C) says: “I fear this will precipitate a major war… .”
Yes, it sure will. Below is my long response to his social media post:
“Yes, Mr. Levin. This will precipitate a major war. Read the Bible. Ezekiel chapters 38-39. Isaiah chapter 17. Exactly as foretold.
Do you really think Russia, Iran, and Turkey are waiting outside Israel’s border for no apparent reason? These nations were foretold to come against Israel in these latter days. (Trace the names given back to Genesis chapter 10; through to Ezekiel 38-39; and forward to the current-day names of Russia, Iran, Turkey, and smaller factions of N. Sudan and Libya.)
Bible believers have been talking about this for decades. We’ve been waiting for this coalition to form. Yet here we are with the EXACT coalition foretold in scripture and no one else seems to have a clue??
Read Ezekiel 39:2-5. This coalition will attempt to invade Israel on the Golan, which is the northern mountains and open field described. Precisely as foretold. We even know WHY the Russian leader will desire to head this strike. The natural gas and oil in the Golan (the “spoil” of great monetary worth and the “hooks in the jaws” described in Ez. 38). We even know what the OUTCOME will be! God Himself will destroy that evil coalition.
It’s also foretold that NO NATION will come to Israel’s defense. Why? Because God does not want or need any nation’s help. He alone will defeat Israel’s enemies when this wicked coalition attempts to invade on the Golan. Why?
“And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them” (Ez. 39:21).
“So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward” (Ez. 39:22).
Read both chapters. You’ll get the flavor of what is soon to happen. Just as foretold, just as aligned. Mock at your own peril. What will you say when it comes to pass? Will you simply claim it’s a ‘coincidence’? As you are right now claiming it’s a mere ‘coincidence’ that Russia, Iran, and Turkey are ready to invade Israel? Just as foretold!
There’s no reason to scratch your head in wonder. God’s word foretold this coalition. God’s word foretold that no nation (not even the US) would come to Israel’s aid in this soon-coming war. Read and believe the scripture. God has this one!
Furthermore, there’s much more to come after this war transpires. Daniel 9:27 will occur. The antichrist will confirm a covenant with Israel, a seven-year (false) peace covenant also giving permission for Israel to build the temple and re-institute sacrifice and oblation. This will happen after Ezekiel 38-39 because only then will the Muslim nations have respect for Israel once they see Russia, Iran, Turkey (et al) defeated.
Yes, the temple will be built on the temple mount. But it won’t be what they hope for as the antichrist will defile that temple 3.5 years after this (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:4).
What else will happen? Read Revelation chapters 6 –18. The wrath of God will be meted out upon the God-hating and Christ-rejecting world. It will be more horrific than any nightmare or Hollyweird movie you’ve ever seen. Over half of the world’s population will be dead within the first 3.5 years (Rev.6:8; 9:15-18). Even worse for those who survive past the 3.5 year midpoint, as then the mark of the beast will be rolled out (Rev. 13:15-18). Those who won’t accept the mark will be killed. Yet those who do accept the mark will be eternally damned (Rev. 14:9-11).
God will take Israel through the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7), and bring an entire 1/3 of them through to the end of those last 7 years of human government on earth (Zech. 13:8-9; Rom. 11:25-26; Rev. 12:6 and 12:14, among others). Many Gentiles will also come to Christ during that time period (Rev. 14:6); yet they won’t be given the protected status that the Jewish remnant will have during that time. Instead, most will be beheaded (Rev. 6:9-11, 13:7, 20:4; Dan.7:21, et al).
Jesus will return at the end of the 7 years and destroy the antichrist and all those who hate God and reject Christ (Zech. 12:10; Rev. 19:11-21, et al). He will rule and reign in righteousness for a thousand years wherein Israel will have land promises restored and many other blessings, as foretold.
That is just a short summary. Those who reject Jesus now will suffer horribly in the soon-coming tribulation. Yet YOU are given a final warning now, ahead of time. Come to Christ now for salvation and you are promised deliverance from the promised and foretold wrath to come (1 Thes. 1:10; 1 Thes. 5:1-9, et al). God’s word even tells us how those who believe on Jesus for salvation will be taken out of the way and delivered (1 Cor. 15:49-53; 1 Thes. 4:16-18).
How do you come to Christ for salvation? Believe the gospel. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose the third day (the gospel as declared such in 1 Cor.15:1-4). BELIEF is the requirement (Rom. 10:9-13; John 3:15-18; Rom. 3:23-26; Eph. 2:8-9, et al). Call upon the name of Jesus to be saved (Rom. 10:13). Only He can wash your sins away and bring reconciliation to God.
Time is short, and God’s word has foretold this all. God gave you free will to make the most important decision ever. Believe on Christ for salvation or reject Him and suffer God’s wrath and eternity in hell. The choice is yours; choose wisely (John 3:18).
