{"id":1464,"date":"2022-03-02T07:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T12:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/?p=1464"},"modified":"2022-03-01T20:10:16","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T01:10:16","slug":"march-2022-the-threat-of-putins-russia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/blog\/2022\/03\/02\/march-2022-the-threat-of-putins-russia\/","title":{"rendered":"March 2022 &#8211; The Threat of Putin\u2019s Russia"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_147\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-147\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-147\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cropped-NLlogo-300x252.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"252\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cropped-NLlogo-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cropped-NLlogo-768x645.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cropped-NLlogo-1024x860.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/cropped-NLlogo.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-147\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Proclaiming the Prophetic Word for 31 years!<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 300%;\"><i><b>PTNews<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span lang=\"es-ES\"><i><b>P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">March 2022<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><u>Published monthly<\/u><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>All Bible references are from the KJV<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #ffff00;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i><b>(Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy)<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: 300%;\"><b>The Threat of Putin\u2019s Russia <\/b><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"> \u201c<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><i><b>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\u2026\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"> <span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:3-4&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38:3-4<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/web-version-ptnewsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Download this Newsletter<\/a><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">By Mike Wingfield<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Amazing! Stunning! More than 2,600 years ago, God revealed to the ancient prophet of Israel, Ezekiel, that He would carry out sudden destructive judgment on Russia and its allies in the last days. As Russian forces invade Ukraine, are we currently watching a divinely orchestrated prelude to Russia\u2019s divine appointment with God? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Many in the West believe this invasion could be the beginning of a major war. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently said, \u201cI\u2019m afraid to say that the plan we are seeing is for something that could be really the biggest war in Europe since 1945 just in terms of sheer scale\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timesofisrael.com\/uks-johnson-russia-is-planning-biggest-war-in-europe-since-1945\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i>Times of Israel<\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, February 20, 2022<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">In a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin\u2019s war with Ukraine, many countries in the West are announcing strict economic sanctions against Russia. Will this backfire on the world and cause Russia to invade Israel for the wealth that Ezekiel spoke about in his prophecy?<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1468 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/01-Putin-1-231x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"231\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/01-Putin-1-231x300.jpg 231w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/01-Putin-1.jpg 660w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 231px) 100vw, 231px\" \/> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Chatter is escalating among Israel\u2019s political and military leaders about the imminence of the Gog and Magog war with Russia and its allies. Many of these leaders in Israel are convinced the attack on Israel predicted in the Bible is about to take place. They are not only talking about this inevitable war \u2013 they are preparing for it. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">This escalating crisis facing Europe has reached a critical level. For years, Russia has been the major supplier of natural gas to the European nations. The European Union \u2013 a political and economic union of 27 countries \u2013 relies upon Russia for about half of its natural gas supplies and more than a third of its total gas requirements. A pipeline that supplies this gas flows through Ukraine. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">While Russia was preparing to attack Ukraine, it began to pressure Europe to not interfere with its expansion efforts. In recent months, Russia has cut its flow of gas to Europe. The pipeline is only operating at 4 percent capacity. Europeans are concerned about how this will impact their need to heat their homes during the winter, and the general impact this will have on their economy. Since September, natural gas prices in Europe have increased 70 percent. As the European Union scrambles to import gas from other sources, there is a general concern that this will globally inflate the price of energy resources. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Russia is the second largest supplier of oil to the United States. Last year, the U.S. imported 12-26 million barrels of oil per month from Russia. Therefore, this war could cripple the already weak U.S. economy, significantly driving up already high energy prices. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">A<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; color: #000000;\">few decades ago, Israel discovered a massive natural gas deposit off their coast in the Mediterranean Sea, now called Leviathan (see map below). At the time of its discovery, it was the second largest known gas deposit in the world. This has major economic implications for Israel. The amount of natural gas in these ocean cavities has made Israel energy independent and in the immediate future, a major exporter of gas. In recent weeks, Israeli and European leaders signed a deal that will bring Israel\u2019s natural gas to Europe. This will not only be an economic boon for Israel but will also place Israel in direct competition with Russia and its monopoly on gas exports to Europe. An extensive pipeline in the ocean and on land will need to be constructed. It is slated for completion by 2025. Obviously, Russia perceives this as an economic threat.