Reprints, Highlights, Special Reports, Updates & Commentary



SPECIAL REPORT - April 14, 2015

GOG THE PRINCE OF RUSSIA ON THE PROWL


“Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land”  Ezekiel 38:10-12

While most of the world is focused on continuing news about ISIS, P5+1 & Iran, and other terrorist activity like the Kenya university massacre,  Russia continues its world-wide aggression and show of force.  See below a recap of recent telling headline news concerning the rapid advance of Gog toward the fulfillment of Ezekiel 38, 39

The Russian Bear is on the prowl - World Prepares for Russian Aggression


Russia has gained control over South Ossetia and Abkhazia from neighboring Georgia; they occupy Crimea; In Ukraine, Russia has been fueling a civil war; Moldova (western side of Ukraine) has signed a regional cooperation agreement with Russia; Tucked between Lithuania and Poland, is Kaliningrad, an orphan Russian territory that gives Russia a strategic military location right in the middle of the Baltic States, Poland, and the Scandinavian nations across the Baltic Sea; the threat of Russian expansionism also has other Eastern European countries taking notice, and preparing for the possibility of war; Poland is giving civilians military training in case there is an invasion; Lithuania is restoring the draft and teaching citizens what to do in case of war; Latvia has plans to give university students military training next year; Cyprus could also serve as a strategic Russian location in the Mediterranean that could serve to keep an eye on Europe from the south, while also giving Russia a staging area near the Middle East, just west of Israel; Russia has also been flying military aircraft around American airspace, largely near the Bering Strait; Bombers have been detected as far south as 50 miles off California’s northern coast, a move that was no doubt deliberately provocative; Russian aircraft have also pushed the limits in Europe, around Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Norway; NATO, allied jets were scrambled to monitor Russian warplanes around Europe more than 100 times last year; Activity by the Russian military is also present in the western Atlantic and areas in and around the Gulf of Mexico; Gog Putin’s government also announced plans to reopen 10 former Soviet-era military bases in the Arctic, including 14 airfields; A shipyard in Severodvinsk, the largest city on the Russian Arctic Coast, has begun building four nuclear-powered submarines for the first time in decades.  The Pentagon has confirmed all reports as accurate…http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/70989

…Although written for Israel, it seems like Ezekiel 38:10 & 11 has application to some other nations as a warm-up exercise, prior to its fulfillment against  Israel…”thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’—to take plunder and to take booty” …sounds like this applied to all the counties in the article above!

Russia starts nationwide show of force


Last month more than 45,000 Russian troops as well as war planes and submarines started military exercises across much of the country in one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows… Putin called the Navy's Northern Fleet to full combat readiness in exercises in Russia's Arctic North apparently aimed at dwarfing military drills in neighboring Norway, a NATO member… Putin, has promised to spend more than 21 trillion rubles ($340 billion) by the end of the decade to overhaul Russia's fighting forces… Tensions between Russia and Europe worsened last year, leading eight northern European nations to promise to boost cooperation to counter an increase in Moscow's military activity…

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/16/us-russia-military-exercises-idUSKBN0MC0JO20150316


Iran, Russia To Sign Defense MoU


Iran and Russia will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the expansion of military cooperation… The further expansion of defense cooperation between Iran and Russia plays a major role in maintaining regional and global security, the Iranian defense minister said … http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/01/18/393637/Iran-Russia-to-sign-defense-MoU


Putin ends ban on delivery of S-300 missile system to Iran


Putin signed a decree on Monday lifting a ban on the delivery of S-300 anti-missile systems to Iran…Russia's Defense Ministry will be ready to swiftly deliver the S-300 missile system to Iran…In recent years, Russia did not supply Iran with the advanced missile system, due in part to Israeli and American requests. Had the advanced missile system been delivered to Iran, it would have made an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities much harder…http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/1.651565?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

…with the devastating impact of a bad final P5+1 Agreement with Iran, and now the soon delivery of sophisticated new weapons to Iran by Russia, Israel’s strike on Iran – which is the prophecy of Jeremiah 49:35-39, is on the verge of being fulfilled.

