And what of Damascus?

Isaiah 17:1

The oracle concerning Damascus.
Behold Damascus is about to be removed from being a city
And will become a fallen ruin.

Bretheren is there yet to be a literal fulfillment of this Oracle or prophecy. Damascus is still standing. It is considered perhaps the oldest continual living city on the face of the earth.

Blane,

Isaiah - 8th century BC

2 Kings - 5th century BC

Julius

Brother, respectfully, Damascus still continues as a city. Perhaps the oldest city with the same name on the face of the earth. I would respectfully suggest that this prophecy has yet to be fulfilled.

Events in Syria may very well lead up to the ultimate destruction of Damascus. I simply point out that I believe the Old Testament still has prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled. I speak of prophecies which refer to end time events which point to the return of Jesus Christ.

Brethren can we really dismiss what is taking place in Syria today. Some have said that the soon coming of Jesus Christ will be determined by events that take place in Syria.

In just a few short years all of the major world powers have been drawn into Syria. Consider Russia is presently flying air strikes against ISIS and the Syrian rebels. Because of the recent terror attacks in France. Franci s now joining with Russia in a war against ISIS. Germany presently is providing reconnaissance to the US led coalition providing air strikes against ISIS. The US has been leading a multi nation coalition against ISIS for almost 18 months. Add to this that Iran is involved as an ally with Russia to prop up Assad. Even China is getting involved.

Thus we see the United States, Russia, Germany, China, and Iran involved in Syria. I cannot help but wonder if we're seeing the stage set for the Ezekiel 38-39 war.

Let us be careful that we do not become preterist and relegate these things to historical events that have already been fulfilled. To do so is denying the reality of current events that are giving a very realistic fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Particularly prophecies which point to the soon coming of Jesus Christ.

My thoughts from a rainy morning from the bear cave.

Thus if we take a look at current events in Syria as they are now unfolding. The idea of the destruction of Damascus as prophesied in Isaiah has a very realistic expectation to be fulfilled.

Please understand I am not wishing for the destruction of Damascus. As I am about praying for preserving life. But I merely point this out that this is an Old Testament prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled. And it should not be lightly dismissed in view of recent events in Syria.

My thoughts and observations.

It is "right quick", TMK, because it was taken away, then. KJV reading "is taken away from being a city" (not "about to be"), but your reasoning is still good as "about to be" means pretty quick, not 2500 years, later.

Isa 17:1 The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus IS TAKEN AWAY from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.

"is taken away" - present not future.
soor שׂוּר סוּר

Jer 49:23 Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.
Jer 49:24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
Jer 49:25 HOW IS THE CITY OF PRAISE NOT LEFT, THE CITY OF MY JOY! (NOT LEFT, gone, destroyed)

I don't believe Isaiah 17 figures into current events in Syria (or Isaiah 7-8 and Amos 1). We all know that Isaiah and Amos were contemporary prophets. Both Isaiah and Amos foretold that Syria and Israel would be destroyed and fall to the same opponent (Assyria). II Kings 16 reveals that the prophecies are clearly fulfilled. This is also confirmed by historical records.

"In 732 BC, the kingdom of Damascus lost its independence and existence, its holdings carved up into Assyrian provinces. Israel, on the other hand, was allowed to survive, albeit reduced to a fraction of its former size and cut off from the sea”
Source: http://oracc.museum.upenn.edu/saao/aebp/essentials/countries/israel/

A key point to the fulfillment of Isaiah 17 in Isaiah's time is the phrase "in that day" (17:4) Isaiah was saying that Damascus and Syria would fall in the same "day” that Israel would fall. The northern kingdom of Israel, fell in 722 B.C.

Revelation "watchers" today, say Turkey will invade Syria and destroy Damascus. Will Russia standby and watch? They are pretty annoyed regarding Turkey shooting down their bomber and this off the heels of losing their passenger plane coming back from Sharm el-Sheik. Many are saying Turkey is the modern day fulfillment of Magog from Ezekiel 38, but Magog is known by most Biblical scholars as Russia and Turkey is Togarmiah. So, I do not believe Turkey will be destroying Damascus.

There are some prophecies in the Old Testament that can have double fulfillment. There is an immediate fulfillment. And then there is a fulfillment in the future.

Again in light of current events. I do not think that this prophecy can be easily disregarded. For one thing Damascus still continues. The prophecy implies at some point it will be destroyed. Who will destroy it remains to be seen?

