Russia has become quite the powerhouse in the last couple of years, dominating in the Syrian war effort to protect Assad, control Iran, and improvise new relationships with Israel. The country itself has had some very impacting changes as of late.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has cracked down on sharing the gospel with unbelievers without first seeking state approval.
“The new law will require any sharing of the Christian faith – even a casual conversation – to have prior authorization from the state,” reported Barnabas Fund, which aids persecuted Christians worldwide.
“This includes something as basic as an emailed invitation for a friend to attend church. Even in a private home, worship and prayer will only be allowed if there are no unbelievers present,” the organization said. “Churches will also be held accountable for the activities of their members. So if, for example, a church member mentions their faith in conversation with a work colleague, not only the church member but also the church itself could be punished, with individuals facing fines of up to 50,000 rubles ($770).”
Russia Today reported the crackdown was triggered by the bombing of an A-231 jetliner in Egypt last October and the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Barnabas Fund said Protestant Christians in Russia “fear that the new law will be chiefly enforced as a weapon against them and not used against the Orthodox Church, which Mr. Putin has favored in the past.”
Can we soon expect the same here in the U.S.?
Putin has complete control of the country and quite possibly through the end of this age.
The RS-28 Sarmat missile, dubbed Satan 2, will replace the SS-18
It is capable of flying at a speed of seven kilometres (4.3 miles) per second
Sarmat has a range of 10,000 kilometres (6,213 miles)
The weapons are perceived as part of an increasingly aggressive Russia
If a Sarmat missile were fired at London it would wipe out most of Britain, as well as northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands
Meanwhile, President Obama plans to remove the U.S. Nuclear Supremacy “with a personal commitment to pursuing diplomacy and arms control,” deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told the Arms Control Association on June 6. “I can promise you today that President Obama is continuing to review a number of ways he can advance the Prague agenda over the course of the next seven months. Put simply, our work is not finished on these issues.” Obama plans major nuclear policy changes in his final months
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu decided at their June 7 meeting in Moscow to deepen the military ties between the Russian and Israeli armed forces, debkafilereports exclusively from is military and intelligence sources. It was a historic decision that spells the end of the IDF’s unique relationship with the US military.The head of the IDF’s military intelligence branch, Maj. Gen. Hertzi Halevi, and Mossad chief Yossi Cohen also participated in the meeting. Our sources report that Putin and Netanyahu decided that a joint exercise by the Israeli and Russian naval and air forces will be held this summer as part of the first stage of expanded ties. It will mark the first time in modern Middle East military history that Russian military planes take off from an Arab country, Syria’s Hmeymim airbase, and Russian warships sail out of their bases in Tartus and Latakia, for joint maneuvers with the Israeli air force and navy. debkafile’s military sources add that, ahead of the exercise, the joint mechanism that coordinates Russian and Israeli air flights in Syrian airspace will be expanded. According to those sources, the bilateral decision for the joint war game was tied to an agreement to allow Russian gas companies to compete for contracts to develop Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar offshore gas fields. Netanyahu said June 7 in Moscow, “Our doors are open now to all companies from all countries that have substantial experience in developing gas fields, including Russia of course.” Putin had tried repeatedly to win a foothold for Russian companies, especially energy giant Gazprom, in the development of Israel’s offshore gas fields and export industry. The Russian leader tried to convince Netanyahu by saying that the presence of the Russian navy and air force in the area would guarantee that no Arab or Muslim military force, such as those of Iran, Syria and Hizballah, would attack the gas fields.
Perhaps the most pressing question on everyone’s mind, is Putin Gog? The bible says “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal” Ez. 38:2,3.
Twice the Word indicates that Gog/Magog is chief prince of Meshech and Tubal ensuing a different political structure between them. The key to understanding this prophecy is to study the line of Japheth, a son of Noah. “The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.”Gen 10:2
To say as modern commentaries do, that Magog, Tubal, and Mesheh are modern countries does not fit as they are the names of ethnic groups, not countries and there is no connection in history to link Meshech to Moscow and Tubal to Tobolsk as many writers have. The ancient names for Mowscow and Tobolsk were Slavi and Wends. Russia did not even exist at the time of this prophecy.