Russia says it has the right to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea


Russia has the right to deploy nuclear arms in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine last year, a Foreign Ministry official said… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/11/us-russia-crimea-nuclear-idUSKBN0M710N20150311

Russian Jets Run 'Attack Scenarios' on NATO Ships


Russian fighter jets have been using NATO ships in the Black Sea as target practice to run “attack scenarios,” a situation that NATO military officials say they are aware of and prepared to defend against if necessary… In the latest sign of provocation against Western forces by Moscow, Russia is ordering its newest Su-30 multi-role fighter jets to track NATO forces and run mock attack drills to simulate penetrating NATO’s anti-air systems… http://freebeacon.com/national-security/russian-jets-run-attack-scenarios-on-nato-ships/


Russia and North Korea declare 2015 a "year of friendship"


North Korea and Russia have declared 2015 a year of bilateral friendship… The biggest cause for concern is the growing military alliance between Russia and North Korea, with the two regimes recently announcing plans to conduct a series of joint army, navy and air force exercises this year. Mr Kim is also keen to get his hands on advanced military technology… http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/11463265/Russia-and-North-Korea-declare-2015-a-year-of-friendship.html

…as Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas are the proxy of Iran, so may North Korea become a proxy of Russia…increasing news in the press of late, concerning the threat of an EMP attack on America could be the possible work of this axis of evil.

Russian 'Doctor of Military Sciences': Moscow should nuke Yellowstone if tensions boil over


A Russian "Docter of Military Sciences," described scenarios that involved dropping a nuclear weapon near Yellowstone's supervolcano or the San Andreas Fault… Since last year's illegal annexation of Crimea, Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to international criticism and economic sanctions placed on his country by flexing his nation's military muscle around the world…Putin Once Casually Said He Could Destroy America In A Half-Hour… http://www.businessinsider.com/russian-analyst-says-to-nuke-yellowstone-2015-4
…is Putin also acting in tandem with North Korea and Iran to destroy the “Big Satan” in order to setup the “Little Satan” for elimination – see below

Putin to Arab League: Palestinians have right to state with capital in East Jerusalem


Moscow will support the Palestinians in their efforts to build an independent state with a capital in east Jerusalem, Russia's President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday… Putin also spoke on the importance of synchronizing the efforts of the Arab League with those of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia… http://www.jpost.com/International/Putin-to-Arab-League-Palestinians-have-right-to-state-with-capital-in-East-Jerusalem-395456 …Gog seems to now be involved in the affairs of Israel, to support a “would be State” and terrorist organization who has as its stated goal, the destruction of Israel.  This is really the end goal of Gog, the destruction of Israel and the plunder of its resources.

It is very apparent, the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal is making rapid preparations for the soon coming War of Gog & Magog spoken of in Ezekiel 38, 39 [although, he may not actually fully realize that yet] - and while Putin continues to strengthen strategic alliances with virtually all of the nations represented in Ezekiel 38, Israel is facing the realities of a nuclear Iran as the P5+1 enters an agreement with Iran that will result in the annihilation of Israel…Israel will be left no choice but to pre-emptively strike Iran very soon, as its once strong ally, the U.S., has turned on Israel and DOES NOT have her back, as has been stated.  An Israeli strike on Iran (which is imminent as prophesied in Jeremiah 49: 35-39) could very well set in motion a domino effect for the fulfillment of additional last-days Biblical prophecies including Isaiah 17, Isaiah 19, Psalm 83, Zechariah 12, where Israel dramatically increases her borders to a Greater Israel [see map http://watchmansview.com/New_Israel_Borders.html] which appears to be the footprint of the borders of the land covenant that God made with Abraham.  Also see http://www.arewelivinginthelastdays.com/road/mewar.html


Ezekiel 38:11 states Israel will then be living for a time in Peace and safety, without walls or gates, when Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal makes an evil plan and gathers an army to take to take great plunder...and the "hook in the jaws" (v.4) for this "evil plan" is simply two words GAS & OIL.  Israel is about to greatly expand its territory, and Putin, the current Prince of Rosh, in his power surge is not about to let Israel control the Gas & Oil wealth in the territories Israel then controls.  (Note: For Russia everything is about GAS & Oil as it supplies over 50% of Central Europe oil and gas and 30% of the EU and by its hostile takeover of Crimea, Russia gained control of about 70% of Ukraine’s Black Sea offshore oil and gas drilling rights).


