There has been progress toward a stable democracy in Russia since 1991 with free elections and greater freedom of religion. However, the
politics of Vladimir Putin have undermined confidence in their democracy. It is possible that the country will revert to old
dictatorial practices.
Prophecy scholars have wondered for more than a century if Russia would be the End Times leader of the war of Gog and Magog, prophesied
in Ezekiel 38 and 39. We relate this to the war of the Second Seal in Revelation 6:3-4, a major
conflict near the beginning of the Tribulation Period. Some respected scholars apply it to The Battle of Armageddon
later in the Book of Revelation.
The Aggressors of the War of Gog and Magog - Ezekiel 38:1-4
According to Ezekiel, an alliance of enemies will attack Israel in the end-times. The leader will be Gog of the
land of Magog (most likely Russia), who is the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. He is assisted by Persia (Iran), Cush (Ethiopia),
Put (Libya), Gomer, Beth Togarmah and other nations (possibly Turkey and/or other Islamic nations like those once
part of the Soviet Union). Most of these names are listed in the genealogies of Genesis 10.
God will bring a quick end to this future war. He may use literal fire and brimstone, as in the days of Sodom,
or he might pit nation against nation, the way he often did in the Old Testament, to precipitate a nuclear exchange.
- And with pestilence and with blood I shall enter into judgment with him; and I shall rain on him, and on his
troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, a torrential rain, with hailstones, fire, and brimstone.
- Ezekiel 38:22 (NIV)
There has been a surprising resurgence of faith in Russia, but the will of the people may not be able to deflect the governments's direction
when this war is fought.
Our Trip to Russia:
Read the Report
See the Slides
Key Scriptures
Current Events and Links
Notice: Sources often remove their news links after a period of time. Some of them move older stories to a subscription-only section. Even if the story is no longer on line, our summary will still be available on this page.
Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
May 10, 2012 - Remembering Russia's defeat of Nazi Germany, and the end of World War II, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned
the United States and NATO about involvement in Syria and Iran even though no specific countries were mentioned.
- "President Putin made it quite clear who is nursing aggressive plans in the world today," Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist
Liberal Democratic Party ... said in an interview after the speech. "It is the United States and NATO without any doubt."
- Source: Jewish World Review
Putin sworn in as Russia's president amid protests
May 7, 2012 -
- Putin, 59, has ruled Russia since 2000, first as president and then during the past four years as prime minister. The new, now six-year term
will keep him in power until 2018, with the option of running for a fourth term.
- Source: Fox
Moscow deploys advanced SA-21 Growler missiles in rebuff to Obama
April 26, 2012 - Russia has reacted to plans for NATO’s missile defense system by deploying a third battery of anti-missiles
at its Baltic Fleet base in Kaliningrad, near Poland and Lithuania. The other two batteries are in Russia’s Far East.
- SA-21 Growler is a highly sophisticated, long- to medium-range surface-to-air missile system capable of intercepting and destroying targets
within a range of 250 miles and an altitude of more than 18 miles.
- Source: World News Tribune
Russians head to polls in presidential elections expected to return Putin to Kremlin
Mar. 4, 2012 - Vladimir Putin is expected to win today's elections as Russia's Prime Minister. He had held that office from 2000 to 2008,
but served as President in the interim. Russians fear widespread election violations, that could lead to a continuation of the unprecedented wave
of protests that arose in December.
- The independent elections watchdog agency Golos said it was receiving reports of so-called "carousel voting," in which busloads of voters are
driven around to cast ballots multiple times.
- Source: Fox
Russia, China veto UN resolution on Syria; US 'disgusted'
Feb. 4, 2012 - After 11 months of protesting in Syria and hundreds of citizens killed by government forces, the United Nations Security
Council had the chance to pass a resolution calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. The resolution had enough votes but
Russia and China vetoed it.
- US Ambassador Susan Rice said her country was "disgusted" by the vote, adding "any further bloodshed that flows will be on
their (Russia's and China's) hands."
- Source: YNet News
UN resolution could spur Syria civil war, Russia warns
Jan. 31, 2012 - As the insurgency continues in Syria, Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Arabi plans to ask the UN Security Council
to back the league's call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign. Russia has already threatened to veto any such resolution. Russia's
deputy foreign minister Gennady Gatilov said that a UN resolution on Syria would be a "path to civil war."
- Source: BBC
Russia: Attack on Tehran is Attack on Moscow
Jan. 16, 2012 -
- “Iran is our neighbor,” Russia's outgoing ambassador to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin, told reporters in Brussels. “And if Iran is involved in
any military action, it’s a direct threat to our security.”
The writer of the article opines that this threat heightens the prospect of World War III in the event of a
military strike on Iran.
- Source: Israel National News
- See: Former National Security Adviser Hadley: Chance of US-Iran Conflict 'Very High' in Prophecy Central's new Iran section.
See earlier stories: Before Jan. 1, 2012
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