Iran is dominating the region around Jerusalem right now. It is using terrorist proxies to attack Israel and to attack merchant ships in the Red Sea. It has been the primary cause for most of the mayhem in the Middle East over the past decade.

But Iran is about to lose its influence over Syria and, as a result, over the whole region. This will dramatically change events around Jerusalem.

But the implications of this power shift go far beyond the region: The whole world is about to be affected!

In my cover story last issue, “The Hidden Danger in Germany’s ‘Alliance Against Iran,’” I discussed the nations of the alliance prophesied in Psalm 83, led by Germany. You can learn more about this prophecy from our infographic on page 18. Here I want to single out one nation: Syria. In Psalm 83, Syria is referred to as “the Hagarenes,” the name of a people who anciently lived in the land known as Syria today.

Many Arab nations oppose Iran, but Syria has been an ally. Through it, Iran gained critical access to the Mediterranean Sea and a base to supply its terrorist proxies and to attack Israel. For years Syria has played a crucial role in Iran’s dominant presence in the Middle East.

But Bible prophecy indicates that through Syria, Germany is about to get control of the Middle East instead!

Referencing the Psalm 83 prophecy, I wrote this in our September 2012 Trumpet: “Right now, Bashar Assad’s Syria is closely allied with Iran—but this prophecy shows that these two nations are about to split. This will have a domino effect on other nations. These events will really shake this world and dramatically alter the course of history!” I also noted that this momentous split between Syria and Iran would be aided by Germany.

Based on that same prophecy, I recorded a Key of David program this past May titled “Iran Is Losing Syria to Germany” (theTrumpet.com/29563). At the time, I saw nothing indicating that this shift was imminent; in fact, I hadn’t seen much in the news about Syria at all. But just a week later, Geopolitical Futures published an article that supported what I had just spoken about.

Iran Is Losing Syria

In “The Rift Between Iran and Syria” (May 21), Geopolitical Futures wrote: “Syrian President Bashar Assad has reason to distance himself from his erstwhile ally Iran. It’s true that Iran helped stabilize the government in Damascus and was instrumental in putting down a rebel uprising, but its continued presence on Syrian territory is a threat to Assad—not least because it invites occasional strikes from Israel. Assad sees Israeli pressure as an opportunity to get rid of Iran for good. …

“After taking control of so much Syrian territory, Assad no longer needs Iran, and he has no problem getting rid of it. Assad understands that Iran’s presence will discourage Western countries from contributing to Syria’s reconstruction, and their absence will allow Tehran to retrieve the vast resources that it expended to shore up the regime ….

“In truth, Syrian-Iranian relations have been deteriorating for some time.” Assad has had enough of Israel’s air strikes.

Actually, so has Iran: In April, Iran reportedly reduced its presence drastically in southern Syria due to its high losses. But this doesn’t mean Iran is willingly surrendering its stronghold there. It will do all it can to cling to that power.

The other important factor is that Syria needs other countries to help in its reconstruction. Neither Iran nor Russia is in a position to help in the reconstruction of the devastated country. The fact that Assad appears to be leaning toward splitting from Iran shows that there is outside pressure on him to do so. Where is that pressure coming from?

Geopolitical Futures wrote, “Arab states, and particularly Arab Gulf states, also want to see Iran leave Syria. They have even made demands to that end, and given that they will be the ones to finance Syria’s reconstruction, it’s not a demand Assad can ignore. Over the past year, Damascus has thus resumed diplomatic relations with several Arab countries, especially the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and regained its seat in the Arab League.”

So Arab nations are trying to get Iran out of Syria. These Gulf states are also listed in the Psalm 83 alliance with Syria and Germany. This is significant.

But Geopolitical Futures also wrote, “Given the escalation between Iran and Israel, it is unlikely that Assad would have made such signals if he were not sincere in his desire to draw closer to the [United States] and further from Iran.” Here the article gets into some speculation and fails to recognize another key global power.

