Russia is a country that is rich in Christian history. It is one of the primary countries where the Orthodox Christian
Church flourished until the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and creation of the Soviet Union (USSR) which was an atheistic Communistic
Dictatorship. For several decades after World War II the Soviet Union was a formidable world power with great nuclear stockpiles. A "Cold War"
existed between the USSR and the United States, representing two philosophies of government: Communism versus Democracy. Nuclear war was
avoided by the concept of "Mutual Assured Destruction" (MAD), which meant that neither super-power would dare attack the other since both
would surely be annihilated in the exchange. The USSR was disbanded in 1991 with the so-called "Fall of the Iron Curtain."
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 and Somalia),
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.
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Dec. 30, 2016 - Although various media sources originally reported that Russia's Vladimir Putin would respond to the U.S. expulsion of 35 diplomats. he said:
"Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy but will plan our further steps
to restore Russian-U.S. relations based on the policies of the Trump administration."
Oct. 27, 2016 - Russia's newest weapon is the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, nicknamed “Satan 2.”
Russian state media outlet Sputnik reported in May that the Sarmat rocket “is capable of wiping out parts of the earth the size of Texas or France,” according to CNN.
Oct. 20, 2016 - Tensions are rising between the U.S. and Russia over Moscow's bombing of Aleppo in Syria.
Turkish deputy prime minister Numan Kurtulmus said: "If this proxy war continues, after this, let me be clear, America and
Russia will come to a point of war." ... He suggested the Syrian conflict could be the beginning of World War Three.
Source: Independent - UK
Russia taunts US with biggest military offensive since the Cold War - The Kremlin is sending the full might of its Northern Fleet
and part of the Baltic Fleet to reinforce a final assault on the city of Aleppo in a fortnight, according to Western intelligence. - Telegraph - UK
Oct. 16, 2016 - Vladimir Putin said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe" of the 20th century.
He has gradually exercised dominance in the Syrian conflict, while US officials describe Russian actions in Aleppo as "barbarism."
For a time Russia retreated from the world stage, but now it is back with a vengeance, eager to ... restore something of its
former global role and to make up for perceived slights perpetrated by the West.
Russia may well take advantage of the US preoccupation with the presidential elections, and use this period of time to gain advantages in
various conflict zones.
Russia is using the waning days of the Obama administration to strengthen President Bashar al-Assad’s hold on power,
expand the territory he controls in Syria and constrain the options of the next American president.
Ties between Russia and the U.S. deteriorated further after the Obama administration proclaimed bilateral peace talks over Syria dead and Moscow suspended
a 16-year-old treaty meant to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation.
Oct. 2, 2016 - Russia and the Syrian administration are indiscriminately bombing civilian neighborhoods and hospitals in the city of Aleppo while
the United States stands down.
A leaked audio released by the NY Times reveals US Secretary of State John Kerry repeatedly expressing frustration that President Barack Obama
had repeatedly refused to use any military force, when the opportunity was available, to stop the bloody carnage.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested Russia may have committed a war crime in Syria if it was behind an attack on an aid convoy near Aleppo.
...Eighteen lorries and a warehouse were destroyed and 20 people killed.
Aug. 22, 2016 - Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend says that the U.S. has informed Russia that we will defend ourselves if Russian airstrikes threaten our positions in Syria.
In the latest indication that Moscow is pushing ahead with a major modernization of its armed forces, Russia is constructing numerous nuclear command bunkers.
According to NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, Russia is considering using low-yield nuclear weapons in future conflicts.
They evidently believe that the West would not respond with nuclear weapons.
Aug. 13, 2016 -
At a meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin:
Putin announced that Russia would begin easing sanctions designed to punish Turkey. The move would include restarting work on energy projects,
such as work on Turkey’s first nuclear power center and a pipeline from southern Russia to the Black Sea.
The Russian Air Force bombed U.S.-trained rebels in southern Syria not once, but twice Thursday, and the second wave of attacks
came after the U.S. military called Russia on an emergency hotline to demand that it stop.
May 18, 2016 - Sir Alexander Richard Shirreff.
, the former deputy commander of Nato, has just released a book titled 2017 War With Russia,
In a chilling scenario, he predicts that Russia, in order to escape what it believes to be encirclement by Nato, will seize
territory in eastern Ukraine, open up a land corridor to Crimea and invade the Baltic states.
Worse yet, Shirreff warns that Russia might use nuclear weapons because such action is "hardwired into Moscow’s military strategy.”
May 10, 2016 - The Russian news agency Zvezda has published information about Russia's latest RS-28 Sarmat intercontinental
ballistic missile, capable of delivering up to 12 nuclear warheads to various specific targets. It will be able to penetrate any
existing anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system.
The allegedly unstoppable missile is "capable of wiping out parts of the earth the size of Texas or France", Zvezda cheerfully explains.
May 5 - Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has responded to NATO's plans to expand forces near the Russian border. He
announced plans to form three new military divisions in the area.
Shoigu said the new Russian divisions would be formed by the end of the year. Reuters, citing Russian media, reported that the
Russian divisions would include about 10,000 soldiers each.
Experts say Russia and China are improving their ballistic and cruise missile technologies and hoping to create what they call “anti-access
area-denial bubbles” where they can threaten U.S. air and ground operations.
Russia's ambassador to NATO accused the U.S. Wednesday of trying to intimidate Moscow by sailing a Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea, and vowed
Russia would respond to future incidents with "all necessary measures."
Apr. 15, 2016 - Yesterday two Russian warplanes came within 1,000 yards of the the USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) destroyer, flying just 100 feet off the ground
in "simulated attack profile." Secretary of State John Kerry said:
"We condemn this kind of behavior. It is reckless. It is provocative. It is dangerous. And under the rules of engagement that could
have been a shoot-down," Kerry told CNN Espanol in Miami Thursday.
In 2015, the U.S. spent $596 billion ... on defense, while China spent $374 billion and Russia spent a further $187 billion... Throw in Iran, another $34 billion,
and the sum does equal American spending.
