Theological Reflections on Current Geopolitical Events: Implications of the US Withdrawal from Syria
In December 2018, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing its troops from Syria. The announcement came as both a surprise and concern over the stability in that region, particularly Israel’s northern border. The announcement came less than a week after a phone conversation between President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. They demanded the U.S. rescind its support of Kurdish forces fighting ISIS in northern Syria. Ironically, both the U.S. and the EU have labeled the Kurdish army (PKK) as a terrorist group. President Erdogan favorably responded to the news of the pullout by inviting President Trump to visit Turkey in 2019.
Many accused the President of betraying Israel, given that the U.S. presence in Syria has kept both Russian and Iranian forces at bay. Turkey is now meeting with Russian officials to devise a military strategy for Syria, which will likely involve Iran and President Bashar al-Assad seeking to destroy all remaining military groups fighting against Syrian forces, including ISIS and the Kurdish army.
If the United States does pull out of Syria, one thing is becoming clear: Israel’s lesser enemy, ISIS, will be replaced with a much larger one. Any remaining ISIS forces would likely retreat to Iraq, where they would continue battling the U.S. and Iraqi military forces or assimilate into the Syrian army to fight against their even greater enemy—Israel. So, here is the question. Why would President Trump make this decision when he should be able to foresee its detrimental consequences?
I have heard some tell me they believe the President has a secret strategy, a covert plan to allow Israel to strike at Iranian forces in Syria. Withdrawing U.S. troops will give Israel the green light to openly attack without risking American lives. This scenario seems unlikely given that Israel maintains a defensive military policy, never preempting any attack unless war is, with all certainty, inevitable. The Jewish people value life, and every man or woman who dies erases their progeny—an entire generation and every generation that would follow. Most Israelis feel that military conflict with Syria, at least for now, can be avoided.
I do not believe President Trump has a workable plan for Syria, nor do I think he could ever calculate, with certainty, the outcome of his decision. Every human action is made with calculated risk. While I am sure the President weighed these risks, he cannot predict the future.
However, I do know the one who knows the future and, with meticulous calculation, is sovereignly controlling the affairs of humankind to bring His plans into present history. He is the one who has and will always have a perfect plan and destiny for Israel. He knows the exact outcome of every human decision because he orders it to fulfill His purpose.[i] Of course, I am speaking about the God of Israel, and I believe He holds the heart of every President in His hand. Like a river of water, He turns it wherever He wishes to accomplish His will for the only nation born of His covenant—Israel.[ii]
You see, if Mr. Trump knew the Lord’s precise plans for Israel, then effectively, he would become their savior. Not so. God is sovereign over the nation of Israel and her land. She is the Lord’s heritage and the apple of His eye.[iii] The primary question is: Lord, help us understand Your will and purpose for Israel at this crucial point in its history. Like the disciples asked Yeshua, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6, NKJV).[iv]
President Trump’s decision, ironically, on the Hebrew calendar, came one day after the Tenth of Tevet, a minor fast day in Judaism. The day is observed in mourning for the siege of Jerusalem by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia, which ultimately led to the destruction of Solomon’s Temple and the conquest of the Kingdom of Judah. While there is no direct correlation in Jewish tradition, the fast comes about one week after Chanukah, the festival commemorating the Temple’s rededication in Jerusalem.
The timing of these two observances should prophetically begin to lay out God’s pattern for how He deals with the rebellious nature of the Jewish people—the siege by the nations against God’s people and His Holy city of Jerusalem is followed by their attempt to desecrate His Temple. It is written, “And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:3). These attempts to destroy God’s people come at His miraculous deliverance and consecration of His Holy Temple. Presently, the church is the spiritual Temple of God.[v] Soon, we will not only see but will labor with Christ in physically restoring Israel, rebuilding His Temple in Jerusalem, and establishing His Kingdom over all the earth.
From scripture, we know that a significant battle will ensue against Israel before the return of Yeshua. It is written, “It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes” (Ezekiel 38:16). This war is called by several names, including the War of Gog and Magog and the Battle of Armageddon, or more accurately, the Battle at Mount Megiddo (in Hebrew Har Megiddo). It is also evident from scripture that Israel will stand alone in this war, as it is written, “For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; the city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished.” (Zechariah 14:2).
Daniel prophesied that until the time of this war, Israel and her people would face desolations. We read, “The end of it shall be with a flood, and till the end of the war desolations are determined” (Daniel (9:26). Yeshua wept over Jerusalem, knowing the suffering that would befall the Jewish people, crying out: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23:37-39).
The war of Gog and Magog will be led by a specific group of Arab nations that surround Israel. These are referenced in Psalm 83: “For they have consulted together with one consent; They form a confederacy against You: The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab and the Hagrites; Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them; They have helped the children of Lot. Selah” (Psalm 83:3-8). These proxy nations will be supported by a larger contingent of superpowers and “spiritual principalities” mentioned in Ezekiel 38, who will ultimately draw every nation into this conflict with God’s people, as it is written:
“Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.”
“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you’” (Ezekiel 38:1-9).
You can begin to see the pattern here of the Gentile nations aligning with scripture, partly in response to President Trump’s decision to pull out of Syria. Notice, however, that the Lord Himself is making this alliance by putting hooks into their jaws.
There is scholarly debate about which modern-day nations are referenced explicitly in scripture as the names have changed over the millennia. (Turkey, Syria, Iran, Russia, Libya, Sudan, and Ethiopia—Figure 1). Regardless, what is essential to recognize is that Israel will continue to face intensifying conflicts and desolations, and she will ultimately stand alone in her final battle against every nation.[vi] We will explore why in a moment.
Figure 1 - Common interpretation of Gog and Magog armies mentioned in Ezekiel 38.
