In the beginning with Abraham, Israel actually originates from the other side of the River Euphrates. In Joshua 24:2-3, we read the following, "...Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood [Euphrates] in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac." It's evident from this Scripture that Abraham, the beginning of Israel, dwelt on the other side. The Euphrates is often mentioned as being "the flood," because during the rainy season this important river would flood much of the land.
Later on in history, we hear the first martyr, Stephen, when he was accused of inciting the people, testify about Abraham, "...Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran" .Acts 7:2
Mesopotamia is the northern part of today's Syria and Iraq. Geographically, the Euphrates is also the border of the land of Israel, the Promised Land. The Euphrates is mentioned for the first time in Genesis 2:14, "And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates." Paradise, therefore, was originally on the Euphrates River!
Today, almost 6,000 years after the murder of Abel, bloodshed is continuing in that very place, right there at the Euphrates River.
Even in recent history, a war started between Iran and Iraq in 1980, lasting until 1988 at a great cost of human lives, many of them children.
Why, we may ask, is the Euphrates River so important? Because this river is the eastern border of the Promised Land. Abraham is the beginning of Israel, and God promised that He would bring about a people, out of which would come forth the Savior. To Abraham, God said, "...in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" .Genesis 12:3. To Abraham's son Isaac, God promised, "...in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed". Genesis 26:4. The same promise was passed on to Isaac's son Jacob, "...in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed" .Genesis 28:14.
Abraham Receives the Promised Land
In Genesis 15:18-21, we read, "In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates." It's clear therefore that God had already given this land, from the Euphrates River to the river of Egypt, long before the nation of Israel even existed. This land was promised once and for all, and that promise has never been retracted.
Euphrates River, the Biblical Border
Today, archeologists debate if Israel ever took possession or occupied that part up to the Euphrates River. Let theologians and archeologists debate as long as they want. The Bible tells us very plainly that the northern border of Israel is the Euphrates River. In 2 Samuel 8:3 we read, "David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates." Not only do we read here that David conquered the land up to the Euphrates, but he recovered it. You can't recover something that does not belong to you in the first place!
Therefore, the Euphrates has great significance. It separates His land from "their" land. It also separates Jerusalem from Babylon. These two cities are diametrically opposed to each other.
Judgement at the Euphrates
In the book of Jeremiah, we read the prophecy of the coming final battle when God's wrath will be poured upon the gentile nations, who will again collectively oppose the Jews with the aim of destroying them. "For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord God of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates" (Jeremiah 46:10). Thus, we see again that the Euphrates plays a major role geographically at this great battle.
These judgements are sure to come because the nations of the world will then have turned against Israel for the very last time. Zechariah 12-14,
Final Judgement of the Euphrates
For the last time, we read the name "Euphrates" in Revelation 16:12. That will take place after five terrible vials of wrath have come upon humanity which results not in faith or repentance, but we read they "...blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds". Revelation 16:11.
Then in verse 12, we see the Far East nations marching towards little Israel for the Battle of Armageddon, "And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared."
To summarize, the Euphrates river which flows through the land of Babylon (Iraq) will continue to be in the headlines until the last battle. Not only recently have we seen the land of the Euphrates involved in military conflict, but this has taken place now for the last two decades. By this we understand that we are approaching the conclusion of world events, and therefore, the Rapture cannot be too far off! We must emphasize at this point that the event which transpired in history in the geographic area of the River Euphrates were never truly international. That has changed. It was vividly demonstrated to the entire world during the Gulf Conflict in 1991. Now with civil war taking place in Syria and diversion between the Kurds, Sunni Moslem' majority, Druze and alawites government in Syria, strife in Iraqi and most middle east countries surrounding Israel.It is not to hard to see events traveling slowly but surely in the the direction thatGod had prophesied through the the scriptures.Zec 12,13, Zec 14 Matthew 24,25,
Syria in Bible
The middle east is where most of the major event will centre around and it is at Jerusalem where Christ will govern over the whole world from at the end of the tribulation period.
Many of you have inquired about the Bible’s teaching concerning SYRIA. As we all are watching the news of the war in Israel that has two fronts: Lebanon, where the battle is severe with the forces and weapons of Hezbollah – and still in the Gaza Strip where Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are struggling against Israel. The common goal of these hostile terrorist organizations is the destruction of Israel and they say so frequently in the news and on their web sites.
All that is going on right now has brought the attention to SYRIA, a strong supporter of Hezbollah and a link to IRAN who is the main contributor to the weapons and needs of Hezbollah. Syria has been a “thorn” in the side of Israel for many years. The father of the current leader, Bashar Assad, had always argued against a Palestinian State and the efforts to create a separate people from his own country. The fact is that he was on record of claiming that the only Palestinian State was indeed Syria!
Almost 85% of Syria centers in its capital city of Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world. Archaeological ruins point to a city that goes back at least 8000 years if not longer. Syria is mentioned frequently in the Bible in its relationships with the Nation of Israel. The Bible usually speaks of Syria in terms of its capital – DAMASCUS.
In Isaiah 17:1-3 we read: “The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap. The cities of Aroer are forsaken: they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make them afraid (because the area will be destroyed and deserted). The fortress also shall cease from Ephraim, and the kingdom from Damascus, and the remnant of Syria: they shall be as the glory of the children of Israel, saith the LORD of hosts.” Jeremiah 49:23-27 is also an indictment against Damascus and appears to have partial fulfillment in the past – the days of Ben-Hadad. Verse 24 says: “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.” Amos 1:3-5 also speaks of a coming judgment upon Damascus, but once again, the historical context deals with the days of Ben-Hadad.
In the New Testament, we read that Saul received letters from the High Priest to go to Damascus to the synagogues (Acts 9) and capture Jewish believers. But, it was on the road near Damascus that Saul was converted and became the Apostle Paul. It was a disciple at Damascus, Ananias, who ministered to Paul. It was in Damascus where Paul preached that Yeshua was the Messiah – in the synagoguges (Acts 9:20).
It appears from the prophecy of Isaiah 17 that Damascus will be removed from history in the last days. As to when that will occur, we do not Know But let us pray that these people both Jews and Syrian may turn to Christ by faith before it is to late.
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