Prophecy about Damascus

[Guest]

Good morning,

Isaiah 17 says that Damascus will be destroyed. Has that happened in the past or is this to be in the future?

Thank you.
Steve

[Guest]

Hello Steve,

Is. 16:verse 14 the prophet actually sets a date that would seem to make Assyria the oppressor in this paticular case because he says:

“Within three years, as the years of a hired man, the glory of Moab will be despised with all that great multitude, and the remnant will be very small and feeble.”

So if it was to take place within three years and if that is literal, then that would have to be Assyria's time because Isaiah lived during the time when Assyria was powerful not when Babylon was powerful. This is interesting because in the earlier prophecy of chapter 8 that it was said about Isaiah's son that before his son could say:

4 for before the child shall have knowledge to cry ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be taken away before the king of Assyria.”

This indicates a general time in which it takes for a child to learn to talk - very similar length of time for the same prophesy to be fulfilled in chapter 16:14.

It is beneficial for us when a prophet foretells of the time frame when the paticular prophecy is to be fulfilled as Isaiah has done for us. This is not always the case and so we can be glad for this instance. This really gives a short term fulfillment so that the people can see these things in their own time and to who these things concern. This adds to the legitimcy of a prophet to show that he truly is a prophet of God with a message delivering about to be fulfilled in such a short time frame.

The key to the timing is when was Assyria in history. Since Isaiah and 2 Kings compliment one another concerning Assyria it would be safe to assume the two are speaking of the same event. If this is the case this cannot be a yet future event. The situation would not allow this considering the players. Israel requires Damascus to force Judah (Jerusalem) to fight against Assyria with them. If this was for our future we could not possibly expect the same players active. Today, Judah is called Israel, the ancient 10 tribes of Israel are gone, and Assyria is gone.

Result - Prophecy fulfilled.

[Guest]

Thank you Allyn. I have many friends that are dispensationalist (I used to be one) and they look towards the time Damascus is destroyed. Thanks for the insight.
Steve