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. 

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.

Final UPDATE 14 March 2025: As if to confirm that "transitioning Syria is governed as an Islamist State from Damascus, it comes as no surprise that the so-called "interim leader" chose to wear a western-style suit and tie in the color of Islam. The imagery is meant to convey that the transition in government from Ba'athist dictatorship to constitutional Jihadist totalitarianism is complete in the opinion of Ahmad al-Shara'a. No doubt he and his jihadist cohorts have never read the God-breathed Scripture of Isaiah, Jeremiah or Ezekiel.

Eschatology Today published Global SITREP D9-18: The Prophecy of Ezekiel six and one-half years ago. That SITREP can serve as a primer for this follow-up, as everyone wants to know what the future holds, and Ezekiel, as much as any of the futurist prophets, provides us with tremendous information on what's next, save for the Book of Daniel and John on Patmos' The Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. 

The first three chapters of the Book of Ezekiel establish the Authority of the Scripture. 

In The first chapter the prophet vividly relates his vision of the throne of the LORD God. Ezekiel finds himself in a face-plant position on the ground near the River Chebar in present-day Iraq upon hearing the voice of One who is speaking to him. The second and very brief chapter opens with the Spirit of God, Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit), indwelling of Ezekiel and standing him upright so that the LORD God can properly speak to him. Ezekiel is given a lecture on rebellious and impudent Israel and a litany of their transgressions, as well as precisely how Ezekiel is to address them: "Thus says the LORD God." 

God's description of Israel here invokes that part of the Israeli population today as seen and heard in their media even prior to the October 7 massacre - rebellious, insolent, impudent and at times exceedingly vile and vindictive, ignoring all that which was charged to them in the God-breathed Covenants delivered to them by Moses. And they have paid the same price of disobedience ever since, but not for all time as we shall soon see. 

God then instructs Ezekiel that he is not to fear the rebellious Israel or their words to him, but Ezekiel is to straightforwardly speak the word of God to them - no matter whether they accept the words or reject them. So God gives Ezekiel the scroll of a book filled with the Word of God that he is to speak to Israel in Babylonian captivity. 

At this point the prophecy transitions seamlessly to chapter three. And God then feeds the scroll of a book to Ezekiel. It is interesting to note that this scroll of a book which was filled with lamentations, mourning and woe is described by Ezekiel as being in his mouth like honey in sweetness. I would summarize this description of the scroll of a book as a transition for all Israel from rebellion to redemption as seen towards the end in Ezekiel 39:29. Chapter three closes much as chapter one did with God appearing to Ezekiel again, the Holy Spirit entering him, falling down prone and God stand him up again and speaking instruction for Ezekiel to keep his mouth shut and speak to rebellious Israel only when God gives him the words to speak: "Thus says the LORD God, he who hears let him hear, and he who refuses let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house."

I find that these first three chapters provide a baseline for what God tells Ezekiel to prophesy in chapters 35, 36 and 37, and that these chapters are precisely where we, the Bride of Christ, find ourselves at this time. This is where we are today. 

Chapter 35 finds Ezekiel speaking prophetic judgment of the LORD God upon present day, and so-called "Palestinians." They are not "Palestinians." In truth they are Egyptians, Syrians, Hashemites and other various tribes of Arabs, and whom the Lord refers to in sum as "Mount Seir."  Ezekiel 35:5 precisely invokes what Asaph was inspired to say in Psalm 83. They are to be subdued and slain in war, their cities to be destroyed and not rebuilt. Desolation is their future as a direct result of the current war.

Chapter 36 reads like the land of Israel during and immediately after World War II as the diaspora of the children of Israel began their return to Eretz Israel in vast numbers from all over the world wherever they had gone in the previous circa 1900 years or circa 70 to 1945 AD. This chapter is about to ongoing renewal of Israel, the fig tree shooting forth branches and leaves and the bearing of fruit. 

The dichotomy of Ezekiel chapters 1, 2 and 3 with what is found in chapters 35 and 36 is astounding, but hey, our God excels is doing astounding things! This is all about the renewal of Israel, particularly in Ezekiel 36:16-20 where God is speaking explicitly once again about why Israel was sent out into the nations and then comes a bombshell at verses 21-22: "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."

The prophecy within Ezekiel 36:23-36 is extremely important. It is, as the prophetic text implicitly states, about the redemption of Israel! Now, do NOT accuse me of invoking any nonsense such as 'dual covenant theology." What I cite here is the word of God, period. I leave to the reader to read the above embedded Scripture for themselves. It says exactly what it says. It says what the LORD God said to Ezekiel!

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!