Global SITREP A5-25: Iran, Syria and the Mā'ar Sallôn

The Mā'ar Sallôn (Pricking Brier)

UPDATED 26 February 2025: The current situation was foretold to Israel in the beginning, in the fourth of the five books of the Torah circa 1,400 and 1,440 years Before Christ, or at least 3,450 years ago. 

In Numbers (Bemidbar) 33:50-56 we read where YHWH is speaking to Moses in Moab by the River Jordan, telling him to speak to all Israel about what they must do when they will cross the river into the land YHWH has given them to possess. The salient point here is in verse 55:

"But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell."

How utterly prophetic. I mean literally God-breathed, and the conclusion or ultimate fulfillment we find in Ezekiel 28:25

“And there shall no longer be a pricking brier or a painful thorn for the house of Israel from among all who are around them, who despise them. Then they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

In our immediate future, assuming the Bride of Christ has not been taken up hither in the Harpazo, but certainly for all those unfortunates who find themselves left behind because they did not trust in Jesus to redeem them beforehand, the imminent prophecies concerning Iran, Syria and the Mā'ar Sallôn (Pricking Brier) will come to pass. 

We have seen with our own eyes in the past 17 months how Iran, Syria and the Mā'ar Sallôn (Pricking Brier) have tasted war with Israel; most especially Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iran and now Judea and Samaria (again, how utterly prophetic has the Word of God been concerning "those whom you let remain"!) are on the elimination block, so to speak.

The initial actions of these last days prophecies place them all in the process of complete fulfillment, but exactly how they will arrive at the end state lies within the sovereignty of God and His appointed times. And to be sure, Israel, still largely in disbelief, has suffered much overwhelming tragedy, but the birth pangs have not yet run their course. Isaiah 17 makes this potently and abundantly clear.

Current ISW/CT map of Jihadist Syria

The earthly human intelligence voices that Israel's leadership should be and hopefully are listening to are saying several things loudly these days. The Iranian nuclear program has never been more vulnerable. It is incredibly poor judgment to think that the Islamic jihadists now in control of Syria will not act against Israel. There are very good reasons why Israel has been striking targets in and around Damascus constantly in the past several hours. The same goes for all of the terrorist monsters in Gaza, Lebanon, Judea, Samaria and even in southern Jordan. 

UPDATE 1 March 2025: Top of the list for this update is the crash 'n' burn performance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in front of President Trump, and VP Vance and American national TV audience. The utter embarassment drove Ukraine's ambassador to holding her bowed head in her hands.

As noted here two weeks ago, watchmen are now closely monitoring Europe where the situation is rapidly ripening for the rise of a strong leader. Perhaps the 14-day series of EU emergency summits will conclude today in London, UK where a select group of 10 to 12 key nations are assembled? We'll see, as Scripture assures the "little horn" rises as a peacemaker and a warrior. 

The prospect of a nuclear world war is literally on the lips of all concerned! In 2014 when the Russia-Ukraine war really began with Russia's invasion of Crimea and the Donbas, Eschatology Today was first in warning of the 'last days' prophetic implications of the war, in particular the "hooks" of Ezekiel 38. There's solid prophetic proof in Ezekiel 38/39 of nuclear fire and other lethal nastiness raining down which is concurrent with the Harpazo and then the LORD God pouring out His Spirit upon all Israel. Witnessing Christ Jesus to the unsaved is an imperative Brothers and Sisters! 

Jaramana

The map above locates the majority Druze and Christian community of Jaramana (just 3km from Damascus center) where firefights between the residents and the HTS-led government army have been taking place recently.

It comes as a real eye-opener this afternoon to see that PM Netanyahu and DM Katz have tasked the IDF to prepare to defend Jaramana from the new jihadist Syrian army.

To be continued. Marana'tha!

