Syrian rebels threaten Christians and Kurds

Is a new tyranny rising in Syria? As the Syrian conflict takes unpredictable turns, we explore the ambitions of Abu Mohammed al-Juhani, a formidable rebel leader with a complex history spanning Al-Qaeda in Iraq to his current leadership in HTS. With intentions stretching beyond Syria to Jerusalem, backed by Turkish President Erdogan, al-Juhani's vision holds profound implications for the region. This episode questions whether his rise marks a shift from one oppressive regime to another and what this means for the future of Israel.

Join us as we dive into the biblical perspectives that underpin these geopolitical tensions, examining the ancient promises made to Israel and the challenges faced by non-believers in embracing these views. We call for a collective reflection and prayer for those caught in the crossfire—Christians and democracy seekers alike. As history unfolds at a breathtaking pace, we highlight the urgency of staying vigilant and compassionate towards those whose lives hang in the balance.

Transcript

Speaker 1

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00:10

Welcome everyone. This is Russ Scalzo Chronicles of the End Times. Thank you for being with me today. Today we're going to look a little deeper into what's happening in Syria. Things are changing by the hour, let alone by the day. One interesting development is an Islamic rebel spokesman surrounded by a group of gunmen in a mosque in Damascus. In a video, he says we are coming for Jerusalem. Patience, people of Gaza, we are coming. In another clip they cry out that we will stand in Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. So, we know what their intentions are. This is not something they will try to do tomorrow, but the threat is very real. So, who is this self-proclaimed leader among the Syrian rebels? Here's a clip from CBN that will give you some background on who this man is. What can you tell us about the leader of the Islamic rebels in Syria? 

Speaker 2

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01:08

Well, it's Abu Mohammed al-Juhani. He's the leader. He was the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, arrested by the US troops in 2006. That's where he met the head of ISIS, abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Then, in 2011, he was sent to Syria, and he started a group called Jabu al-Nusra. Then he was tried to be recruited by ISIS. He stayed with al-Qaeda, and he started his own group in 2016. The one we know now is HDS. 

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01:37

The main goal he has is to defeat Assad and topple the Syrian regime. Obviously, he's done that. In the meantime, before this, he controlled a mini state in Syria called Idlib. It was run by Sharia law. It was basically a mini state of about 500 million people, but in there he was accused of silencing opposition, targeting journalists, and his original name, by the way, Ephraim, is Ahmed al-Hussein al-Sharaa that's his original name. He changed his name to Golani after the Golan Heights. So, his idea, his goal, is to liberate something called Al-Sham. Al-sham in Islam means Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel. So, he has a greater goal than just the Assad regime, and he did this all with the help of Turkish President Erdogan. 

Speaker 1

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02:28

Those of us who have been around a while know all things are not as they seem. The question remains, is one devil being replaced by another? With all these militant groups, we need to understand that their intention is to take back the land that Israel now has, the land that God gave them through Abraham and promised to them thousands of years ago. Non-believers have a hard time grasping biblical views because of doubt, unbelief that the Bible is the Word of God. So, who owns the world? The Bible says that all the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. Every living thing, every drop of water, every grain of sand belongs to the Lord. So, if he promises it to somebody, he's the only one who could make that promise. The Bible tells us that a thousand years is as a day to the Lord. That doesn't mean that it's an actual interpretation of a day. It's more of a tool to help us understand God moves through time. He's always existed. That is hard to comprehend, even for those of us who've been walking with the Lord a long time. It's beyond our scope of understanding. So, when he promises something, it gets done. As we read in Jeremiah, chapter 1, verse 12, I watch over my word to perform it. It's important for us that we pray for our brothers and sisters, no matter where they are, and I know here in the West, in the free nations of Europe, the United States, Australia and many other places where freedom still exists. We get wrapped up in our lives and we often don't think about those in other countries. I'm no different from anyone else. I must constantly remind myself that there are others in peril that need my prayers. While it is liberation for some Muslims in the Arab world who live in Syria, it could be a death sentence for Christians and those who wish to live under a democracy, no matter what religion they are. So, let's do our best to pray for them and believe God for their safety. The taking over of Syria happened so quickly. Four or five days it was done. It's just an example of how fast history can be written. 

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04:42

In 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second coming of Christ. That is one out of every 30 verses, and that doesn't count all the prophecies in the Old Testament. I believe Jesus wants us to yearn for his coming because the thought of that keeps us busy about the kingdom. It keeps everything in perspective as we look at the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, there's something that becomes very obvious. Most of the scriptures that the Holy Spirit gives us, either through the prophets of old or through the words of Jesus Christ himself. They are admonishments and encouragements and warnings to God's people, whether they be Israel in the Old Testament or the church of Jesus Christ today. God gives warnings to the unsaved. That is true. He reaches out constantly for those who do not know him to know him. But the majority of all the statements in the Word of God are designed for the believer, to make the believer stronger, to give them knowledge of who he is and what he expects from us, how he wants us to live. It gives us insight into his heart and to inspire us to do his will. For those who still doubt that we are actually in the last days or that we are close to the coming of Jesus Christ, we just need to look around us and see all the things that are happening the technology racing forward, ai on the scene and how that will affect the world in the next three to four to five years. The turmoil and the boundaries of countries changing, Israel becoming more and more the center of attention. We see more blatant attacks against the Jewish people. We see morality disappearing and Christians losing sight of what it is to serve God, not to have God serve us. The scripture is clear. Obedience is better than sacrifice. That's what God wants. He wants us to do His will, not ours, and he will bless us for it. 

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06:48

This is another short podcast. I just wanted to make sure that we stay up to date, and I'm going to be doing more of this because things are moving quickly, and I want us to be aware and I want us to be able to share with others the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ. I love you all. I thank you for listening all over the world, in the United States, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Germany, united Kingdom, the Philippines, Netherlands, Singapore and on and on. I thank each one of you for listening and I pray God will continue to bless you and open doors for you that you never dreamed possible. This is Russ Scalzo for Chronicles of the End Times. Keep looking up. The King is coming. 

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