Make no mistake about it, “Gog the Prince of Russia is on the Prowl” and Gog is clearing a path that leads to Jerusalem and the War of Gog & Magog.

Here are some of the promises of the God of Israel: “The God of Israel will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem” Zechariah 12:9 … “Like birds hovering overhead, the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver it, he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it." Isaiah 31:5 … Rest assured that “No weapon formed against you shall prosper”  Isaiah 54:17

The proof of the promises above? …see the soon coming fate of Mr. Gog the Prince of Rosh, Meshech, as prophesied in Ezekiel 38:21,22; 39:3-5, 11...and God's purpose for all of this - "Thus I will magnify Myself and sanctify Myself, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”..."So I will make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let them profane My holy name anymore. Then the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel"...Ezekiel 38:23 & 39:7


Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:  "May those who love you be secure.  May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.”  Psalm 122:6-7


O Lord, protect Israel, your treasured possession, and grant her peace.   May we stand by her in times of need, never forgetting your promises to your chosen people.  Lord, bless us as we bless Israel (Genesis 12:1-3)


March 7th, 2015 - Reprint


Gog of Magog On The Move



Breaking News from Eschatology Today Blog: The Russian Federation has launched large-scale war games throughout its Southern Military District (image above) plus Russia's newly annexed territory of Crimea, as well as its bases in Abkhazia and South Ossetia (formerly the western and northern districts of the Republic of Georgia), and in Armenia.  These military forces consist of two entire land armies, large numbers of Special Forces (Spetsnaz), four brigades of paratroops, a Marine brigade plus several independent Marine battalions, the entire Black Sea Fleet and the 4th Air/Air Defense Forces Command.


These war games are an unambiguous message to NATO and Israel about Russian military forces preparedness to engage in full-scale war at a moments notice. Reinforcing this message is the Russian Defense Ministry announcement of these war games continuing over the course of the next month, which not so coincidentally happens to overlap with the time remaining for the P5+1 nuclear negotiations with Iran to reach an agreement. Also not coincidentally is the geographic fact that the large swath of territory that is the Russia's Southern Military District is directly north and contiguous with the Iranian border. Most important from the biblical eschatological perspective is that this territory fully encompasses the northern territories identified in the prophecy of Ezekiel 38/39.


Related to this is news from the Ukrainian government that Russia is using the current ceasefire not to withdraw its troops from eastern Ukraine, but to instead rotate them with fresh troops from Russia. The Ukrainian government estimates there are now a minimum of 18,000 Russian troops on Ukrainian soil in Donetsk and Luhansk provinces. Gog of Magog is clearly on the move with his military forces.


Updates as they occur at http://eschatologytoday.blogspot.com/2015/03/global-sitrep-b6-15-gog-of-magog-on-move.html


See the following link The War of Gog & Magog - Key event that sets the stage for Tribulation for excellent teaching on this soon coming Middle East War against Israel!

 
Wednesday October 1, 2014 - Reprint

Watching For A Hook - Ezekiel 38 On The Horizon?


The list of experts who teach that Russia, Iran and others will attack Israel in a future war called the Battle of Gog and Magog is impressive (Ezek. 38-39). So for the sake of brevity, I will simply state that God will put a hook in the jaws of Russia’s leader (Ezek. 38:4) and drag him and his allies into Israel in the latter days (Ezek. 38:16) and latter years (Ezek. 38:8). And I will make eight points about this in connection with current events.


First, Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities is not the Battle of Gog and Magog. But, if Israel attacks Iran’s nuclear facilities, Russia and Iran have said they will counterattack and that could be the Battle of Gog and Magog.