INFORMATIONAL: TEMPLE MOUNT TRUTH

Temple Mount Truth

24 February 2025: We know from Scripture, fulfilled and prophetic, the absolute truth about "the Rock" at the top of Mount Moriah, a/k/a Mount Zion (Isaiah 4:5), in Jerusalem, Israel. We should also know from Genesis 22:2 that the LORD God told Abraham to take his only begotten son Isaac to the land of Moriah, Moriyah meaning "Chosen by Yah," to offer him there as a burnt offering on one of its mountains. Isaac's sacrifice was aborted by God and a ram was substituted instead. 

A thousand years later God led Solomon to the tabernacle of meeting in Gibeon, the same tabernacle which Moses had prepared in the wilderness. Solomon brought with him thousands of all Israel as well as the "ark of God" which he brought with him from its tent in Jerusalem. It was here that very night when God appeared before Solomon and asked what he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge, and God gave him both plus riches, wealth and honor such as no king had possessed before or since. Solomon returned to Jerusalem and commenced to build the temple for the name of the Lord which the Lord had led him to do. Solomon's Temple stood over the rock until the armies of Babylon destroyed it in 586 BC and took Israel into captivity for 70 years because of their sins. In 516 BC the second temple was build and then expanded upon by Herod in 12 BC. This temple was destroyed in 70 AD. As prophesied by the Lord Jesus Christ in His Olivet Discourse not one stone was left standing upon another.

Fast forward to 692 AD and the Muslims built the Dome of the Rock over the same rock that Abraham was to offer Isaac as a sacrifice, as well as being the location within the Temple's known as the Holy of Holies. As stated initially here, we know this from God-breathed Scripture. 

This brings us to the Supreme Moslem Council produced pamphlet, "A Brief Guide to Al-Haram Al-Sharif," (best transliterated as The August Sanctuary) a copy of which I have and whose cover is seen above as it appeared in its first printing dated one-hundred years ago in 1924 AD. This pamphlet is essentially a very detailed Muslim tourism guide for the approximately 36 square acres of the Temple Mount area on Mount Moriah (i.e. Chosen by Yah). It was remarkably approved for publication by Haj Amin al-Husseini, a virulent anti-Zionist imam, a leader of the Arab riots in 1921 who massacred Jews and Muslims alike and was a close ally of Adolf Hitler during WWII. In him we see our present-day HAMAS, Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. 

Nevertheless, his approval for the publication of this pamphlet was essential. Its text states the following concerning the entire Temple Mount: (emphasis added)

"The site is one of the oldest in the world. Its sanctity dates from the earliest (perhaps pre-historic) times. It's identity with the site of Solomon's Temple is beyond dispute. This, too, is the spot, according to universal belief, on which 'David built there an altar unto the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.' 2 Samuel XXIV, 25" (2 Samuel 24:25)

So much for the espoused "Palestinian" claims of nearly a century to the Temple Mount and Islamic edifices standing upon it.

 Marana'tha!

Global SITREP A4-25: Playing With Fire

Playing With Fire

UPDATED February 17, 2024: Today is Day 500 of the war which began on 7 October 2023 with the barbaric jihadist invasion of southern Israel to the east of the Gaza Strip. 

During this past weekend's visit to Israel by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio he warned the enemies of Israel that they were "playing with fire." This, of course, was a rephrasing of what U.S. President Donald Trump, and subsequently Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, had warned about "all hell breaking loose" during the prior week should the jihadists in Gaza stand by their pronouncement to permanently end the release of Israeli hostages by high noon on Saturday, 15 February 2024. As we now know the Gaza jihadists capitulated from their threat by releasing three male hostages one hour prior to the noon deadline. This release of captives was in keeping with the previously agreed upon temporary ceasefire (hudna).

While the warning to Israel's enemies that they are "playing with fire" is very serious and indeed specific, Eschatology Today would note that the nations of the world are engaged in much the same type of folly. Such is the inherent nature of these "last days" as our unambiguous Scriptures plainly state. The "Late, Great Planet Earth" indeed simply because a great mass of humanity ignores the most important aspects of the prophetic Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

At the present time there is full agreement, intent of purpose and iron-clad mechanisms of across-the-board support between the American and Israeli governments, so much so that the Arab nations have cancelled two major summits that were to convene in the coming days. In short, Sheba and Dedan are sitting up and taking notice. Eschatology Today being ahead of the curve as usual and by design we'll pause briefly at this point and allow things to catch up.

