As I was reading the article below, the Lord gave me quite a bit of information and insight as I was typing this and to me it was like receiving a gift from Him on the date when many celebrate His birth!

From a prophetic perspective we have seen almost all the puzzle pieces falling into place as far as the mentioning of "Peace and Safety" by almost everyone on the world-scene is concerned. One aspect that I am still looking for is a cause for Isaiah 17 which mentions Damascus' destruction that would seem to coincide with the departure of the Bride.  Isaiah 17 describes the main harvest taking place and the gleanings that remain at the time when Damascus is destroyed - which would indicate to me that our departure would coincide with the destruction of Damascus:

Isa 17:5-6 And it shall be as when the harvestman gathereth the corn, and reapeth the ears with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathereth ears in the valley of Rephaim. Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.

This report could be part of what may lead to an escalation that could end up with the destruction of Damascus. The scene is set with most of the world having come against Israel in the past week - again - and this could see the nations surrounding Israel becoming bolder in their moves and aspirations to remove Israel from the map as described in Psalm 83:

Psa 83:2-12 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee: The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.

Another mention of this occurs in Isaiah 21 where Elam is called to "besiege" and our Heavenly Father also points out that this information is given to those who "watch" and at the same time it is also associated with the woman in travail.

Isa 21:2-3 A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease. Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

Isa 21:10-12 O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you. The burden of Dumah. He calleth to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night: if ye will enquire, enquire ye: return, come.

This passage also talks about "the night of Israel's pleasure" and what would be more pleasing to Israel than to see the Third Temple's foundation being laid? There is nothing that Israel wants more at this point than to have peace with their neighbors and to have their Temple rebuilt so that they can resume the sacrificial system. If they can lay the foundations of the Third Temple it would surely be considered the nation's long desired pleasure being fulfilled and the events of the past few weeks would certainly indicate that we are moving in that direction with Trump doing exactly what Cyrus did after Israel's captivity in Babylon for 70 years. The passage below, would also seem to indicate that Trump may play a role in laying the foundations of the Temple:

Isa 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Could it be that this is what is referred to in Isaiah 21 when Israel's pleasure will be turned into fear for them?

Isa 21:4 My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

If Israel lays the foundation of the Third Temple, the nations that surround it may find that reason enough to bring to fulfillment all the passages mentioned above in which they will seek to destroy Israel and in which Damascus is taken away from being a city forever.

Keep a close eye on this situation as this may be the final piece of the puzzle required that leads to our Blessed Hope! I am not sure how long it will take until a situation exists that would result in what is described in Psalm 83, Isaiah 17 and Isaiah 21, but this could possibly be part of it and to get Elam or Iran into a location where their presence in Syria will lead to the destruction of Damascus. Also watch for pointers that would indicate that Israel is about to start work on rebuilding the Temple as this would most likely be the time at which the events described above will occur and when we who are expecting to meet our Lord should look up and await our departure.

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