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 |  Subject: A Hook in the Jaw Part 2  Sat Jan 17, 2015 7:17 am | |
| A Hook in the Jaw Part 2 By Matt Ward
There is a multi-spectrum war currently being waged by the West and the epicenter is Moscow. Vladimir Putin has in the past decade spent billions of dollars that the Russian economy does not have modernizing his military, especially his nuclear arsenal and military command and control structures.This was fine as long as the price of oil remained stable as 70% of the Russian economy is based on oil. However, in order for the Russian economy to break even it needs to sell oil at a minimum price of $109 per barrel. Today it is being sold at under $50 dollars per barrel.To try and counter the negative effects of this oil crash Russia have been ramping up their own production of oil to 10.667 million barrels per day. This is, however, proving ineffective because OPEC, in the Middle East, are flooding the market with cheap oil at low, low prices to try and kill off the more expensive American Shale oil markets. There seems to be no imminent solution on the horizon.Russia’s outlook is bleak. Holgar Schmieding, Berenberg Banks London based chief economist puts the situation succinctly: “...the risk is that, as a badly-wounded and cornered bear, Russia may turn more aggressive in its increasing desperation, threatening global peace and the European economic outlook.” [1]On January 13, 2015 Goldman-Sachs also slashed its forecast for the Ruble in 2015, predicting that it will lose 70.0 Rubles per month against the US dollar, for at least the next three months. The same forecast also predicts the price of oil to fall over the next twelve months to anything from $42 to $39per barrel.Russia and Vladimir Putin face a terrible dilemma.At present they are fully capable and able of launching a major war. The paradox though is that if the economic situation remains constant and does not improve throughout 2015, the longer they leave it the more incapable they are of actually fighting a prolonged war. This is because, “…the massive blow to Russia’s economic capabilities should –- over time –- make it less likely that Russia will wage another war.” [2]The condition of the Russian economy, aligned with the global economic outlook is virtually guaranteeing war. As with Nazi Germany in 1939, Putin understands that a ready solution to Russia’s worsening economic woes would be to simply take and then consume economically valuable assets from other nations, like land or oil and gas fields.This is exactly what Bible prophecy dictates will happen, “…have you come to take a spoil?”(Ezekiel 38:7) The recent Russian invasion and agitation in the Ukraine should be seen in this light.Mikhail Gorbachev, the renowned older world statesmen is openly voicing his concerns that this present situation could turn into a limited hot war which may expand to a global conflagration between Russia and America, with the current trigger point being Ukraine,“…a war of this kind would unavoidably lead to a nuclear war,” the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize winner told Der Spiegel. “We won’t survive the coming years if someone loses their nerve in this overheated situation,” added Gorbachev, 83. “This is not something I’m saying thoughtlessly. I am extremely concerned.” [3]Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger has also given a chilling assessment of a new geopolitical situation taking shape amid the Ukrainian crisis, warning of a possible new Cold War and calling the West’s approach to the crisis a “fatal mistake.” The 91-year-old diplomat characterized the tense relations as exhibiting the danger of“another Cold War.” “This danger does exist and we can’t ignore it,” Kissinger said. He warned that ignoring this danger any further may result in a“tragedy,” [4]On December 24, 2014 the Obama Administration ramped up the pressure on Putin and Russia by passing the anti-Russian resolution H. Res. 758 in the United States Congress. If roles were reversed and this legislation were passed by Russia against America, the United States may well interpret it as an act of war.The title of the resolution aptly sums up its contents, “Strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination.”Other such similar legislation, such as the Iraqi Liberation Act of 1998, were used successfully as a pretext for war.Ron Paul summarizes the key issues: These are the kinds of resolutions I have always watched closely in Congress, as what are billed as “harmless” statements of opinion often lead to sanctions and war…If anyone thinks I am exaggerating about how bad this resolution really is, let me just offer a few examples from the legislation itself:As to Russia’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty, why isn’t it a violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty for the US to participate in the overthrow of that country’s elected government as it did in February? We have all heard the tapes of State Department officials plotting with the US Ambassador in Ukraine to overthrow the government. We heard US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland bragging that the US spent $5 billion on regime change in Ukraine. Why is that okay?The resolution (paragraph 11) accuses the people in east Ukraine of holding “fraudulent and illegal elections” in November. Why is it that every time elections do not produce the results desired by the US government they are called “illegal” and “fraudulent?” Aren’t the people of eastern Ukraine allowed self-determination? Isn’t that a basic human right?The resolution (paragraph 13) demands…the government in Kiev to resume military operations against the eastern regions seeking independence.” [5]The Obama Administration then followed one week later with Act, S.2828, The Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014. The provisions of this Act allows the United States to provide a whole range of lethal and non-lethal weaponry to Ukraine, including: Communications equipment. Body armor. Night vision goggles. Humvees. Radar. Counter-mortar detection units. Binoculars. Small boats. Various other gear. Sniper and assault rifles. Hand grenade launchers. Mortars and shells. Stingers. Anti-tank missiles. [6] The effects of these actions are considerable and damaging. As to motive, as one observer has noted: The objectives of the US…strategy against the Russian Federation was not only to damage the trade ties and business between Russia and the EU, but to also bring about economic instability in Russia and to create currency instability and inflation. In other words, the US government was targeting the Russian ruble for devaluation and the Russian economy for inflation since at least May 2014. [7]The West is underestimating the threat Vladimir Putin poses. The Russia of 2015 ruled by Putin represents a much different foe than the one the West has faced for the past twenty years. The Russia of 2015 is cornered, is dangerous and is under no illusions about who it blames for its current situation:Washington.Vladimir Putin has made no secret of the fact that he no longer believes in diplomacy with Europe, or in confidence building measures between