<\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1476\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/02-Levant-Basin-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/02-Levant-Basin-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/02-Levant-Basin-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/02-Levant-Basin.jpg 484w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>In the fall of 2015, Russia offered Israel military aid to guard the massive area being developed to extract gas. Russia also offered to invest $10 billion to help develop this gas field. They even offered to assist Israel to build a pipeline through Turkey for exporting gas to Europe. The Israeli government had already agreed to allow Noble Energy of Texas to hold and control a 39.66 percent share in controlling Leviathan. Israel knew the Russian offer would not be acceptable to the U.S. Thus, Russia was upset when its offer was rejected. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">The procurement of some control of Israel\u2019s Leviathan gas fields was very significant to Russia. Due to Russia\u2019s climate and geographical location, the export of energy resources has become the leading component of Russia\u2019s federal economy. Last year Russia\u2019s exports of energy-related products amounted to 53.8 percent of its total economy. Therefore, the mere prospect of competition from Israel in natural gas production is very alarming to the Russian leadership.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">From an Israeli perspective, the Russian invasion of Ukraine is a nightmarish scenario for Israel. First, Ukraine has a significant Jewish population. In recent weeks, Israel has made an appealed to about 75,000 Jews in Ukraine. They have now set up locations outside of Ukraine\u2019s western border to airlift them to Israel. Thousands of Ukrainian Jews are fleeing and will seek to immigrate to Israel. However, Israel must be careful to not anger Russia and escalate the tensions that are already mounting. Russia has a military partnership with Iran in Syria along Israel\u2019s northern border on the Golan Heights. Also, about 500,000 Israelis are from Ukraine. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Furthermore, this war with Russia will impact Ukraine\u2019s exports to Israel. Half of Israel\u2019s grain supplies come from Ukraine. Also, Israel imports a large amount of metal from Ukraine. Furthermore, Israel has outsourced many of its hi-tech jobs to Ukraine. If this should suddenly cease, it would impact both Ukrainian and Israeli companies. In addition to all of this, there are currently more than 13,000 Israeli citizens living in Ukraine. Israel is pleading with these citizens to evacuate as soon as possible. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Many analysts agree that Russia is playing a chess game with the U.S. and Europe. Putin wants to regain control of the former Soviet countries that were a part of the Soviet Union before its collapse in 1991. Putin claims that many people now living in the independent states of the former Soviet Union are of Russian descent and want to be a part of Russia. It is obvious that Putin wants to rebuild the former Soviet Union to create a global power that will compete with China and others for global control. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">R<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span id=\"Frame8\" dir=\"LTR\"><\/span>ussia has recently threatened to go to war with Israel. For several years, the Israelis have bombed Iranian military installations and facilities in Syria. Israel has declared to the global community that it views any Iranian military build-up on its northern border to be a threat to its national security. For years, Russia has allowed Israel to exercise its right to defend itself against Iranian positions in Syria. However, in recent weeks that has changed. Russia has told Israel that its bombing within Syria will no longer be tolerated. In essence, Russia has declared that Israel\u2019s military incursion into Syrian airspace will now be viewed as a threat to Russia\u2019s interests in Syria and the region. In so many words, Israel was told that this could lead to a war with Russia. In recent weeks Russia sent MIG-31 fighter jets with hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and Tupolev Tu-22 bombers to its expanded permanent air force base in Syria. Furthermore, Israelis are concerned that these fighter jets are conducting air-force patrol missions along Israel\u2019s Golan Heights border with Syria. Israelis perceive this to be a threatening gesture.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1470 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/03-Golan-Heights-240x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/03-Golan-Heights-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/03-Golan-Heights.jpg 327w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">As these war clouds loom over Europe and the Middle East, it appears that this crisis traces its roots back to one man \u2013 Putin. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38-39&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38-39<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel will feature God\u2019s wrath against the leader of Russia \u2013 Gog. The Hebrew term \u201cGog,\u201d refers to the prince or leader of the land of Magog, which most agree refers to the land of Russia. So, considering current developments, we must ask, \u201cIs Vladimir Putin the Gog mentioned in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38-39&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38-39<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">? While we cannot be dogmatic, it does appear that Putin perfectly fulfills what we know about the Gog of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38-39&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38-39<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">.<\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> Let us examine the evidence. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">There are 10 areas of consideration that demand our examination as we compare Vladimir Putin to the Biblical \u201cGog.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will appear in \u201cthe last days.