Second, I agree with those who say Psa. 83 is a prayer about a war between Israel and her neighbors that will take place before the Battle of Gog and Magog. This war hasn’t happened, but events seem to indicate that it could happen soon. An Intifada has been raging in Jerusalem for more than two months; there is currently a temporary ceasefire between Israel and the PA, but Hamas is threatening to break it and no one expects it to hold.


Third, I agree with those who say Isa. 17 prophesies a war between Israel and Syria that will take place before the Battle of Gog and Magog. This hasn’t happened, but it is something else that could happen soon. The U.S. and several Arab allies have already attacked oil fields, refineries, Islamic State troops, other terrorists and weapons in Syria even though Russia, Iran and Syria warned us not to do it. In the past, Syria, Russia and Iran have threatened to attack Israel, if Syria is attacked. Israel has her troops on high alert and the IDF has just shot down a Syrian jet that supposedly strayed over Israeli territory.


Fourth, on Sept. 17, 2014, Israel’s Minister of Intelligence, Yuvall Steinitz said Iran is nine to eighteen months away from developing a nuclear bomb and Iran already has missiles that can deliver one. He pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said, “Israel will not allow Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.” Nine to eighteen months will quickly come and go. Therefore, it is obvious that time is running out for Israel to act and for Russia, Iran and others to respond.


Fifth, on Sept. 18, 2014, the P5 +1 (the permanent five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) began what they call their final round of negotiations with Iran over the abandonment of Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the two sides have agreed to resolve all of their differences by Nov. 24, 2014. So the P5 + 1 and Iran are now less than two months away from their self-imposed deadline, the talks are going nowhere and Iran says she will not give up her nuclear program. In addition to this, because of western sanctions on Russia over her actions in Ukraine, Russia has threatened to retaliate against the west by siding with Iran in these negotiations.


Sixth, in 2013, Israel included almost three billion dollars in her budget to finance a war with Iran. In 2014, Israel budgeted almost three billion dollars more for a war with Iran. In Sept. 2014, while preparing Israel’s budget for 2015, a problem arose. Israeli Finance Minister, Yair Lapid, did not want to raise taxes on the Israeli people, but Israeli Air Force Commander, Maj.-Gen. Amir Eshel, wanted more money to upgrade Israel’s Air Force and Prime Minister Netanyahu wanted more money to finance operations to deal with security threats against Israel. Some in the media took Mr. Netanyahu’s request for more money to mean that Israel will soon attack Iran’s nuclear facilities. Could it happen in the next nine months?


Seventh, Russia’s economy is in trouble. Mr. Putin is still financing a covert war in Ukraine. Western nations have gradually upped sanctions on Russia and the sanctions are finally beginning to take hold. Russia threatened to cut off the flow of natural gas to the EU, but the loss of income could be devastating. The value of the Ruble has dropped 15% against the dollar this year and a recession is looming. Russia will soon have to change her ways, deal with a recession, or find a prey with silver and gold, cattle and goods.


Eighth, based on the Jewish Talmud (not the Bible) some say a Tetrad of blood moons are an omen of war for Israel. It is a debatable issue, but no one can deny that the first blood moon in the current Tetrad occurred on April 15, 2014 (the Feast of Passover), the next blood moon will occur on October 8, 2014 (the Feast of Tabernacles) and there will be two more in 2015.


Russia is still causing trouble in Ukraine; Pres. Obama is arming the so-called friendly rebels in Syria; the U.S. and several Arab allies are attacking the Islamic State in Syria; Israel’s war with Hamas is probably not over; so it is quite possible that within months God could set the hook on Russia. Time will tell...http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/2014/October01/014.html...per our commentary on “The Prophetic Gap Between the Rapture and Tribulation Period” if the the War of Ezekiel 38 & 39 is to take place AFTER the War of Psalm 83 and other related Regional Wars, and it looks like a significant number of the Ezekiel 38, 39 confederacy nations are aligning, and the hook is getting ready to be set - AND IF this war occurs in THE GAP (as suggested) between the Rapture and beginning of the Tribulation, then how close might we be to the Rapture of the Church?... "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  Luke 21:28