During this final conflict, we know that the Anti-Christ will come to power. It is written: “Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week [seven-year tribulation], But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate” (Daniel 9:27).
When the Anti-Christ is exposed as the false Messiah of Israel, he will turn his wrath against the Jewish people. But the Gentile nations will come against him and Israel to destroy his kingdom and finally gain control of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.[vii] We read, “For the day is near, Even the day of the Lord is near; It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles” (Ezekiel 30:3). And then, when all the nations have surrounded Jerusalem, Yeshua will return to the Mount of Olives. He will destroy these invading armies and establish His Kingdom in Jerusalem. Israel is not truly alone after all, as we read: “The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore” (Ezekiel 37:28). “So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel” (Ezekiel 39:7).
The Lord has given many promises concerning Israel that have yet to be fulfilled. The evidence of God’s prophetic word being fulfilled for Israel will become more apparent as we near the end of the age. Some of these prophecies have been partly fulfilled, such as the reestablishing of Israel in 1948 and the subsequent regathering of the Jewish people back to their land. Other prophecies remain mysteriously concealed.[viii]
Throughout time, the Lord has used the Gentile nations to bring His judgments against Israel, purposefully to humble His people so that He might deliver them from the hand of their enemies. Each time the Lord has demonstrated His sovereign power over Israel, the nations are reminded that He is the God of Israel. Israel was commanded not to turn to other nations for military help, for she alone was to become the head of nations, not the tail.[ix] As written, “You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods” (Exodus 23:32). In turn, the Lord would use Israel as His vessel to execute His righteous judgments against the nations that tried to destroy her. For it is written, “Behold, I will make you [Israel] into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff” (Isaiah 41:15).
This is God’s paradox that He judges Israel by bringing the Gentile nations against her and then, in turn, raises Israel in power to bring His judgments against those very same nations. As it is written, “For God has committed them all [Jew and Gentile] to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” Romans 11:32). If we understand that prophecies concerning Israel will be fulfilled incrementally, it should become evident that Israel will become further isolated from the nations around her. Through these conflicts, the Lord will raise Israel in military strength to execute His righteous judgments against the nations. Israel is now a military superpower. It has the world’s most technologically advanced army, ranking 16th globally by the website Global Firepower, and is one of the top weapons exporters.[x] Israel’s success derives from its risk-taking culture, brilliant creativity, and thinking out of the box—attributes no other country shares.
Israel’s overall success defies reason. And with Iran’s exertion of nuclear dominance in the Middle East, some wonder if Israel might soon become the regional superpower, supplanting the United States. The U.S. News & World Report annual international survey found Israel to be the eighth most powerful nation in the world for the third year. How could such a small country take over the role of leading the free world? It sounds absurd, yet I believe that Israel will continue to grow in economic, political, and military power until all the armies of the earth eventually come against Jerusalem, as prophesied.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (res) Benny Gantz announced that he had registered a new political party, which he will head, before the April Knesset election. The party’s name is Hosen L’Yisrael (“Israel Resilience”). This name makes a prophetic statement about Israel’s resolve to ultimately stand alone against every nation. The Jewish people realize that not one country, not even this one, can permanently be trusted. And I believe the Lord is even causing this to happen. So, why would God set the course for Israel to stand alone against every nation?
Ultimately, God desires to prove His love and faithfulness to His people, and He will show them that He is their only Savior. In their first commandment, God required that Israel have no other gods before Him, for no other gods could ever deliver Israel from her enemies.[xi] If we follow the biblical analogy that God uses the Gentile nations to humble the Jewish people, we see in scripture that He has a plan to gather them back to Jerusalem, to blow His fury and anger on them through the nations that surround Jerusalem so that the Jewish people would be humbled in His presence. It is written, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst” (Ezekiel 22:19-21).
In Israel’s final moment of impending destruction, when the Gentiles have surrounded Jerusalem, the power of the holy people will be completely shattered, and Israel thoroughly humbled. The Lord Himself will deliver Israel from the hand of her enemies, and He will be accompanied by a heavenly army to destroy the armies of the earth that have come against the Jewish people.[xii] As it is written, “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn” (Zechariah 12:10).
We live in a season where God is beginning to sift the nations. He is separating the goats from the sheep. Still, there is much biblical history that is yet to unfold. The question for us is: Will America remain a sheep nation, one that stands, protects, feeds, clothes, and comforts the Jewish people? I pray and suspect we will, at least for the near future.
The Lord has revealed that military conflicts (what Yeshua called “desolations”) are coming to Israel, and through these conflicts, I believe, for the time being, that the United States will stand with Israel. Could these conflicts further align the Arab nations in preparation for the end-times war of Gog and Magog? Only history will tell; unfortunately, biblical prophecy is often not fully realized until it is fulfilled. Like Yeshua’s disciples, we look back into scripture, not to go back into the past, but to establish a point of reference in the past from which we can look forward. Until the end and the time of Israel’s restoration, let us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, the protection of Israel, and the salvation of the Jewish people. Even in our generation, may it be so that a great harvest would come to Israel and all the nations.
[i] Revelation 17:17.
[ii] Proverbs 21:1. 2 Kings 19:28. Isaiah 37:29.
[iii] Joel 3:2. Zechariah 2:8.
[iv] All Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Bible (NKJV) unless otherwise noted, Thomas Nelson Inc., 1982.
[v] 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
[vi] Matthew 24:6-8. Romans 8:22.
[vii] Daniel 11:44-45.
[viii] Daniel 8:26.
[ix] Deuteronomy 28:13.
[x] Jerenberg, Batya. Israel army scores high in global power ranking survey. World Israel News.
[xi] Exodus 12:2-3.
[xii] Daniel 12:7.