Gary Varvel: How to get rich in the Stock Market

My essay on Isaiah 17: The destruction of Damascus

On page 306 of Off the Record: The Private Papers of Harry S. Truman, from an April 1954 diary entry stated: “No young man should go into politics if he wants to get rich or if he expects an adequate reward for his services. An honest public servant can’t become rich in politics.”

Today, many members of Congress are leaving office as millionaires. One of the ways they become rich is through profitable stock trades. Can you say, “Insider trading?”

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ARCHIVE: I drew this cartoon in 2020.

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PROPHECY AGAINST DAMASCUS

DISCLAIMER: Many Bible scholars believe Isaiah 17 was fulfilled in 732 BC. After much study, I believe this prophecy is a future war and may result from an escalation of the current conflict. Study for yourself to come to your own conclusion.

HISTORY

1948 - Israel was founded and then Syria, Egypt and Jordan attacked Israel but failed and Israel gained territory.

1967 - Israel was attacked again in the 6-day war and Israel captured Jerusalem and sovereignly controls it for the first time since 597 BC when Babylon destroyed the city.

1973 - Israel was attacked again in the Yom Kippur war.

1979 - Egypt and Israel signed a peace treaty drafted by Jimmy Carter, Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin at Camp David Accords.

1994 - Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty drafted by Bill Clinton, Yitzak Rabin and King Hussein I at Wadi Araba.

Syria has no treaty with Israel. Islamic terrorists in Syria are fighting a proxy war against Israel. They include, Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthis in Yemen, Islamic terrorists in Iraq, Islamic Jihad in the West Bank and Iran.

CURRENT CONFLICT

Israel has been attacked thousands of times and retaliated numerous times against Damascus, the capital of Syria, population: 2 million.

In 2023, Israel hit airports in Damascus and Aleppo to prevent arms shipments to Syria. (PBS)

In February, 2023 (France 24) reported, Israel attacked Iranian and Hezbollah targets in the central Damascus killing 15 people.

In August, 2023 (AP) reported, that Israeli airstrikes around Damascus killed 4 Syrian soldiers.

On August 8, 2023, Reuters reported, Israel threatens to 'return Lebanon to stone age' in any war with Hezbollah.

On April 1, 2024, an IDF airstrike killed an Iranian General at a consulate in Damascus which sparked the current exchange of attacks between Iran and Israel.

In his book, “The Future War Prophesies, author and prophecy teacher, Bill Salus writes about the future destruction of Damascus prophecy. I’ll be referring to his insights in this piece.

Bible teachers who believe Isaiah 17 is a future event include, Joel Rosenberg, Dr. Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Hal Lindsey, J. Vernon McGee, Dr. Chuck Miser, Pastor Jack Hibbs, Dr. David Reagan, Amir Tsarfati, Pastor Tom Hughes, Thomas Ice, Jan Markell and Pastor Brandon Holthaus.

THE PROPHECY AGAINST DAMASCUS

Isaiah 17:1 (NKJV) says, “The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be a ruinous heap.”

Isaiah wrote this prophecy between 740 BC and 701 BC. Some Bible teachers say this prophecy was fulfilled in 732 BC by the Assyrian army. Many prophecies have a “near and far” application or a “dual fulfillment.” The Assyrians pillaged Damascus, but Damascus did not cease being a city as prophesied. The New Living Translation version of this verse says, “Look, the city of Damascus will disappear!” But it didn’t disappear.