 
  April 8, 2014 - Special Report:


The Ezekiel 38 Hook in the Jaw Set-up 

 

                                     Click on Picture to Enlarge


A major energy pipeline project may help the strained Turkey and Israel relationship.  On March 23, it was announced that over 10 companies responded with bids for an undersea pipeline that would export natural gas from Israel's offshore Leviathan field to southern Turkey. The proposed pipeline statement came shortly before a meeting between Israeli PM Netanyahu's personal envoy for energy and the chief of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization, in which both parties agreed to work toward reopening embassies and normalizing strained relations.


Israel and Turkey both seem to be isolated in the region, giving both countries a reason to begin working together again.  The proposed Israeli Leviathan pipeline could be used as a springboard for normalizing Israeli-Turkish relations.


As a consequence of its lack of relations with both Israel and Cyprus, Turkey found itself sidelined from their joint exploitation of enormous offshore natural gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean. The proposed pipeline system has been hailed as Turkey's entrance into the energy game.


The 450-kilometer (280-mile) subsea pipeline would be the Middle East's most ambitious native pipeline, stretching from Israel's offshore Leviathan field, 130 kilometers west of Haifa, to the Turkish port of Ceyhan. With a capacity of 16 billion cubic meters, the initiative has been lauded as a way to enable Turkish (and eventually European) energy diversification away from Moscow. (1)


Since Russia’s Gazprom, controls almost a fifth of the world’s gas reserves, and supplies more than half of Ukraine’s and about 30% of Europe’s gas annually.  Just one month before the Crimea/Ukraine crisis, Ukraine signed a $10 billion shale gas deal with US Chevron “that Ukraine hoped could end its energy dependence on Russia by 2020.” (2)


Since Russia earns as much as 80% of its state budget revenue through gas and oil commodity sales, and given what just happened in Crimea, how long do you think Gog/Putin will let an Israeli-Turkey gas pipeline deal stand unchallenged, and one that reduces Turkish and Europe’s reliance on Moscow to supply its energy needs?


Russia takes no prisoners when it comes to his thirst for gas/oil, just this past week it was announced that Iran and Russia have made progress towards an oil-for-goods deal that would be worth up to $20 billion, which would enable Tehran to boost vital energy exports in defiance of Western sanctions (3)


Turkey is named as being part of the Russian lead Gog Magog alliance against Israel (Ezekiel 38:2-6)


Magog, Rosh = Russia and the former Soviet republics

Persia = Iran

Cush = Sudan, Ethiopia, and Possibly Eritrea

Put = Libya, Algeria, and Tunisa

Gomer, Meshech, and Tubal = Turkey

Beth-togarmah = Turkey, Armenia, Turkish-speaking people of Asia Minor & Central Asia


Verse 2 in the NLT says "Gog of the land of Magog, the prince who rules over the nations of Meshech and Tubal" which would seem to indicate Gog, the Prince (Czar) of Russia also rules over Turkey at this time.  Could Turkey be one of the next targets of Russia, as was Crimea?  A possible scenario could be that Turkey invades Syria - as previously reported, a recent conversation took place between key Turkish military and political leaders discussing what appears to be a false flag attack to launch war with Syria...To summarize: a recording confirming a NATO-member country planned a false-flag war with Syria and all the Turkish Prime Minister has to say is the leak was "immoral." (4)  Turkey is a staunch opponent of the Damascus regime, and hosts about 800,000 refugees from the three-year-old Syrian conflict, many of them in camps along the border.  On the 23rd of March a Turkish F-16 aircraft shot down a Syrian fighter jet for a breach of Turkish airspace.  Just this past Friday, Turkey returned artillery fire into Syria.  Russia’s sole Mediterranean base is at Syria's Tartus port. The Syrian army is equipped with Russian weapons. For Russia, Syria is both a market and an operational observation post.  A Turkish strike on Syria and/or a major gas deal with Israel (threatening Russia) would be viewed by Russia as a declaration of War - how do Russians deal with insecurity?  They attack.  Turkey and Russia have a long history of war between the two countries so don’t be surprised if it were to happen again, positioning Gog to rule over Meshech and Tubal.  The Israeli-Turkey pipeline does not need to be up and operating - just the threat of an agreement is enough for Russia's action...the threat of this Israeli-Turkish gas alliance was just put into play!