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">The Bible declares that the confrontation between the leader of Russia and <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cthe Holy One in Israel\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:7&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:7<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">) will take place <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>\u201cin the latter days\u201d<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:8;+16&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:8; 16<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This term is used to speak of the time leading up to the end-time events that are connected to the coming of the Messiah. According to Ezekiel, this Russian invasion of Israel will occur when certain conditions among the Jewish people prevail. (1) When a Jewish remnant has regathered to its own land out of the nations (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:8,+12;+39:28&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:8, 12; 39:28<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This amazing miracle occurred with the rebirth of the modern nation of Israel in 1948. (2) When the regathered Jewish nation will have acquired a considerable amount of wealth (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:12&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38:12<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). The tiny nation of Israel has some very incredible resources. The minerals in the Dead Sea are calculated to be worth at least $4 billion. In recent years, Israel has discovered oil deposits on the Golan Heights (see map), and gas reserves that are worth hundreds of billions of dollars. (3) The regathered nation of Israel will be dwelling in its land with a sense of confidence in its abilities to defend itself against any aggression of the nations surrounding them (see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+36:1-7&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 36:1-7<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Ezekiel declared four times in these two chapters that the Jewish people would be dwelling <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201csafely\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> in their land. The Hebrew word translated safely in these verses could be translated \u201cwith confidence.\u201d In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:26&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:26<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, Ezekiel adds, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cand none made them afraid.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> This word describes the confidence that Israel has in defending itself against the aggression of its Muslim foes. In recent years Israel has designed and manufactured some very precise defense weaponry that has been extremely effective against the missiles launched against them. Now, they claim that within the next year they will produce and distribute an even more powerful laser defense weapon system that will be more precise, more rapid, less costly, and very reliable. (4) Israel will be dwelling in its land when the Persian Gulf Arab states [described in the text as Sheba and Dedan] will verbally oppose the Gog invasion of Israel (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:13&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:13<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). With the growing weakness of the U.S. and the current moods among the Persian Gulf states that have entered the Abraham Peace Accord with Israel, it seems that Russia has an optimal window of opportunity to move against Israel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Without getting into detail, I believe this Russian invasion of Israel will take place before the Tribulation Period begins. It could take place before the Rapture, or it could happen between the Rapture and the signing of the Antichrist\u2019s covenant that will begin the Tribulation (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Daniel+9:27&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Daniel 9:27<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). There is much evidence that supports this chronology. The two most prominent are: (1) Israel will burn the weapons of this invading army for seven years (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:9&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:9<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">) and bury the dead for seven months (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:9-16&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:9-16<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). The stated purpose of this activity is to <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201ccleanse the land\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:12,+16&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:12, 16<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). According to the Scriptures, all the cleansing of the land of Israel will be completed before the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom of God on earth. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Daniel+12:11-12&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Daniel 12:11-12<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, God will add a short period of time between the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the kingdom. Many Bible scholars believe the extra days allotted between the end of the Tribulation and the beginning of the Kingdom mentioned by Daniel is for the cleansing of the land of Israel before the inauguration of the Messiah at the beginning of the kingdom. (2) The divine intervention of God to rescue Israel from this massive invasion will have a profound spiritual impact upon the Jews living in Israel (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:7,+22-29&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:7, 22-29<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This would be the perfect preliminary preparation for <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">the spiritual impact of the two Jewish witnessed [Moses and Elijah] on the first day of the Tribulation Period (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Revelation+11:3-12&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Revelation 11:3-12<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). So, it makes sense that the destruction of Gog would precede the coming of the Jewish witnesses.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will be an enemy of God <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><b style=\"font-size: large; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; color: #000000;\">and His people.<\/b><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">A casual reading of <\/span><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38-39<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> quickly reveals that Gog [the leader of Russia] is the enemy of God. Repeatedly, Ezekiel is told that God is <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cagainst\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> Gog (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:2,3,+21,+22;+39:1&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:2,3, 21, 22; 39:1<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). According to Ezekiel, Russia\u2019s leader has demonstrated that he is the enemy of God because he is against God\u2019s people and God\u2019s land. Ezekiel writes that Gog will come <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cagainst the land of <\/b><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p align=\"CENTER\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-1471 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/04-Ukraine-Military-300x207.