It is clear now that Bashar Assad wants Iran out. But what Geopolitical Futures and many other commentators don’t see is that Germany is in a prime position to become Syria’s ally.

Germany enjoys great favor in Syria. It also has the economic means to rebuild Syria’s cities. The million-plus Syrians who live in Germany would support that rebuilding process.

Bible prophecy is clear: With or without Assad, Syria will break with Iran and ally with Germany!

Why Russia Can’t Fill the Void

Geopolitical Futures wrote, “Regardless of Assad’s preference to get rid of Iran’s influence, replacing it with Russia might not be more appealing since Arab countries that worked with Soviet leaders in the 1950s and 1960s had difficulty communicating with them or getting them to honor mutual agreements.”

This becomes even clearer if you understand how brutal Russia has been to the Syrian people.

The Guardian wrote in 2022, “For Putin, Syria became a convergence of a litany of Russian interests, a place where he could test new weapons, take a foothold in the eastern Mediterranean, sponsor proxies, fine-tune disinformation ploys, and—more importantly—try his hand at global diplomacy in an arena where the West had lost its way. … That Putin’s air force and artillery regularly bombed civilian targets, killing thousands and laying waste towns and villages, became so passé that it was regularly overlooked.”

The international community looked away, but the Syrian people developed a deep resentment toward Russia. They have been enslaved and abused by an evil regime, and they long for change and freedom.

Russia’s presence in Syria also greatly concerns Europe. Russia has killed thousands of Syrians in savage, horrifying ways—and many believe it did so with the explicit intent of driving millions of Syrians into Europe. In 2016 the head of the United States European Command, Gen. Philip Breedlove, warned, “Together Russia and the Assad regime are deliberately weaponizing migration in an attempt to overwhelm European structures and break European resolve.” They flooded Europe with Syrians! German Chancellor Angela Merkel took in millions of them. This has caused Europe tremendous problems.

Both the Syrians and Europeans want Russia out. Everything indicates that Syria will break away from Iran and Russia, and it could happen this year or next.

Germany Stands Ready

Just days after the Geopolitical Futures article came out, the European Union hosted its eighth annual Brussels conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region on May 27. There Germany pledged over a billion euros for people in Syria and neighboring countries. The EU pledged another €2.1 billion (us$2.3 billion).

Between 2012 and 2022, Berlin contributed some €17 billion to this cause.

In 2018, Volker Treier, then head of foreign trade at the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, told n-TV.de that German industry was just waiting for the political “starting signal.” “We have repeatedly received cautious inquiries from our member companies about Syria. Once the war is over, the German economy is generally prepared to help with the reconstruction of the country.”

Germany has several key advantages over others that would like to get involved in Syria. One million Syrians are currently living in Germany as a result of the civil war. That is about 5 percent of Syria’s entire population!

The German Bundeswehr website states about these Syrians: “Many have educational qualifications that are well above the Syrian average. They have often gone on to obtain even higher qualifications in Germany. It is right to speak of Syria’s ‘future generation.’ In Berlin and Damascus, there is likely to be great interest in being able to use their strength, skills and contacts for Syria on Reconstruction Day. …

“For the German economy, the personal contacts and close ties of many Syrians with their home country could become important door openers for new business relationships. This would give them a clear advantage over their international competitors when it comes to awarding contracts for reconstruction aid.”

Many more would like to go to Germany if they could; instead, they are stuck in Syria or neighboring countries. Many of them long for Germany to intervene in Syria.

In “Syria Courts German Investors,” Germany’s t-online wrote in 2017: “Syria is still a country at war, but the country’s leadership is already planning for the time afterwards. German companies are also to help rebuild the destroyed country.” That same year, the Syrian minister of economy noted that his hope lay in Germany. Bild published statements from various Syrians that expressed a similar hope. One of them said, “We know that Germany helped many Syrian refugees. But it should not be forgotten how many people still suffer here.”

Military Intervention?

Germany has not only the economic power to rebuild Syria but also military might to secure the region.

