Isaiah 17 is not only about the destruction of Damascus.
 
It could also lead to the destruction of Jews, world wide.
 
After Damascus is left in ruin what will happen to Jews the gentiles who support them?
 
Here are some scenarios.
 
If Israel nukes Damascus the whole world will go ballistic.
Israel will be condemned by the whole world.
 
If dirty bombs and or Sadam's nukes are in Syria, and
while trying to arm them for use against Israel, there is an "on the
job" accident;  Syrians themselves could destroy Damascus!
 
But, no matter, Israel will still get blamed and the whole world will go ballistic.
 
No Jew, living anywhere in the world, will be safe. Persecution will
be harsh. Jews and Jewish businesses will be harmed and Jews will flee
for safety.. to Israel.  Even Jews from the USA will flee.
 
The destruction of Damascus WILL cause the final ingathering of Jews under Exodus II.
 
But not only Jews.
 
Anyone daring to speak out in support of Israel (because of Damascus)
will be shouted down. Life will become intolerable for them as well.
 
In this case THEM is us!
 
People like us, who dare to speak out in defense of Israel, will be shouted down.
Supporters of Israel's action will lose jobs and friends. Many of us will be asked to leave churches.
 
Jews from all over the globe will migrate toward Israel.. and not of their own free will.
 
(Jer 16:15 KJV)  But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the
lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
 
(Jer 16:16 KJV)  Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the LORD, and they shall fish them; and after will
I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
Yet, God could intervene in some miraculous manner.  So could the anti-christ.
 
If our escape route is not the rapture, then perhaps we too shall join the Jews and  head for Israel...
 
(Zec 8:20 KJV)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
 
(Zec 8:21 KJV)  And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also.
 
(Zec 8:22 KJV)  Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
 
(Zec 8:23 KJV)  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
 
Based on the fact that the War started right on time, 17 Tammuz, it would seem that all
must come to pass by the 9th of Av (Aug. 3-4)
 
We do not have long to wait.
 
Seek God for wisdom and protection.