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"349\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/04-Ukraine-Military-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/04-Ukraine-Military-1024x705.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/04-Ukraine-Military-768x529.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/04-Ukraine-Military.jpg 1066w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 349px) 100vw, 349px\" \/><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>Israel\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:18&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:18<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">), and God\u2019s people, Israel (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:16&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:16<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Russia and its leadership have demonstrated their hatred toward Israel. While Russia has claimed to be a friend of Israel, it has demonstrated for decades that it is a real enemy of Israel. For decades, the Arab armies that have fought against Israel have been supplied with Russian armaments and defense systems. In recent years, Putin has been very deceptive in his portrayal as a friend of Israel. Without any hesitation, he has formed a coalition with the enemies of Israel \u2013 Iran, Syria, Turkey, Hamas, and Hezbollah. He has supplied these enemies with the military capability to destroy the nation of Israel. It is only a matter of time before Russia will make its move and unveil its deceitful hatred of Israel. Perhaps we are witnessing this take place at this very moment. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">R<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">ussia\u2019s future invasion of Israel is not only motivated by its thirst for wealth, but also by its hatred for Israel. The text in Ezekiel declares that God will bring Russia and its coalition to the mountains of Israel where they will be annihilated by the hand of God (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:16-17;+39:2&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:16-17; 39:2<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Symbolically speaking, God will put a hook into the jaws of this invading army and lure it to come to the land of Israel for their defeat. Concerning this invasion by Russia, God said, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cAnd I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth \u2026\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:4&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:4<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This imagery was familiar in the ancient world. After a war, the defeated people were pierced with a hook in their lips and literally forced to march to the land of their enemies to be paraded through the streets in humiliation before the eyes of their enemies. Thus, in the eyes of the entire world, God will humiliate this ancient enemy of His people (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:21&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:21<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will be a military leader.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Ezekiel declared that Gog would be <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201ca guard\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> unto the coalition that would join him in this invasion (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:7&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:7<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). The Hebrew word here points to a military advisor or commander. Russia has clearly demonstrated that its military prowess is its top priority in its attempt to fulfill its dream of global dominance. This is what evil tyrants like Putin do. They do not care about the freedoms or the will of the people. Their pride is focused upon the exercise of their power at the expense of people. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will be the leader of a\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>specific northern area.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Many Bible scholars demonstrate that the land of Magog, with the cities of Meshech and Tubal, are references to modern-day Russia. Furthermore, the Bible tells us that Gog is from <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cthe north parts\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:15;+39:2&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:15; 39:2<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Using Israel as a reference point, Russia is to the extreme north of the Promised Land. So, Gog is a Russian leader. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will be the leader of a\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>specific coalition.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1472\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/05-Iran-Russia-Turkey-leaders-300x220.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/05-Iran-Russia-Turkey-leaders-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/05-Iran-Russia-Turkey-leaders.jpg 682w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>Ezekiel reported that the leader of Russia in the last days would have a specific coalition that would participate with him in this future invasion of Israel. His coalition partners are mentioned in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:5-6&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:5-6<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cPersia<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> [modern-day Iran], <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>Ethiopia <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">[the ancient area of Ethiopia today points to Sudan], <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>and Libya, \u2026. Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> [the ancient areas of Gomer and Togarmah are today a part of Turkey]<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>:<\/b><\/i><\/span> <span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>and many people with thee.\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> Under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, Russia has displayed its alliance with these nations that have had a history of hating Israel. This is the first time in history these nations have entered into agreements with each other. In former times they were enemies of each other. It is apparent Putin has masterfully put together this coalition to aid him in a direct attack upon Israel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will have an evil intention\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>toward Israel.