Previously it was asked if Putin was Gog/Magog. Since it has been shown that Gog is chief of Meshech and Tubal, indicating different political groups and Meshech and Tubal are ethnic groups, probably not. It would not make sense to say Putin is chief prince of two of his own cities. Most likely, Gog/Magog is a future UN leader that launches the huge coalition army under Western leadership from the land of Turkey “And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army”Eze 38:15
Turkey is due north of Israel and it is public knowledge that President Obama is seeking to replace UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon when his term expires in January of 2017.
Russia will most likely participate in this prophecy, but not as the leader. Perhaps Putin is one of three kings at some point the Antichrist has to defeat.
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.Dan 7:8
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. Dan 7:24
The Temple Institute has announced a bold new initiative to identify, select and register kohanim-priests who would be eligible to participate in the process of preparing the Red Heifer, which is used in the ritual of purifying Jews from the tuma-impurity of the dead.
This unprecedented move represents the second stage of the Institute’s project to restore the concept of biblical purity into the world, something that will have immense repercussions on Jewish observance as we know it. Even before the Temple is rebuilt, the reinstatement of halakhically approved kohanim is a pre-requisite for preparation of the Red Heifer which will enable the people of Israel to perform numerous Torah-based commandments…….
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu to start the withdrawal of forces from Syria starting Tuesday. Russia will however keep a military presence at the port of Tartus and at the Khmeimim airbase to observe ceasefire agreements.
A deep rift with Tehran over the continuation of the Syrian war and an irreconcilable spat with Syrian ruler Bashar Assad over his future prompted Russian President Vladimir’s shock order Monday, March 14, for the “main part” of Russian military forces to quit Syria the next morning. This is reported by debkafile’s military and intelligence sources. Moscow would retain a military presence at the naval port of Tartous and the Hmeymim airbase outside Latakia.
The Russian president did not fix a timeline for the military withdrawal – only its start. Neither did he promise to discontinue all military operations in Syria.
He did say only that “The task put before the defense ministry and Russian armed forces has on the whole been fulfilled” and he spoke of a “fundamental turnaround in the fight against international terrorism.”
To some extent, Russia has kept a volatile country from going completely ballistic. Once the majority of the Russian military is gone, will the country resume its’ tailspin? Will Iran or Hezbollah be the instigator?
We know the destruction of Damascus (Isaiah 17) is yet to occur, and we know it is caused by the children of Israel.
In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel:and there shall be desolation. Is. 17:9
One would think Israel would not create this type of destruction as long as a country as powerful as Russia were present, but now they leave….what’s next? Will this prophecy occur in the near future or will it commence in the seven year Tribulation? Will it be before or after Gog and Magog? Time will tell, but this author leans towards a pre-Gog & Magog occurrence.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Tit 2:13
With about 10 months left in office, President Barack Obama is considering unprecedented moves to implement a two-state solution, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Senior US officials revealed that the President is looking to initiate a final negotiated settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority using United Nations Security Council resolutions, a step that would obligate not only Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but effectively determine the direction of US policy for the president’s successor as well.
Netanyahu’s extraordinary decision to spurn the presidential invite came a year after Obama refused to meet with Netanyahu in Washington, citing the proximity to Israeli elections, in what was widely regarded as a sign of the strain in ties between the two leaders;
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Gen. 12:3
Do you remember this man? Democracy in Turkey is quickly dying.
Turkey has recently seized two newspaper media companies including the largest Zaman.
An İstanbul court appointed trustees to take over the management of the Feza Media Group, which includes Turkey’s biggest-selling newspaper, the Zaman daily, as well as the Today’s Zaman daily and the Cihan news agency, dealing a fresh blow to the already battered media freedom in Turkey.
Despite criticism from European officials over its crackdown on opposition media, the Turkish government has reportedly taken control of another news agency. It comes days after the seizure of the popular opposition newspaper Zaman.
Turkey’s “strongman” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going the extra mile in his trajectory of authoritarianism by challenging a Constitutional Court ruling.
Although stressing that he fully supports freedom of expression, Erdogan said no one can attack the country under the guise of liberty. “This is spying, [and] intelligence organizations in every country have almost infinite legal power — and so they can’t be interfered with so easily by any ordinary prosecutor,” he added. “Now, after our departure, there will be a lot of turbulence behind us over my statement,” he said, signaling that he was aware of the possible dramatic ramifications of his statement.
