QUESTION: Will Syria invade Israel someday? If so, when?

ANSWER: Yes, Syria will invade Israel someday. In the Bible we have two enemies of Israel described to us as "the King of the South" and "the King of the North." The directions South and North are in reference to the holy land. The King of the South is the ruler of Egypt and the King of the North today would be the ruler of Syria. In Daniel 11:36-45 we have a detailed account of the invasion of Israel by the King of the North at the time of the end.

We are told in Daniel 11:40 that the King of the North will come like a whirlwind against Israel ad will overflow and pass through the Holy Land. The suffering and death in Israel at this time will be terrible. God tells us through the prophet Zechariah that two-thirds of the nation will be cut off and die and the city of Jerusalem itself will be taken, its houses rifled, etc. (Zechariah 13:8,9; 14:1,2). This is what the Lord calls the great tribulation in Matthew 24:21. The power of the King of the North will be mighty but we find from Daniel 8:24 that it is not b his own power but that of another—no doubt a reference to Russia. This invasion will lead up to the battle of Armageddon and then to the battle in the valley of Jehoshaphat where the King of the North—Syria—receives her judgment (see Zechariah 14:4-15).

This invasion will take place after the middle of the tribulation period. We find from Daniel 9:27 that it is in the middle of the week (of seven years) that the Jewish sacrifice in the rebuilt temple is stopped and the image of the beast is set up (Rev. 13:11-17). This image is called the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15). The image which is worshipped becomes an idol. God actually uses Syria to chasten Israel on account of the idolatry. This is the time that the believing Jews in Palestine are told to flee to the mountains (Matthew 24:15-22).

How solemn it is to think how near we are to the time when all this will take place. We see how strong Syria is today through her ally, Russia. The stage is being set today for all these things to happen. And this means that the rapture of the church is very very near. Time is short. May we make the days and hours count for eternity.

Only one life,
   'Twill soon be past.
Only what's done for Christ
   will last.

—John D. McNeil