The Bundeswehr website wrote in 2021: “Possible deployments of the German Armed Forces in Syria, which have experience from other international missions, have also often been frequently discussed. … One thing could be very useful to the Bundeswehr here, namely Germany’s great popularity in Syria and the ‘relative balance’ of German policy in the Middle East as a whole.”

One of the main reasons Russia got into Syria first is that Germany lacked the leadership and the military will to do so. But there was a man who was trying to get Germany to intervene earlier: Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, the nation’s former defense minister.

Time and again, Guttenberg pleaded for German intervention, but his plea was ignored.

In the New York Times in 2013, he wrote, “While it will take a long time for Germany to move beyond its deeply entrenched culture of reluctance, taking a stronger, more principled stance on Syria today would be an important step in the right direction.”

In 2014, he wrote in Bild: “For weeks now, [Islamic State] militias have been slaughtering innocent people in Iraq and Syria. And the West has once again been in a deep sleep. Now we seem to have woken up: The U.S. is bombing jihadist positions, France is ready to supply Iraq with weapons. And what is Germany doing? We are creating a politically watertight protective vest doctrine.”

Then again in 2017: “Given the recent course of the new U.S. president, it is hard to find good words for Donald Trump. Nevertheless, in his order to bomb the military origin for the gruesome gassing of innocent civilians in Syria, he acted rightly. … Trump needs support—also and especially from Germany. The lip service of the European capitals toward the American military strike may be worthy of honor, but they are also the expression of a shameful act of inaction. Six years of civil war and hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees has still not led to any initiative that extends beyond well-meaning appeals.”

In 2018, he told Bild: “When people are being slaughtered, you have to intervene. Of course, it is easy to say we leave the dirty work to others and draw back to the safe side. But in the long term, one won’t get around it that way.”

Then in 2019, he wrote: “In a situation in which nato could be torn apart and new waves of refugees are threatening, we need initiatives and not career and party tactical debates.” He was brutally honest in urging other politicians to look beyond public opinion and political self-preservation. He worked hard to get the government militarily involved in Syria. At the same time, he was swinging the German people more and more into a militaristic mindset.

In hindsight, you could argue that German military intervention could have saved a lot of suffering. It could have stopped Russia from getting in and killing civilians and driving millions of refugees into Europe, especially Germany. Guttenberg’s idea seems more sensible today—but Chancellor Angela Merkel would not do it.

Look how adamant Guttenberg has been about getting involved in Syria. He understands the importance of this country.

Strategic Importance

The civil war in Syria gave Iran an open door it would not have had otherwise. Geopolitical Futures wrote: “… Iran has intensified its military and intelligence presence without Assad’s consent and against his plans to retake parts of the country controlled by radical Islamic movements. Iran’s strategic project is to consolidate its presence in Syria regardless of who occupies the presidency.”

Of course, this plan concerns Assad. It also concerns Germany.

Syria is a key to controlling the Middle East. It is important for intelligence gathering: It has a very advanced intelligence service that was in part built by underground Nazis and is also proximate to Israel.

Through its relationship with Syria, Iranian warships have access to the strategic Mediterranean Sea. They demonstrated that power in 2011. The Mediterranean is one of the most strategic places in the world. It has been a key battleground in many wars. To be a great power in the world, you need to be powerful in the Mediterranean Sea. Just look at the mayhem Iran-sponsored terrorists are causing in the Red Sea. Iran wants to foment the same troubles in the Mediterranean—and Syria gives Iran a key access point to do just that.

Syria offers additional advantages for Iran. The Times of Israel reported in 2018: “According to Israeli political and military assessments, Tehran, which has shored up Assad in the Syrian civil war, has been working to create air and naval bases in Syria from which it can arm the Lebanon-based terror organization Hezbollah and other Shiite groups, as well as carry out attacks of its own against the Jewish state” (Feb. 19, 2018). Then Israeli ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon warned, “Iran is turning the entire country of Syria into the largest military base in the world.”