the two, as he firmly believes that European foreign policy is simply an extension of Washington’s.Putin also has no trust or desire to negotiate with Washington who have wasted no recent opportunity to vilify and attack a Russian regime headed by a man that Hilary Clinton herself as described as “Adolf Hitler.” This is fundamentally shaping Russian foreign policy in a way that is detrimental to the West, to Europe and to the United States of America.It is pushing an already wounded animal into a corner.Russian perceptions are that there has been a planned and ongoing effort on the part of the West to weaken and subjugate Russia and its interests for years. Russia was too weak previously to stand up to Western intimidation but that changed in the summer of 2008 when Washington ordered its puppet regime in Georgia to invade the breakaway republic of South Ossetia, killing a number of Russian peacekeepers and civilians in the process. Russia’s response was decisive and brutal. Within a few short hours the Russian military had comprehensively crushed the U.S. armed and trained Georgian invasion force, restoring South Ossetia once again to Russian control.Circumstances are now forcing Russia to turn and face southwards, towards the Middle East to find new allies in a hostile world. Iran( ancient Persians), are also breaking under the weight of Western sanctions which is costing them billions and billions of dollars in lost oil revenues every year and they have made ready bed mates for the wounded Russian Bear.Russia in return have for a number of years supplied the technical expertise, encouragement and political cover for Iran’s controversial nuclear weapons program and therefore have a heavy investment in its completion and success. It is highly probable that these facilities will be attacked by Israel in the coming months or later this year, as Israel, coupled with the virulent anti-Semitic rhetoric of Iran’s leadership, believe the existence of these weapons to be an existential threat to their very existence. Israel believe Iran would use these weapons if they had them.And in the middle of this situation sits the newly discovered Leviathan Gas Fields, of Israel. An oil field so vast it could dwarf the existing Saudi and Iraqi fields making Israel, or whoever owns them, the richest nation on planet Earth. These oil fields also sit easily within what Russia perceives as their legitimate sphere of influence, as being within their grasp.Ezekiel 38: 3-12 “And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them. After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought:And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, to take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”For the first time in history the confederation of nations bent on attacking Israel spoken of above are not just in place, they are in alliance. For the first time in history a potential and viable economic incentive for direct Russian military intervention in the Middle East exists, with the vast Leviathan Gas Fields.At some point in the near future the Bible tells us there will be a hook placed into Gog’s jaw by God Himself, drawing him to the mountains of Israel to face his doom.If the current economic and world geopolitical situation remains unchanged this could be very soon indeed. |
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| | Subject: Gog’s Evil Thought Sat Jan 17, 2015 7:21 am | |
| - Quote :
- Gog’s Evil Thought
- Quote :
- By Daymond Duck
Isaiah prophesied that war will break out between Syria and Israel at the end of the age. He said that Damascus, Syria will be destroyed forever in one night (Isa. 17:1-14). Damascus has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, but it has never ceased to exist as a city in one night because no army has ever had the ability to destroy it in one night. It will cease to exist as a city in one night in the future and it will take a very big bomb to do that.
Concerning this war, Isaiah used the phrase, “In that day” three times in chapter 17 (verses 4, 9 and 10). “In that day” is a Bible phrase that refers to the end of the age. This war will take place at the end of the age.
Ezekiel prophesied that a Russian leader will think an evil thought (Ezek. 38:10), assemble a group of allies and attack Israel in the latter years and latter days (Ezek. 38:8, 16). This war will take place after Israel has returned to the Promised Land and is dwelling safely (Ezek. 38: .
Some say “dwelling safely” means after the Antichrist confirms the seven-year covenant with many for peace in the Middle East (Dan. 9:27). But it doesn’t have to mean that because Israel is dwelling safely now under the protection of God who will not allow her to be defeated (Amos 9:15).
Having said that, the Bible does not tell us which war will happen first: Syria and Israel or Russia and Israel. But based on the fact that none of the nations that share a border with Israel (the so-called inner circle of nations) are mentioned in Russia’s war with Israel (the so-called outer circle of nations) many prophecy writers, including myself, believe the war between Syria and Israel will happen first. Some even think Syria’s war with Israel could lead to Russia’s war with Israel.
As we follow the news, Russia is like a wounded bear. She has a controversy with Israel over some missiles she shipped to a facility near Damascus a few weeks ago. Israel believes those missiles were destined for transfer to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Russia says Israel attacked them. Residents near Damascus reported hearing about ten loud explosions. Russia demanded an explanation from Israel and sent a letter of protest to the United Nations.
Russia even posted a statement on the nation’s Foreign Ministry’s website that reads:
Moscow is gravely concerned about this dangerous turn of events, the circumstances of which require explanations. In any case, there is no doubt that the use of force in international affairs is unacceptable and deserves to be condemned.
Russia also has a controversy with the U.S. and EU over sanctions they have placed on Russia because of the bear’s annexation of Crimea. Those sanctions along with the plunge in oil prices have destroyed Russia’s already fragile economy.
So the bear is wounded and thinking about lashing out. And it has been reported that a French official is saying Russia has asked Hezbollah and possibly Syria to develop contingency plans for a war with Israel. The report says Russia hasn’t asked Hezbollah and Syria to attack Israel.
But Russia has asked them to be ready to attack Israel, if the U.S. and EU keep applying sanctions. Do you get the point? The Bible predicts a war between Syria and Israel at the end of the age and Russia has apparently asked Syria to develop contingency plans for a war with Israel.
I recently asked, “Is Mr. Putin Gog?” And I said, “I don’t think anyone knows.” Is Gog’s “evil thought” possibly Russia telling Hezbollah and Syria to develop contingency plans for an attack on Israel? Most prophecy writers would probably say no, but we know it could lead up to it.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck |
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