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">As previously mentioned, the Scriptures indicate that Gog will be against the Jewish people. One of the first nations to recognize Israel in 1948 was Russia. When Israel began, it was forced to form collective farms in an economy in which people owned everything together. Jews were emigrating from countries that would not allow them to bring their personal wealth with them. Therefore, many Jews came with very few economic provisions. Plus, the Israeli government had assumed ownership of the land that was vacated by the Arabs that left before and during the War of Independence (1948-49). Therefore, as a matter of survival, Israelis were forced to form collective farms [called kibbutz and moshav). Russia interpreted this to indicate that Israel would join Russia as a socialist nation. However, when Israel declared itself to be a democracy, Russia felt betrayed. Therefore, from the very beginning Russia has identified Israel with the West and opposed its occupation in an area that was formerly governed by Islamic principles, which are very similar to socialism. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">For decades, Russia has pretended to be a friend of Israel. However, at the time of the Ezekiel invasion, Ezekiel wrote, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cIt shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:10&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38:10<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Apparently, the Bible is telling us that something will materialize in the last days that will trigger a fit of rage on the part of Gog, that will tempt him to make his bold and open move to attack Israel. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">In a recent <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>All-Israel News<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> report, Joel Rosenberg, a Jewish evangelical author, and American Israeli communication strategist, stated, \u201cAt his core, Putin is a mafia boss, obsessed with power and wealth, and willing to rob, kill to obtain both. \u2026 Putin sees himself following in the tradition of the Russian czars, believing he has a divine right to rule with an iron hand and is permitted to use any means necessary to rebuild the glory of Mother Russia\u201d (Joel Rosenberg, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allisrael.com\/christians-wake-up-if-the-world-does-not-stop-putin-now-in-ukraine-nato-and-israel-are-next\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>All Israel News, <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">February 21, 2022<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will have an intense interest\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>in Israel\u2019s wealth.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">I<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span id=\"Frame13\" dir=\"LTR\"><\/span>n <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:12-13&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38:12-13<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, we are told that Gog and his coalition will invade Israel to obtain the great wealth the young nation of Israel will have accumulated. In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+36:8-11&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 36:8-11<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, God promised the Jewish people that when they returned to their land in the last days He would bless them with an abundance of food and wealth. God has kept that promise. Since March 1985, I have been to Israel 24 times. During this time, I have witnessed the incredible economic and agricultural transformation of Israel. It is something to behold!<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1473 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/06-Fruitproduce-300x206.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/06-Fruitproduce-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/06-Fruitproduce-1024x704.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/06-Fruitproduce-768x528.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/06-Fruitproduce.jpg 1092w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">In addition to the resources of wealth mentioned previously, Israel is impressively filled with an abundance of food. Contrast this with the poor weather and inadequate soil conditions in other parts of the Middle East and in Russia\u2019s frigid hemisphere. Furthermore, the global climate changes are playing havoc with mega farming trends in recent decades that have been developed to feed the growing global population. All of this is making food scarce, and more expensive. So, the future Russian invasion of Israel will be focused upon attaining more food. China is facing a similar problem that is forcing it to purchase land all over the world, including in the U.S., to grow food exclusively for the Chinese people. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Putin wants his beloved motherland to become a major global player to dominate the world. More and more people are realizing that water and food are the most basic of all necessities. We sometimes think about the significance of oil and other commodities. However, the greatest resources in the world are fresh water and food. Putin is beginning to wake up to this reality and he is looking at Israel with envious eyes. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog will not have the support of\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>the Persian Gulf Arabs.<\/b><\/span><\/span><b> <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">We are living at a very dangerous moment in history. Several ruthless dictators want to dominate the lives of other people and control the destiny of their nations for their own selfish ambitions. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">In recent decades, especially under the leadership of Putin, Russia has begun to side with the more radical elements of the Islamic world in the Middle East. Putin has aided Iran\u2019s radical Islamic regime in its development of nuclear power, knowing that Iran is considered a threat to the leadership of the Sunni Arabs in the region. He has also developed a friendship and coalition with Turkey\u2019s radical Islamic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is also considered an enemy of the Sunni Arabs of the Persian Gulf. Iran and Turkey are not Arabs. The Persian Gulf Arabs have been the enemies of Iran for decades. The radical Muslims in Iran and Turkey have a passion to control Saudi Arabia \u2013 the motherland of Islam. