I would like to know if there is any evidence of a general time frame for the Isaiah 17 prophecy to be fulfilled? I see many Bible teachers mentioning that it could be fulfilled pretty soon given the current situation in Syria. Do you think there’s any merit to this view that the Bible might not be totally clear on when the prophecy will be fulfilled?
Isaiah didn’t give a clear indication of the timing of his prophecy, weaving it into a an account of the Assyrian conquest that took place in 732 BC. We know for sure that Isaiah 17 was not totally fulfilled at that time, because Damascus, which claims to be the world’s oldest continually inhabited city, is still with us. After Isaiah 17 is fulfilled Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins (Isaiah 17:1).
Because of the civil war going on in Syria today, and the threat it poses to the security of several neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Israel, and Jordan, students of prophecy are watching to see if this will be the time when Isaiah 17 is fulfilled. If it is and Damascus is totally destroyed, it would be another sign that we are very close to the rapture of the Church and the End of the Age.