Through Syria, Iran arms its terrorist proxies. Thus, Syria is critical for Iran’s terrorist regime. It cannot afford to lose it.

For Russia, Syria has also been critical. It provides a warm water port and an air force base. It has also been a crucial location for Russian intelligence gathering.

But consider how Germany could use the same key positions. When Germany recently sent a warship from the North Sea to the Red Sea, it took a few weeks. When it decided to air drop aid packages into Gaza, it cooperated with Jordan and used its air force base. But if Syria would invite Germany in, this would give them far more control and operational ability.

Through the European Union and various military missions, Germany controls part of the Mediterranean and also has significant influence in the Middle East. But a presence in Syria would greatly expand Germany’s reach in the region. Driving Russia and Iran out from their naval and air force base would not only eliminate a threat but also open doors for new opportunities.

A Reason for Iran’s Push

Seeing how much has happened since I recorded that program on Syria turning away from Iran shows that we need to watch this region closely. Iran is drawing down in Syria, and Germany is ready to move in! A key domino in triggering end-time events is about to fall.

Look closely at the prophecy of Daniel 11:40: “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” This is about a clash between radical Islam led by Iran and a European power led by Germany. (Read my free booklet The King of the South.)

“He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps” (verses 42-43). This shows that Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia will fall with Iran. This means they are already allied with Iran when Germany attacks.

But a key nation currently allied with Iran is not mentioned here: Syria. Why? Because of Psalm 83, we know that Syria will be allied with Germany after the attack on Iran. But I believe this momentous shift will almost certainly take place before Daniel 11:40 is fulfilled. This means we could see it happen very soon.

Losing Syria will be devastating to Iran. It could very well be part of the reason for Iran to violently push at Europe. We don’t know all the details yet, but we need to watch this key Bible prophecy closely. We have known these prophecies for many years—now we are about to see them fulfilled!

Consider what happens if Germany wrangles Syria out of Iran’s hands. The Iranian terrorist regime would rightly fear that its dominance in the region was under threat. It would be concerned about preserving its alliance with Lebanon and Gaza and the Arab nations. This may cause Iran to heighten its aggression around Jerusalem and the crucial trade routes while it still can.

In short, Syria’s shift away from Iran could trigger the events of Daniel 11:40!

That would explain why Syria is not mentioned here if the nation is conquered by the king of the north before the prophesied push of the king of the south occurs. It might not end up being that way. But I think it is interesting we are seeing more and more evidence for that.

The Other Dominoes

Just as Syria helped Iran build its influence over neighboring countries, it can help Germany do the same. Psalm 83 reveals a great deal about what we can expect to see in the time ahead. While most of the nations listed in the psalm are already allied with Germany, some are still allied or heavily influenced by Iran. But once Syria switches allegiance, the others are certain to follow. We know for sure that Germany will be allied with these nations after it attacks and destroys Iran. But if Syria falls to Germany before this clash, it will also have a domino effect on these nations.

Edom, or Esau, in Psalm 83 is Turkey—which has been allied with both Iran and Germany. But it is important to note: Turkey has significant disagreements with Iran over Syria. While Iran has supported Assad, Turkey supported the rebels. For years, I have noted that Turkish-Iranian ties would break over Syria.

Psalm 83 also lists Gebal (modern-day Lebanon) and the Philistines (the Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank). This prophecy specifically reveals that the Philistines are with the inhabitants of Tyre, which is in southern Lebanon, the stronghold of the Hezbollah terrorists.

Right now, Iran through Syria has a lot of control over Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza. It appears that the breaking of Iran’s ties to these people will in turn open the door for the Psalm 83 alliance to fully form.

Iran, Hezbollah and the Palestinians all share some common enemies—especially America and Israel. But they have religious and political differences, which could cause Hezbollah and the Palestinians to ally themselves with Germany.

Imagine what a geopolitical quake this will be!