There will be many who mock, ridicule, and scoff at this. Also foretold (Jude 1:18; 2 Pet.3:3-4). You do so at your own peril. God and His word will not be mocked without recompense (Galatians 6:7).”
SUMMARY
The above was my response. And I realize Mark Levin will never read it himself. Even if he did, he’d laugh it off. It never ceases to amaze me how many Jews don’t study the Tanakh (Old Testament), and when they do, they often study only the law (the Torah, which is the 5 books of Moses). They often set aside the Nevi’im (the prophets).
Isn’t it strange that Christians who believe God’s word and understand God’s many promises for Israel seem to know His word (even the Old Testament) better than most Jews?
There’s a reason for that. Romans 11:25-36. Right now, Israel is “blind in part.” As we know, many Jews have come to Christ throughout this entire church age/age of grace. Yet the majority of Jews right now are “blind in part” while God is also calling out Gentiles. This partial blindness of Israel has an end date, though. When the “fulness of the Gentiles be come in.” Once the last Gentile in the age of grace/church age comes to Christ, this dispensation will close with the rapture of the church!
Once the rapture occurs, the tables will turn. A new dispensation will commence. God will then be working predominantly with Israel, bringing them through the seventieth week of Daniel (and then the time of Jacob’s trouble) with special provisions promised specifically to them. Instead of Israel being “blind in part,” Gentiles will be, as many Gentiles will be given over to a strong delusion then (2 Thes. 2:10-12).
While some Bible scholars believe the “time of Jacob’s trouble” to be synonymous with the entire seventieth week of Daniel, I do not. I believe the time of Jacob’s trouble to be the last half (last 3.5 years) of the 7-year tribulation. Compare these scriptures:
“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it” (Jer. 30:7).
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:21).
Jesus delineates between the first half and the second half of the tribulation by stating that the second half would be “great tribulation.” In fact, so much so that the world had never seen such a time, nor ever would. This echoes the “none is like it” scripture of Jeremiah 30:7. It’s clear that God’s word is speaking of the same event and timeframe. The last 3.5 years of the seven-year tribulation will be “great tribulation” and the “time of Jacob’s trouble.” Yet, Israel (Jacob) shall be saved out of it (Jer. 30:7; Rom. 11:26; Rev. 12:6 and 12:14, et al).
Sadly, Levin (and all others who have not yet come to Christ by the time the rapture occurs and this dispensation closes) will soon be going through the tribulation and then the foretold time of Jacob’s trouble. I sincerely hope he will be one of the 1/3 remnant Jews who are saved, rather than part of the 2/3 which are foretold will be “cut off and die” (Zech. 13:8-9).
I find it so frustrating to watch, read, and listen to otherwise brilliant Jews (such as Mark Levin, Caroline Glick, and even PM Benjamin Netanyahu). Here we Bible-believing Christians are shouting “read the Old Testament… read Ezekiel 38-39, Isaiah 17, and many others.” Aren’t they in the least bit piqued as to why we know the Jewish Old Testament better than they do? And why don’t they want to alleviate this Biblical ignorance?
You’ll read their articles (or watch a video statement) wherein each of those brilliant people will have such insight and depth to almost every topic they speak of. Yet they are glaringly unaware of how it ties in with Bible prophecy.
This leads me to one more speculation. We also know that Pres. Trump also wants to make the deal of all deals between Israel and Arabs. He’s stated recently (and Jared Kushner and others in his cabinet have reiterated) that all parties “might not like” everything in the deal he is soon to propose. We’ve all wondered what he meant by that.
Now let’s think about the timing. Does President Trump not realize that pulling out of Syria and selling US missiles and anti-aircraft/anti-missile systems to Turkey puts Israel in a horrible position? Of course he has to know that. He really can’t think Israel would trust any ‘deal’ he’d come up with now, right? Unless he’s promised something big (which he likely can’t deliver) in exchange for this betrayal with Turkey. Did he clue in PM Netanyahu prior to this horrible decision? Or was the rug pulled out from under PM Netanyahu’s feet? Was he as stunned as we were?
President Trump has to know how upsetting this is to the Israeli government. But another question might be: Doesn’t he want to ‘make a deal’ there also? Could it be that he’s promised Israel a lot of ear-pleasing things in the deal he’s got in mind for them in exchange for something they “might not like so much” – such as the news that the US is completely pulling out of Syria AND simultaneously selling missiles and anti-aircraft/missile systems to Israel’s enemy (Turkey) in one fell swoop?