IDF Buffer Zone Positions in Lebanon

The above map shows the five IDF high ground locations inside Lebanon. These are the posts that will be maintained until the LNA demonstrates firm control of the land south of the Litani River and Hezbollah is kept to the north of the river. 

There are no illusions that Hezbollah won't wear LNA uniforms and move south of the Litani. For this reason, the IDF will maintain many heavy (armored) brigades along the border. Detection of truce violations will be dealt with powerfully.

ARIEL, SHIRI and KFIR BIBAS

UPDATE February 23, 2025: A lot has taken place virtually overnight, so we'll try to get to all of it into this SITREP update.

IAF F35I and F-15I over Beirut today

As thousands gathered in Beirut this morning for Hassan Nasrallah's delayed funeral, the masses included Iranian IRGC-QF commanders and Hezbollah pager blast amputees, heavily armed IAF strike aircraft buzzed the funeral procession at low altitude. Message sent and unquestionably received. This flyover warning occurred as other IAF strike packages arrived at locations where rocket launchers and other weapons were being re-deployed to new sites in Lebanon from Syria. These locations are in Baalbek, northeastern Lebanon and south of the Litani River where Hezbollah under the agreement's terms should have no presence whatsoever. As usual for the IAF today's strikes were highly combat effective. The war in Lebanon, as noted here months ago, is nowhere near being concluded.

IDF Merkava MBT maneuvering

Operation Iron Wall which began on January 21st in Judea and Samaria has seen the introduction platoons of Merkava main battle tanks dispatched from Armored Brigade 188 now grinding up turf and roads in Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams. This is the first occasion in 23 years that IDF armor has conducted combat operations in Judea and Samaria. The objective is to remain for a year or more to cleanse the region of terrorists and their infrastructure. Additionally, upwards of 40,000 Arabs have been evicted from "refugee camps" in and around Jenin, Tulkarem and Nur Shams. These camps are now completely emptied, the former residents will not be allowed to return and all UNRWA activities have become nonexistent. This procedure will be carried out in numerous other locations throughout Judea and Samaria where Iranian operations have been attempting to create an "eastern front." Speaking of the Operation Iron Wall mission objectives Defense Minister Israel Katz stated this morning that Israel "will not return to the reality that was in the past."

As a direct result of HAMAS and PIJ conduct in the staged, propagandistic release of the hostages, as well as the cold-blooded murder of Shiri Bibas and her two innocent babes and other repeated violations of the hudna agreement the 620 terrorists that were to be released yesterday have been returned to their prison cells. There will be no further release of terrorists until the next scheduled hostage release has taken place without the "humiliating ceremonies."

Map of Syrian Governorates

Gaza and Syria Breaking News

PM Netanyahu speaking from Israel's overwhelming position of military strength made a pair of statements within the past hour.

1.) The IDF is prepared and has operational plans in place to immediately resume intense combat operations in Gaza to completely demilitarize the strip and eliminate all terrorists groups therein.

2.) Israel demands the full demilitarization of southern Syria from troops of the new Syrian regime in the Quneitra, Daraa and Suweyda provinces. (This means any Syrian military presence south of the Damascus provincial border (heavy blue line within the above map) will not be tolerated by the IDF.) Note: Quneitra governorate is already 90% the sovereign territory of Israel (i.e. the Golan Heights), and only a tiny sliver adjacent to the Daraa Governorate is not occupied by the IDF.

Those who've followed Eschatology Today over the past few years will inherently understand what this means. No need to again state the obvious.

Marana'tha!