The Psalm 83 Army

Germany is now actively working to oppose Iran in the region. In so doing, it is building the Psalm 83 alliance that includes Syria. This alliance is about to clash militarily with Iran. After Germany conquers the king of the south, it will, together with the moderate Arabs, have control over all of these nations that were allied with Iran. This will stagger the world in many ways. People will begin to see what kind of a superpower Germany has become.

But it is important to note that prophecy does not indicate that this will be good news for the modern-day Jews in Israel. In fact, the opposite is the case.

Iranian leaders have publicly stated that they want to wipe Israel off the map. Their ambitions in the Middle East and their pursuit of nuclear weapons are most dangerous. But Psalm 83 reveals an even more diabolical, secret plot. This alliance wants to obliterate even the name of Israel—forever!

Verse 4 reads: “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.”

After this alliance conquers Iran, it will work out its devilish plot. These Arabs are going to unite as an army with Germany and do tremendous damage in this world!

The Germans are a great people in many ways. But they have been deceived by something very powerful and led in horrifying directions. Germany started two world wars, and it is about to start a third world war!

God is not simply allowing Assyria, modern-day Germany, to rise today and to form this Psalm 83 alliance. The Bible specifically says God will use Germany to punish His people! (Isaiah 10:5; Revelation 17:17). This might be hard for some to understand, but God is full of wrath over the sins of this world and the sins of the modern-day nations of Israel—primarily the United States, Britain and the Jewish nation in the Middle East.

However, God will most certainly not allow Satan to blot out the name of Israel. Jesus Christ promised to intervene before it reaches that point (Matthew 24:22). In the midst of these prophecies, there is incredible hope!

The time frame of this prophecy is right at this very end time. Ninety percent of Bible prophecy today is being fulfilled in this end time. The fact that we see this alliance already developing shows that we don’t have much time until Jesus Christ returns—because these very nations are going to fight against Him when He returns to Earth!

An Insert of Hope

Here is another very hopeful statement in Daniel 11:41, in the midst of these prophesied calamities: “He shall enter also into the glorious land and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.”

“Edom, Moab and Ammon” refer to the geographic region of Jordan today. God says He will spare the “chief of the children of Ammon.” The word chief means “with regard to … first fruits” (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon). This is truly misunderstood by all the Bible commentaries. It is one of the Bible’s coded messages that can be easily understood if you let the Bible interpret itself.

The New Testament calls God’s Church His firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20-23; Romans 8:23; James 1:18). Like Psalm 83, Daniel 11 discusses God’s very elect who are getting God’s message out in the end time.

In the middle of all these great nations and the violence and the wars, God has a little flock with a powerful message. They are led by God’s Holy Spirit, and instead of seeking their own pleasure, they invest their whole lives in delivering God’s message. They are deeply concerned about the evils in this world, and are giving themselves as living sacrifices to God’s service. They not only hear the message and believe Bible prophecy; they help proclaim it! They want people to see what is happening in the Middle East and all over the world and have hope beyond this evil world.

World War iii is coming unless we wake up and see and hear what God has to say about this in Bible prophecy. That’s why God is sending out His warning through His people. God is warning them and giving them an opportunity to repent and change their ways; if they do, there won’t be all this destruction!

Will mankind listen to God’s messages recorded in His Bible? There is no indication of that right now. But still there is eternal hope here! God wants us to see this hope now.

God loves the attitude of His very elect and will reward them accordingly. First of all, He is going to protect them from all these troubles that are developing right now. In Matthew 24:22, Christ promises to intervene in world affairs because of His very elect! After all this evil is over, God will set up His people as rulers with Christ to bring peace, joy and happiness to this world!

While these events will lead into World War iii, they will also lead into Christ’s return and the fantastic news of a coming wonderful World Tomorrow! Through the pages of the Bible God reveals that in this wonderful world, He will open access to the tree of life—not only to those who survive the coming mayhem but to all people who have ever lived and not known God (Revelation 20). There is even indication that God has unimaginably expansive plans for human beings! (Isaiah 9:6-7; Hebrews 2:8).

This is when Bible prophecy really gets exciting!