Prophecy Central: Russia 2018

Russia

PROPHETIC SIGNIFICANCE:

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.

Key Scriptures
Current Events
Links

Our Trip to Russia:
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Key Scriptures

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Go To Bible Gateway	Go To Blue Letter Bible
NIV & Other Versions	Includes Commentary
Missions/ Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20	Further Study
Wars and Rumors of Wars
Matthew 24:6	Further Study
Mark 13:7	Further Study
Gog and Magog
Ezekiel 38	Further Study
Ezekiel 39	Further Study
Revelation 6:3-4	Further Study
Revelation 20:7-9	Further Study

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Current Events and Links

Prophetic Significance of Russia

See also:
War of Gog and Magog
The New Cold War
Iran
Syria

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.

See more recent articles: After January 1, 2019

Kremlin warns of possible flare-up of hostilities in Ukraine: Nov. 27, 2018
The Kremlin warned Tuesday that Ukraine’s declaration of martial law over Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian ships might trigger a flare-up in hostilities in eastern Ukraine.; Source: AP News
Prophetic Significance of Russia
Trump, Putin sit down for historic summit at Finland's presidential palace: July 16, 2018 -
President Trump met behind closed doors for more than two hours Monday with Vladimir Putin, as the two leaders tackled weighty issues amid political pressure back home for Trump to get tough with the Russian president.; Source: Fox; Trump, Putin speak at joint press conference in Helsinki -- live blog - Fox

Russia said to test missile that can down F-35 fighter jet: May 26, 2018 -
The S-500 missile, which Russia said will be able to down F-35 fighter jets — the most advanced in America’s (and Israel’s) fleets, as well as ballistic missiles — was able to hit a target 480 kilometers (299 miles) away.; Source: Times of Israel
After Israeli PM Netanyahu met Putin, Russia says it won't sell advanced missile defenses to Syria: May 11, 2019 - Iraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.
Russia is not in talks with the Syrian government about supplying advanced S-300 ground-to-air missiles and does not think they are needed, ... in an apparent U-turn by Moscow.; Source: Business Insider

UN council rejects Russia resolution on Syria Apr. 14, 2018 -: The U.N. Security Council has rejected a Russian resolution calling for condemnation of the “aggression” by the United States and its allies against Syria. Only three countries — Russia, China and Bolivia — voted in favor of the resolution.; Source: PBS; Rev. Franklin Graham on call for prayer for peace in Syria - Fox Video
'Star Wars Architect' reveals means to destroy Russia's new superweapons: Apr. 7, 2018 - Angelo Codevilla was of the architects of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) from the 1980's. The famous defense system is now mothballed, but he believes that some of the elements of the program could be used now to defend against Russia's new hypersonic missiles.
Codevilla believes that only two space-based systems are capable of countering sophisticated Russian and Chinese intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM). These include orbital optical sensors detecting ground launches and space-based lasers to destroy missiles.; Source: Space Daily
Russia to expel 60 US diplomats, close US consulate in St. Petersburg: Mar. 29, 2018 -
Russia announced Thursday it will expel 60 U.S. diplomats and close the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg in retaliation for U.S. measures taken in response to the poisoning of an ex-Russian spy and his daughter in Britain.; Source: Fox
Russia Plans To Respond To Its Diplomats Being Expelled Across U.S. And Europe: Mar. 27, 2018 -
Russian diplomats are being expelled across the U.S. and Europe after Russia allegedly poisoned a former Russian double agent living in the U.K. NPR looks at Russia's response to the expulsions.; Source: NPR; Cold War: How do Russia tensions compare to Soviet era? - BBC; Russia to 'respond harshly' to US expulsion of diplomats - Guardian UK; Turkey will not act against Russia, says deputy PM - Hurriyet Daily News
Vladimir Putin's power: From mean streets to Kremlin: Mar. 17, 2018 -
It's hardly a surprise that he's expected to easily win election to a fourth term Sunday. The man and the office are indistinguishable.; Source: Fox
Rosenberg: Russia a threat in real life as well as in novel: Jan. 11, 2018 - Popular novelist Joel Rosenberg is releasing his latest novel, The Kremlin Conspiracy, about the real-life threat of Russian expansion. He points to events in Syria last month, where U.S. forces repelled an attack from "pro-regime" forces.
It was reported that more than 300 Russian mercenaries died in that clash. Some have speculated that the attack was the result of a Vladimir Putin-approved operation to test American defenses.; Source: One News Now
'It's not a war. It's a massacre': scores killed in Syrian enclave: Feb. 20, 2018 - The Syrian regime has escalated bombing attacks in Ghouta, the rebel-controlled suburb of Damascus, killing more than 100 people and wounding hundreds more.
Seven hospitals have also been bombed since Monday morning in eastern Ghouta, which was once the breadbasket of Damascus but has been under siege for years by the government of Bashar al-Assad and subjected to devastating chemical attacks.

According to The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, after seven years of efforts by regional and global powers, the humanitarian crisis is getting worse, and Russia and Iran continue to back Assad's effort to gain a n outright military victory instead of a negotiated political settlement.; Source: The Guardian
Israeli Strikes in Syria Risk Forcing Russia to Adopt pro-Iranian Stance: Feb. 16, 2018 - This analysis of the recent clashes between Israel, Syria and Iran suggests that Iran is playing down their involvement because it could harm their position with the U.S. about the future of the Iranian nuclear agreement.
Iran is part of a troika, including Russia and Turkey, that has unsuccessfully sought a diplomatic solution to the war. Iran doesn’t want to open another military front with Israel, which could lead Israel to start a war against Hezbollah.; Source: Haaretz; Russia Can Keep the Peace Between Israel and Iran - But following the hostilities over the weekend, does Putin want to? - The Atlantic; Russian official: If Iran attacks Israel, we’ll stand with you - Times of Israel
Why is Russia helping Turkey in Afrin?: Jan. 29, 2018 - The recent [Jan. 20th] Turkish attack against the Kurdish-controlled enclave of Afrin must have had Russia's explicit approval because the Turkish Air Force had to enter Syria's airspace, and Syria could not have granted it without consulting Russia.
Moscow's approval of the operation ... became even more clear on the day the hostilities began, when the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the withdrawal of Russian troops from Afrin.

Russia's cooperation in the attack coincides with the beginning of Vladimir Putin presidential election campaign, and he wants to show that he is a "peacemaker" by helping end the military conflict in Syria.; Source: Al Jazeera
Tillerson: Russia 'ultimately bears responsibility' for chemical attacks in Syria: Jan. 24, 2017 - The regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has apparently launched another chlorine gas attack against rebels in Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson called the event a "crime against humanity."
"Whoever conducted the attacks, Russia ultimately bears responsibility for the victims in east Ghouta and countless other Syrians targeted with chemical weapons since Russia became involved in Syria," Tillerson said in Paris.; Source: ABC; U.N.: Haley criticizes Russia, calling it 'complicit in the Assad regime's atrocities' - Fox