Global SITREP A3-25: The Issues at Hand

 

Iran Sprints to Nuclear Weapons Capability

UPDATED February 4, 2025: One of, if not highest priority topic to be discussed in Israeli PM Netanyahu's current visit to Washington, D.C. is the problem of Iranian nuclear weapons. It is no coincidence that in the past twelve hours the New York Times published their knowledge of a new U.S. intelligence assessment which holds that Iran has embarked on a sprint to nuclear weapons capability. The reported thinking behind the new assessment is that a small cadre of Iran's best scientific minds are engaged in a faster track to crude and deliverable nuclear weapons. The US-Israel discussions will be focused on whether to attempt a new nuke deal with Iran or to launch preemptive strikes. Timing will be critical going forward considering the plethora of other high priority issues under discussion.

Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Panama, Mexico, China-Taiwan, Russia-Ukraine, EU-NATO, the list goes on and on in the international arena. And this is now an era, as we all well aware of "America First" domestic issues. The 'roaring and tossing of the seas' indeed! Let's take a very short break and see what emerges from this US-Israel summit. 

US-Israel Summit 4 February 2025

7 February 2025: As we're all aware the Trump-Netanyahu meeting was a seismic event followed by an equally powerful aftershock. Move the population out of Gaza which was quickly followed up with a temporary American takeover of the Gaza Strip in order to rebuild it from the 140 square miles of uninhabitable rubble it is today (image below). And most of the world gasped at such a prospective undertaking until American SECSTATE Rubio chided all of the naysayers with "if you have a better idea, let's hear it." If you were listening to this, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop. As expected not one of the opinionated detractors, both Jewish and Gentile, had ever given a single brain cell worth of thought to the idea. In the usual Trumpian style the American president blind-sided the entire globe. First is the lightning strike, then the thunder is heard.

And it does not matter if the idea behind the rebuilding of Gaza becomes a reality, this American President has shown the whole world just how much of a boss he is. Truth be told, the Gaza Plan was not entirely Trump's idea. It was a kernel of thought given voice in a private meeting by his Jewish son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

One of the views I find most amusing comes from Israel's military intelligence directorate's chief, Major General Shlomi Binder. MG Binder expressed his worries about this Gaza plan destabilizing Jordan and of dire repercussions during the upcoming Muslim month of Ramadan to "ignite" the region. Clearly this is a secular Jewish viewpoint which has never really had the slightest inclination to review what the ancient prophets of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel) have foretold in the Tanakh (the Christian Old Testament). However, it's a good thing that others in Israel believe in the God of Israel and His promises.

10 February 2025: The Iranian military, specifically the IRGC Quds (Jerusalem) Force leadership, are beseeching Ayatollah Khamenei to issue an official nuclear weapons fatwa (religious edict) on their acquisition of nuclear weapons, whereas previously the official position has been that the acquisition of nuclear weapons was not within Shi'a religious dogma. The Quds Force is now openly saying that they cannot 'wipe out" Israel without nuclear weapons; that Shi'a Twelver possession of nukes would hasten the arrival of the al-Mahdi.

Looking forward to what the remainder of this month brings to light, be it Israeli sovereignty for Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley or the reignition of the destruction of HAMAS and Hezbollah. These are most prophetically exciting times! 

Gaza Buffer Zone in Pink

UPDATE 11 February 2025: Since HAMAS' invasion of Israel, cold blooded murder of thousands of ordinary people and the by force-of-arms abduction of men, women as well as a child and an infant all the world has cried out and made incessant noise about "humanitarian aid" for the Gazan's. Tens of thousands of tons of "humanitarian aid" on as many semi-tractor trailers entered Gaza only to be commandeered by the terrorists.

Yet not so much as a whimper of concern about the humanitarian needs (food, water, medicines) of the Israeli and foreign nationals held captive, chained like animals, starved and regularly beaten by their terrorist captors has been heard from all the world's wailing masses.

President Trump has promised "hell to pay" if the release of ALL captives does not occur by Noon on the fifth day from today. "Hell to pay" is too lenient a price for such sub-human vermin. 