Amid President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent West African tour, from Feb. 28 to March 4 and including visits to Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Guinea, news reports surfaced of Turkey establishing a military presence on the strategic Horn of Africa, in Somalia. This development will make Turkey the fifth foreign country to have a military presence in Africa, joining Britain, France, Japan and the United States.
According to the reports, carried extensively by the pro-government media under such headlines as “New TurkeySpreads to Four Continents,”
There is much prophecy yet to be fulfilled concerning Egypt in the last days. The titles of two recent news articles eerily appertain to one of the prophecy’s in Ezekiel 29. You can get a refresh on that prophecy herehttps://lookingforthatblessedhope.com/2015/04/07/thou-didst-break/
At the time of the post above a news article dated April of 2015 stated Egypt was preparing for war with Israel. It has now been almost a year. Here are the more recent news articles related to the prophecy.
Egypt’s higher stratums view Israel as an important, powerful ally in regional struggles. Egyptian President Sisi, in an interview with the Washington Post in March 2015, said he speaks to Prime Minister Netanyahu frequently, sometimes several times a month. In reality, Sisi talks to Netanyahu even more than that, and not only to Netanyahu.
On the list of Egypt’s close allies, Israel is a front-runner. Many of the interests of the two countries have converged and complement one another. Even the list of enemies held by Israel and Egypt includes the same names, more or less.
“Sisi understands the situation,” said a high-ranking Israeli security source. “He knows exactly whom he can trust in the region and whom he can’t. He knows what’s good for Egypt and, under the correct circumstances, what’s good for Egypt is also good for Israel.”
Sisi is also well-acquainted with Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot. They once served in parallel positions in the Israel Defense Forces and the Egyptian army and their cooperation extends over many years.
Intelligence information is almost totally shared between the sides with regard to the struggle against the Islamic State (IS) branch in the Sinai Peninsula. Israel and Egypt also rely on one another in their joint struggle against Hamas.
According to a high-placed Israeli military source, “The efficacy of the Egyptian army in its war against IS is gradually improving. This is true for intelligence, for preciseness and for rapid response. The Egyptians know that Gaza’s Hamas provides IS with military experts, they know that wounded Sinai IS operatives are treated in Gaza, they know that there is a direct, close connection between the sides. Thus, they try to block all passageways between the Gaza Strip and Sinai.”
Israel is actually a close friend, maintaining an intimate, and sometimes very intimate, relationship with Egypt. At least that’s how Jerusalem sees it.
As far as the Egyptians are concerned, Israel has the same status as a mistress. It is only behind closed doors, in the innermost sanctum of the bedroom, that the lover opens up to her, pours out his heart and sometimes even puts his life in her hands. There is nothing to prevent Egypt from exchanging intelligence with Israel or cooperating with it in the fight against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Iran’s influence in the region or Sunni radicals in the Sinai Peninsula. The two countries might even work together to steal a horse or two from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. But all that happens under the cover of night. God forbid that news of it gets out, because if it did, the man would be branded with an indelible mark of shame.
March of 2019 will mark the 40th year anniversary of the historic US-sponsored peace treaty between Israel and Egypt.
Northern Thunder….largely avoided in the general media, but clearly an event in the Middle East that should be noticed given it’s current state of turmoil; specifically Syria. Will this massive exercise lead to one of the many destructive prophecies waiting in the wings?
The gathering of one of the largest Muslim force in history is a significant message for Daesch….The drill involves 20 countries, amongst whom, Egypt and Pakistan, both of whom have sizable and equipped armies. Egypt has the largest army in Africa; Pakistan is a nuclear power.
The political and strategic substance of the drill is the show of an army with 350,000 strong troops, 2,500 warplanes, 20,000 tanks and 450 helicopters, under Saudi leadership. The 20-member coalition makes part of a broader 35-member Arab and Muslim (Sunni) coalition put together by Saudi Arabia.
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. Zec 2:8
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. Rom. 11:25-27
Israel is the Apple of God’s eye, the chosen nation. Their final few years are just ahead. Pray for them.
Russia will most likely participate in this prophecy, but not as the leader. Perhaps Putin is one of three kings at some point the Antichrist has to defeat.
Looking for that Blessed Hope! 