Before anyone reads that the wrong way, no, I do not think Trump is the antichrist. And no, I don’t think he will be the one to confirm the soon-future Daniel 9:27 covenant. I believe this covenant (described in scripture) cannot even come to fruition until after the Ezekiel 38-39 war, when Israel has new-found respect and fear from the surrounding Islamic nations. So much so that they will (at first) agree to live in (false) peace with Israel and even agree to let Israel build the temple (which is another condition of the Dan. 9:27 covenant).
Think about it; if President Trump (or anyone else today) were to even bring such a topic up as building a temple on the Temple Mount today, he would be laughed at. The ‘deal’ wouldn’t go through, no matter what he (or anyone) offered the Arabs. But after the Ezekiel 38-39 war? That’s a different story. The surrounding Muslim nations won’t have much to say about it once Iran, Turkey, Russia, Libya, and N. Sudan have been dealt a devastating blow by God Himself.
Only then will Israel be in the position to negotiate for a temple, and even the re-instituting of sacrifice and oblation. Both of which are also part of the Dan. 9:27 covenant.
“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” (Daniel 9:27).
As we can clearly see, this future (and I believe it to be soon-future, right after Ezekiel 38-39) covenant isn’t only about false peace. It’s also about building the temple and permitting sacrifice and oblation to resume (which will come to a screeching halt a short 3.5 years later when the antichrist defiles the temple and falsely proclaims himself to be ‘god’ (2 Thes. 2:4; Matt. 24:15; Dan. 9:27).
So no, I don’t think anything President Trump puts together will be “THE covenant” (the Dan. 9:27 covenant). But my question would be: What has he offered (or plans to offer) Israel in exchange for this horrible deal made with Turkey? It would have to be something big. No matter. The Arabs will reject any deal anyone makes (at least until after Ezekiel 38-39 when they’ll have no option but to accept or be ousted from Israel altogether, along with the hideous abomination they built on the Temple Mount). I can’t think of any other plausible timing when the Muslims would accept a Jewish temple. Certainly not prior to Ezekiel 38-39. There’s nothing Pres. Trump can offer them that they’d accept, and especially not that.
What is the take-away from all this? What are we believers to think? First, we know that our trust is not to be in mankind, but in the Lord! No matter what hopes we may have had (or still may have) for the president, he can’t fix this sin-filled cesspool. In fact, he’s only adding to the problems with these two actions of arming Turkey with US missiles and anti-aircraft/missile systems, as well as pulling US troops out of Syria.
“Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies” (Psalm 40:4).
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).
What is the other take-away for us as believers? God’s word will come to fruition. We’ve witnessed the Ezekiel 38-39 coalition form and solidify over the last 2-3 years. It should be no surprise to us that no nation will come to Israel’s defense during the Ez. 38-39 war. That’s exactly what God’s word said would be the case.
It only serves to bring hope that we believers are going home very soon! Grace/church-age believers cannot be present upon this earth when God starts opening Israel’s eyes (Rom. 11:25-26). And as we see in Ezekiel 39:21-29, God begins opening Israel’s eyes and pouring out His Spirit upon them by the end of that war (and it doesn’t appear to be a long war, but quick and devastating to those who attempt to invade Israel on the Golan as described in Ez. 39:2-5).
Not only will Turkey quickly invade Syria, and likely massacre the Kurds, Yazidis, and Christians there, but so too will this embolden both Iran and Russia to strike Israel without concern that the US will step in to help.
We know this aligns exactly with scripture. No one (not even the US) will come to Israel’s defense then. Yet we’d hoped this would be because the rapture would occur prior to the US abandoning Israel. Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be the case. We already knew that the US’ formal position is that the US doesn’t recognize Israel’s right to the Golan (even though we Bible believers do). So it shouldn’t be a big shock that even President Trump is willing to throw Israel under the bus in order to ‘make a deal’ for the wall funding.
The rapture needs to occur before the end of Ez. 38-39. Dispensationally and provisionally. One dispensation must end before the other begins. The church is not Israel (nor do we replace her). These last hours, Jesus is calling the last of the Gentiles in this present age of grace to Him for salvation. Once the last Gentile has come to Jesus in this current church age, the rapture occurs and Israel’s eyes will only then begin to be opened, as foretold.
We should take comfort that the rapture is nigh. It’s always been scripturally imminent (could happen any day, any moment). Yet now, it must occur soon as we are witnessing post-rapture events lining up precisely with scripture.
If nothing else, this should spur on believers to share the gospel with the lost even more fervently in these final hours of the age of grace /church age.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Maranatha!
SOURCES (click links)
Source article A: (US Full and Rapid Withdrawal From Syria)
Source article B: (State Dept. Backing Missile Sale to Turkey)
Source C: (Mark Levin’s outrage)
Source D: (Erdogan Holds 1500 US Servicemen Hostage at Incirlik – July 2016)