The fact that the major world powers are involved in Syria would suggests that the stage is being set for the Ezekiel 38-39 war. That whatever hostilities may break out in Syria could result in the destruction of Damascus.

My thoughts.

Assuming for the sake of argument that the prophecy regarding Damascus has been fulfilled. My question is are all of the Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus? In other words there are no Old Testament prophecies yet to be fulfilled?

No, some believe that the promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Jesus Christ by faith. No one ever said ALL the OT prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus. Many were already fulfilled in the OT, as not all of them are about Jesus. All the prophecies about Jesus were certainly fulfilled.

I don't think the majority of confessing Christians believe the following. I am in the minority.

"The failure to interpret the Old Testament from the perspective of the New has led to much confusion and misemphasis in Christian teaching, allowing the Old Testament to serve as the PRIORITY LITERATURE even in the lives of new covenant Christians. When this happens Christianity is perverted into religious forms of Christianized Judaism. Proper understanding of the Epistle to the Hebrews will reveal the logical absurdity of any expectations that God is going to renew the Jewish religion, re-establish a physical kingdom, reinstitute the Jewish priesthood, reinstate the animal sacrifices, rebuild the Jewish temple, or restore the physical land. Such expectations are the very backward reversions to religion that this epistle warns against, by explaining that all such external and physical religion has been superseded in the spiritual reality of Jesus Christ."
(James Fowler) http://www.christinyou.net/pages/hebrewsindex.html

Revelation Series
http://www.christinyou.net/pages/revel.html

PP Ain't so sure on that one. I think that oracle is ywt to be fulfilled in what we call the end times.

Or have the end times already been fulfilled. I am sure that some hold to the view that Jesus returned in 70 AD. But that would be another discussion on another thread.

If we are saying that the Old Testament prophecies have already been fulfilled. Either fulfilled in the Old Testament. Or fulfilled in Christ. Then how do you explain these passages of Scripture?

Zachariah 14:4
In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in the middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south.

Acts 1:11
They also said Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.

Observation would suggest in Zachariah 14:4 has not been fulfilled yet. At least based on the commentary of acts 1 11.

The accepted view among the most commentators regarding the ascension of Christ is that it took place outside of Jerusalem on the Mount of Olivet. Also known as the Mount of Olives.

If the angels told the men of Galilee that Jesus would return in the same way that He ascended. This would presuppose that Jesus would descend upon the Mount of Olives. If this be so. Then Zachariah 14:4 is yet to be fulfilled.

Also keeping in mind that these Men of Galilee or the Apostles were no doubt schooled in the Old Testament Scriptures. Thus it would be reasonable to assume they knew the Zachariah 14:4 passage. They probably had in mind that Jesus was going to return in the same way that he ascended into heaven. That is His feet were going to touch the Mount of Olives.

I believe Zachariah 14:4 is yet to be fulfilled.

My thoughts and insights.

Mr Blaine

What these passages are really saying is that many, many believers will stand on a mountain somewhere in a state of mind symbolic of the mount of olives in a place that reminds us of Jerusalem, someday in either the past, present but certainly not the future.
In reality this is a literal representation of the church rejoicing so loudly in the inner man that it will feel as though a earthquake is causing a movement within our beings that replicates the physical quaking of the earth.
And this will enable Jesus to return into our hearts in a fuller manner as taught by the many esteemed bible knowledge interpreters of ages past present and not future.
Just AS the angel saw him ascend into a higher place in our innermost beings in the book of Acts he will likewise return in a greater measure of faith whenever we allow our theology to let him.
Yup thats what its says.

Bearmaster,

We are going over old ground. Some of the recent threads have your answer, and Google surely does.

That's fine if you believe Zech 14:4 is yet to be fulfilled. I respect your beliefs as long as they don't support a Christian eschatology that is oppressive and hurtful and dehumanizing to other people. We are supposed too be in this world as Jesus was and to walk as He walked. We don't live in the Old Testament. If your Christian eschatological beliefs support the hurt and oppression of others then they are not Christian and I can't agree with them.

Unfortunately, some people's views of eschatology are political instead of biblical, today.

Jesus Christ is ruling and reigning in the midst of his church, now.

Notdarkywt

Brother good morning. I agree that this is a good spiritual interpretation of Zachariah and Acts. But brother, I do believe there will be a literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps even in our lifetime. This was a hold of the early church. This is the hope of the persecuted church today. This should be our home also. In other words. Christ in you the hope of glory.

My thoughts.