Prophecy Central: New Cold War

The New Cold War

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

Until the dissolution of the Soviet Union (also called the "Fall of the Iron Curtain) in 1991 it was obvious that Russia and her allies were enemies of democracy. The Soviet Union was also a major world power with unthinkable stockpiles of nuclear weapons. In those days the nuclear threat was primarily between the United States and Russia. Both superpowers operated on the MAD principle (Mutually Assured Destruction) with deadly missiles aimed at each other. It was understood that if either nation would be foolish enough to launch even one of these missiles, the other nation would respond immediately with unimaginable devastation.

This mutual threat kept both countries from ever making such a mistake. Both nations relied on this logic to the point that they did not have anti-missile defenses. In other words, they did not have the ability to shoot down incoming missiles because they were reasonably sure they would never be needed.

Since those days the number of nuclear missiles in both countries have been greatly reduced, and there is hope that someday they will be completely eliminated. This, of course is not likely since many other countries now have nuclear weapons of their own.

Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union the two superpowers were greatly opposed to one another, but they limited their attacks to harsh rhetoric against one another and political maneuvering in the fast-changing world. This serious antagonism between the two was known as the "Cold War." A "Cold War" definitely falls into the prophetic category of "Rumors of War." During that time it seemed logical to prophecy students to see Russia as the possible leader of the Gog and Magog war predicted in chapters Ezekiel 38 and 39.

Russia then declined in power, and tensions were greatly eased between the U.S. and Russia for many years. Gradually, however, in recent years Russia has returned to some of its old attitudes. It is rebuilding its military capabilities. The leadership there resents a NATO missile defense shield that is being erected to protect Europe from attacks by other countries. The U.S. and Russia are on different sides of human rights issues and other important matters like the development of Iranian nuclear weapons, The Ukraine conflict and the outcome of the Syrian Civil War. This renewed climate of hostility is now being called the "New Cold War" by many observers.

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War of Gog and Magog
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See more recent articles: After December 31, 2014

Gorbachev: World 'on Brink of New Cold War': Nov. 8,, 2014 - Former Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev says that the world is close to a new Cold War. He said that United States is in danger of giving in to "triumphalism" after the fall of the Soviet Union a quarter century ago.
The result, he said, could partly be seen in the inability of global powers to prevent or resolve conflicts in Yugoslavia, the Middle East and most recently Ukraine.; Source: NewsMax
Prophetic Significance of Cold War
Obama: Islamic State 'is not Islamic': Sept. 10, 2011 - President Obama delivered a speech to announce “a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy” to “degrade, and ultimately destroy,” ISIS. His plan includes:
- Conduct a systematic campaign of airstrike against ISIL targets in Iraq and Syria.
- Increase support to forces fighting terrorists on the ground, but avoid getting "dragged into another ground war in Iraq."
- Assist the moderate Syrian opposition to prevail against ISIL and the Assad regime.
- Provide humanitarian aid to oppressed civilians, including Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and other religious minorities.
The President also stressed that ISIL is "not Islamic," because “No religion condones the killing of innocents." In addition, he said, “ISIL is certainly not a state." He explained that it was an al-Qaida’s affiliate that has taken advantage of the unrest in Syria and Iraq, and it is recognized by no government as a legitimate state.; Source: WND; Israel will cooperate with US in fight against IS, envoy says - Times of Israel; Russia warns US against strikes on Islamic State in Syria - BBC; Syria, Iran Slam US Strategy in Fighting Militants - NewsMax; Editor's note: Read the following articles to see that Islam and the Koran do advocate terrorism.; What Obama Desperately Wants You To Know About ISIS and Islam - Young Conservatives; ‘Terrify the Enemy of Allah': British Imam Cites That Koran Tells Muslims to Terrorize - Christian News

US accuses Russia of violating 1987 missile treaty: July 29, 2014 - Between 2008 and 2011 Russia apparently violated a 1987 nuclear missile treaty by testing a ground-launched cruise missile.
President Obama informed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter Monday of the U.S.' determination that Russia broke the agreement. The official said the U.S. is prepared to engage in "senior-level bilateral dialogue immediately" with Russia.
Russian officials responded by saying that they have looked into the allegations and consider the matter closed.; Source: Fox
Feinstein: US Now in a Cold War With Russia: July 20, 2014 -
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "man up" and admit his country's role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Feinstein told CNN that U.S.-Russia relations are now at Cold War levels.; Source: NewsMax; Cold War II - Time
Russia to ban US from using Space Station over Ukraine sanctions: May 14, 2014 -
Russia is to deny the US future use of the International Space Station beyond 2020 and will also bar its rocket engines from launching US military satellites as it hits back at American sanctions imposed over Ukraine crisis.
Currently the space station is manned by both U.S. and Russian astronauts, but all of them must use Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft to get there and back.; Source: Telegraph
Rep. Ted Poe: 'Cold War II' Is Coming: Mar. 22, 2014 - According to Ted Poe, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Ukraine issue is causing another Cold War." He said, "We're in Cold War II. The Russians know it ... but I don't think the United States knows it."
He suggested that the U.S. might be able to make progress in this situation by providing natural gas to European NATO nations. This would lessen their dependence on Russian energy and allow them to stand against further aggression from Putin.; Source: NewsMax
State television presenter warns Russia could 'turn the US into radioactive dust': Mar. 17, 2014 - Dmitry Kiselyov, a leading TV personality on state-controlled Rossiya 1 television, said, "Russia is the only country in the world realistically capable of turning the United States into radioactive ash,"
He also added that President Vladimir Putin is a much stronger leader than Barack Obama, pointing to opinion polls on his screen, and Americans know it.; Source: The Independent - UK; White House, EU sanction Russian officials after Crimea vote - Prophecy Central's Russia Section
Ukraine impasse stirs U.S.-Russia tensions: Mar. 12, 2014 -
Tensions between the United States and Russia over the crisis in Crimea have exploded into an open row as Russia rejects U.S. diplomatic efforts to solve the impasse.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lost the chance to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin because he asked for assurance that Russia would engage seriously on a diplomatic solution before going to Moscow for the meeting. Putin basically ignored Kerry's demands.; Source: CNN
Ukraine PM: Crimea 'was, is and will be an integral part of Ukraine': Mar. 7, 2014 - Crimean lawmakers have voted to leave Ukraine and join Russia. They have scheduled a public vote to confirm it on March 16.
This act drew widespread condemnation, with Ukrainian interim Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk calling such a referendum "an illegitimate decision."
"Crimea was, is and will be an integral part of Ukraine," he said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims the right to use military force in Ukraine if necessary to protect ethnic Russians during the crisis.
President Barack Obama weighed in on the issue. He said that the legitimate government of Ukraine must be involved in such a decision. He said, "In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders."; Source: CNN; 5 lessons for a new Cold War - Frida Ghitis - CNN
Russia test-fires Intercontinental Ballistic Missile: Mar. 5, 2014 - Russia's Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from a region near the Caspian Sea. It sucessfully struck its target in Kazakhstan. The test occured during the crisis with Ukraine, but was not directly connected to the conflict.; Source: Fox; How the Ukraine Crisis Ends - Henry Kissinger - Washington Post; The 160-Year Christian History Behind What's Happening in Ukraine - Phillip Jenkins - Christianity Today