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Considering this, it is interesting to note that the future Russian invasion of Israel mentioned by Ezekiel is opposed by Sheba and Dedan \u2013 areas in modern Saudi Arabia today. While they will not militarily oppose Russia, they will verbally question its attack upon Israel (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:13&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:13<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). Saudi Arabia\u2019s opposition will be joined by the West \u2013 <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cthe merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:13&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:13<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>Gog and his nation will suffer\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><b>great defeat by God.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">In response to Gog\u2019s attack upon the people and land of God, the Holy One of Israel will send a powerful earthquake upon the region (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:19-20&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:19-20<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This earthquake will devastate everything in the region. It will confuse the invading armies so that they will attack one another (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:21&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:21<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This massive global earthquake will trigger global volcanic eruptions, including the 14 dormant volcanoes on the Golan Heights. This is described in the text as <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201can overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:22&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:22<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">This earthquake and ensuing volcanic eruptions will also take place in Russia. In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:6&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 39:6<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, God says, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cAnd I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD.\u201d<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-1474 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/07-Kamchatka-Peninsula-300x207.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/07-Kamchatka-Peninsula-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/07-Kamchatka-Peninsula-1024x708.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/07-Kamchatka-Peninsula-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/07-Kamchatka-Peninsula.jpg 1026w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/b><\/i><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201c<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">The Kamchatka Peninsula in Far East Russia is one of t<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span id=\"Frame14\" dir=\"LTR\"><\/span>he most volcanically active locations in the entire world. Part of the Ring of Fire, Kamchatka has the highest density of volcanoes and associated volcanic activity in the world. This place, deemed Russia&#8217;s Yellowstone, is home to over 130 volcanoes, 29 of which are still active today\u201d (<\/span><span style=\"color: #000080;\"><span lang=\"zxx\"><u><a href=\"https:\/\/volcano.oregonstate.edu\/russia\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">volcano.oregonstate.edu<\/span><\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). This area is called the place of fire and ice and is home to many islands. (See map on this page.) God has prepared everything for the fulfillment of His eternal plan! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"CENTER\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>Gog\u2019s defeat will produce\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>a global response<\/b><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><b>.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">The eyes of all the nations are currently upon Vladimir Putin. The entire world will suffer due to his reckless and ruthless war efforts. It appears that he might be the Gog of Ezekiel 38. Therefore, when the Lord delivers His timely sudden blow upon Russia and its allies, it will demonstrate the presence and power of God in defense of His people and His land. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:23&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 38:23<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> states, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cThus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself: and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the LORD.\u201d <\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:21&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>Ezekiel 39:21<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">, the Lord further declares, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cAnd I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them.\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">It is apparent that the day of Russia\u2019s divine visitation (see <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+38:8&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>38:8<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">) is at hand. This judgment upon Gog and his coalition will set the stage for significant developments that will thrust the world into the Tribulation Period. It will have a major spiritual impact upon Israel. God says, <\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><i><b>\u201cSo the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day and forward\u201d<\/b><\/i><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=Ezekiel+39:22&amp;version=AKJV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0033cc;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\"><b>39:22<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">). I am convinced that the Rapture will occur immediately before or after the Gog and Magog invasion of Israel.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p lang=\"en-US\" align=\"JUSTIFY\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-family: Times New Roman, serif;\">Therefore, as we watch the events in Europe and the Middle East unfold, we need to \u201cbe listening for the shout that will take us out!\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>PTNews P r o p h e c y T o d a y N e w s March 2022 Published monthly All Bible references are from the KJV (Examining Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy) P.O. Box 13006, Roanoke, VA 24030-3006 The Threat of Putin\u2019s Russia \u201cI am against thee, O Gog, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,3,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-events","category-politics","category-prophecy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1464\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ptnews.org\/wpupdater2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}