The Gog Magog War Hook in the Jaw set-up (via the threat of a major Israel-Turkey Gas Pipeline) has just been put into motion...IF this is a major part of the motivation for a Russian led coalition against Israel, prophesied in Ezekiel 38 - 39 (and many place this battle at or close to the Rapture of the Church) then how close are we to our redemption?  ...Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in real time before our very eyes!..."Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Luke 21:28


~ A Watchman (keeping a close eye on these developments)


Sources:

(1)  Turkey and Israel May Reconcile After Years of Tension  http://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/turkey-and-israel-may-reconcile-after-years-tension

(2)  Ukraine crisis is about Great Power oil, gas pipeline rivalry  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2014/mar/06/ukraine-crisis-great-power-oil-gas-rivals-pipelines

(3)  Iran, Russia working to seal $20 billion oil-for-goods deal  http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/02/us-iran-russia-oil-idUSBREA311K520140402

(4)  "Start A False Flag War With Syria"  http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-03-27/here-youtube-false-flag-attack-syria-clip-erdogan-wanted-banned


  April 11, 2014 - Reprint:


Moscow, Magog and the Mideast Mess: The Red Thread 

By Mary Danielsen at http://thethings2come.org/?p=966




The following are some very interesting select excerpts from the article linked above.  Click the link above for the entire article and some great history on Russia and Gog/Putin.


Putin, who was himself baptized in secret as an infant, is starting to acquire a supernatural persona in Russia – and his name is said to mean, “the path”, or “the way”. He himself has overseen the reconstruction of over 23,000 churches that had been destroyed or abandoned under Communism...Putin publicly states that since most of Europe is rooted in Christianity, Russia is the new leader in supporting Christian values and morals; he is quickly gaining support from religious leaders in Europe. Keep in mind that this Christianity is state sponsored Eastern Orthodox; Protestants need not apply.

The Russian Orthodox church the largest landowner in all of Russia. He is quite conservative regarding abortion and gay rights, so how’s this for irony – America is likely more secular today than Russia. But think of it this way: in order for Russia to be part of the last days global religion, whatever form that will assume, their Communist religion of atheism would have to be rejected in favor of some sort of spirituality. It’s just another piece of the prophetic puzzle.

For over a decade now, Russia has been laboring to reconstruct a major Russian presence in Jerusalem which today is under not the Ottomans, but – Israeli political control. Is this new religious nationalism something that Russia may use to their own advantage in seeking to fight for a strong religious presence in Israel, looking to oversee holy sites once again? I read a news quote last week that stopped me in my tracks: “The next time Russia expands southward, it will be for religious reasons.”

In Ezekiel 36-39, we have an amazing set of prophecies concerning the rebirth of the nation of Israel after having been in captivity among the nations for over 2000 years, followed by a latter days invasion by a coalition of nations lead by a great power directly to the North of Israel. This is referred to as the War of Gog and Magog. These prophecies have the full attention of bible scholars today because they clearly point to fulfillment following a miraculous regathering of Israel which took place 66 years ago in May.

Never in history has there been a world power to the North of Israel that could both instigate and field an army on the level of the one described in Ezekiel 38-39, until the modern era and the rise of superpower RUSSIA.

Ezekiel 38:4 says this: “I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords.”

So what about those Cossacks? With the current events in Crimea and Ukraine, they are finding their way into the news again, but probably not for the exact reason I am going to give you today.