Nevertheless, we pray for them to recognize Yeshua HaMashiach and receive the salvation paid for by His sacrificial blood. Praying this is probably the hardest thing I've had to, but pray it I have.

Marana'tha!

Global SITREP A2-25: The Restoration of Israel

 

UPDATED 15 January 2025: Eschatology Today has been over Deuteronomy 29:4 several times. It's the baseline of why Israel has been through what it has been through to this very day, as Paul has said, for the most part. And we've looked at Ezekiel 39:29 several times as well and what its near future fulfillment will mean for Israel, also as made clear by Paul in Romans 11.

Most of us question how Israel gets from the start in Deuteronomy to the ultimate fulfillment revealed by Ezekiel. This is where the LORD directed my attention this morning to reading Ezekiel 36, especially from verse 16 and onwards which also prophetically reveal how Israel is renewed in a covenant relationship with the God of their fathers. Israel will look upon "Him whom they have pierced."

The current situation is actually not of much concern, we already know, again thanks to Ezekiel 28:24-26, how it turns out. We also should know that in this 77th year of Israel's regathering in the land that it is all so very near, as is our own "blessed hope" of the Harpazo. It's virtually palpable.

UPDATE 17 January 2025: Now for the necessary update to this SITREP.

Deuteronomy 29:2-4 (NKJV) 

Now Moses called all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land the great trials which your eyes have seen, the signs, and those great wonders. Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day."

This is repeated once again in Isaiah 29, and again by Paul in Romans 11. And in keeping with the context there is the aftermath of the Battle of Gog of Magog found in Ezekiel 39:21-29 where LORD God says, "And I will not hide My face from them anymore; for I shall have poured out My Spirit on the house of Israel." 

Finally, there is Ezekiel 36:16-37 which is quoted below in its entirety to bring home the point of how and why Israel will be restored into a covenant relationship with the LORD God.

The Renewal of Israel

"Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying: “Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelt in their own land, they defiled it by their own ways and deeds; to Me their way was like the uncleanness of a woman in her customary impurity. Therefore I poured out My fury on them for the blood they had shed on the land, and for their idols with which they had defiled it. So I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed throughout the countries; I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they have gone out of His land.’ But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations wherever they went.

“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”

‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, ‘This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.’ Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”

‘Thus says the Lord God: “I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock."

This then explains the how and why of Israel returning to the covenant relationship with the LORD God. Given the time frame discussed above, we also know when this will take place in the near future.

Marana'tha!

Global SITREP A1-25: The King IS Coming!

Watch therefore...

1 January 2025: It may sound cliche, but it is true, we have never been closer to the coming of our Lord than we are this day.

In surveying events and potentials for events in the world for 2025, the first item to make a note of is the alleged ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. It apparently has a caveat attached in which the IDF must be completely withdrawn from southern Lebanon by 60 days from November 27, 2024. That means the 61st day which is the day Hezbollah is threatening to renew its attacks on Israel is Sunday, 26, January 2025. We shall see as there are any number of circumstances which could make such an ultimatum a moot point.

The second note to make is Russia's non-negotiable position that there can be no high-stakes summit between Putin and Trump to discuss the end of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine unless Ukraine first renounces its right to sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is not a new Russian precondition, but rather an oft-repeated demand which clarifies the objective of the Russian Federation as the total capitulation of the Republic of Ukraine and on its face cancels any notion of "good faith" negotiation to resolve the war. 

These two items stand as two of six major international crises facing the start of the second Trump Administration. The third is the Iranian nuclear weapons program; the fourth being China/Taiwan, the fifth Yemen and freedom of commercial navigation through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint. Trump unilaterally also recently announced a sixth in taking back the Panama Canal from China and Panama. 

Other crises will inevitably crop up throughout 2025, some of them yet unforeseen (seismic, asteroids, pestilences), yet all of them the prophetic birth pangs foretold by our Lord in His Olivet Discourse.

Manana'tha!