Who are they? The Cossacks played a key role in Crimea’s reabsorption into Russia.  Primarily, they are committed to assisting the motherland take or keep any land they choose. They are rabidly pro-Orthodox and will defend the church at any cost as well. Cossacks are from the Ukraine/Crimea area historically, a caste of warriors who have guarded the borders of the empire for centuries –  “Eastern Cowboys” of sorts, but known for their brutality. No one really knows ethnically who they are, but they are still around, today a paramilitary force throughout Russia. Oh, and the main thing they are known for? They ride horses exclusively. A few years ago, Putin signed a law not only giving them the status of state militia, but they are paid by the government, and they answer to Putin who determines who their ranking officers are. No longer a rag-tag lot of self appointed vigilante types, today they are 600,000+ strong: a great company, splendidly clothed, armed with swords — and ready to go when Putin says so. I find that quite interesting in light of Ezekiel’s prophecy.

I suggest that the West will never see this situation for what it is because the new spiritual dimension here will completely elude the secular West, and so the Russian invasion of Israel just might catch most everyone off guard, as suggested in Ezekiel 38:13.

I would encourage you to do your own homework on these things, and keep looking up as the hour is late.

For the full story, read the entire article at http://thethings2come.org/?p=966

My comments:  Their are two prophecy critical points brought out in this article, one is the clear merging of the Russian Orthodox Church and State - Putin clearly runs them both...the church blesses every action Putin makes.  The Russian Orthodox Church has become Putin's "God Squad" as Peter Pomerantsev wrote in 2012 for Newsweek.   As The New Yorker points out in "Putin Goes to War in the Crimea" his "increasingly vivid nationalist-conservative ideology" relies "on the elevation of the Russian Orthodox Church, which had been so brutally suppressed during most of the Soviet period, as a quasi-state religion supplying the government with its moral force." (1)

In a March TIME article titled "Armed Cossacks Flock to Crimea to Help Russian Annexation Bid" it stated that Cossack zealous devotion to the Orthodox Christian religion tends to unite them, and after the morning lineup on the square in Simferopol, the highest-ranking commanders walked over to a nearby church — The Cathedral of Holy Mary Magdalene, Equal to the Apostles — for a private powwow. It began with a blessing from a local priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, Vitali Liskevich, who prayed for the Lord to defend the righteous mission of the Cossacks in Crimea  ...really!  WOW, unreal! 

In a February 2014 report Pew Research titled "Russians Return to Religion, But Not to Church" reported during the past two decades Orthodox Christian rose from 31% to 72% of the population...But for most Russians, the return to religion did not correspond with a return to church.  "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men...they will have a form of godliness but deny its power...they are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth...they are men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith...but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all."
2 Timothy 3:1-9 ...clearly denying the true spiritual power of (Christ centered) "religion" - Putin finds the Church provides another kind of power, one of a moral rubber stamp for his current (Crimea) and soon coming (Ezekiel 38 - 39) actions.

As Mary Danielsen points out in her article above "in order for Russia to be part of the last days global religion, whatever form that will assume, their Communist religion of atheism would have to be rejected in favor of some sort of spirituality."  That "form" of spirituality appears to be the State supported Orthodox Church.  Additionally, Islam is the second most widely professed religion in Russia (14% of the population by some reports)...and we know from the list of nations in Ezekiel 38, that it is a coalition of Russia lead Islamic nations - possibly a form of Chrislam Holy War.  As Mary points out again in her article "Is this new religious nationalism something that Russia may use to their own advantage in seeking to fight for a strong religious presence in Israel, looking to oversee holy sites once again? I read a news quote last week that stopped me in my tracks: The next time Russia expands southward, it will be for religious reasons.” Additionally, with Putin’s alliances and full support of the Muslim nations of Iran and Syria (and emerging support of Egypt and other Islamic nations all against Israel) ...it is all making sense now! 

The second point that stands out in Mary’s article is the description of who the Cossacks are and the clear reference to what the invading army of Ezekiel 38 looks like - to steel a term from the fashion blogs its matchy matchy!! 

Biblical prophecy being fulfilled in real time before our eyes...Time to look up, because our redemption is drawing nigh - MARANATHA!

~ A Watchman

(1) Putin's 'Holy Russia' Goes to War http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-dr-susan-brooks-thistlethwaite/putins-holy-russia-goes-to-war_b_4886776.html