Russia’s Next Target for Intimidation Could Be Israel According to God's Word!

According to the recent article below by Ksenia Svetlova on TABLET MAGAZINE:

As Moscow slides into global pariah status, it will want to upgrade ties with its closest allies on NATO’s southern flank: Syria and Iran! What Could this Mean for the State of Israel According to Scripture?

As Russia pounds Ukrainian cities and flaunts its nuclear weapons, there is little doubt that the implications of the war between Russia and the West will be felt globally—and the relations between states that prevailed only two weeks ago are unlikely to remain static. The International Criminal Court in The Hague may investigate possible war crimes committed by Russian leadership, while Western governments keep piling on unprecedented economic sanctions. As a result, Russia will be looking for alternative markets and NEW spheres of influence, specifically in the Middle East and Africa, where it has become very involved during the last decade. While Moscow ratchets up military and economic pressure on the Ukraine, using forbidden types of weapons and indiscriminate firepower against civilians, many in Israel fear that Moscow’s next move will happen in the Middle East—where Moscow is formally aligned with Israel’s worst enemies.

By Feb. 15, when the whole world was still trying to guess Vladimir Putin’s real intentions in Ukraine, his defense minister and confidant Sergey Shoigu had traveled to Syria, where he met with President Bashar Assad and while there inspected a Russian military exercise—the largest that Russia had held in the Eastern Mediterranean since the end of the Cold War. For this occasion, Russia transferred advanced weapons, including MiG-31s armed with hypersonic missiles, as well as strategic Tupolev Tu-22M bombers to its Khmeimim air base, and by doing so positioning a potent new threat near Israel’s borders.

Just a few years ago, let me point out there was hardly any Russian presence in the Eastern Mediterranean. Since the beginning of the Russian intervention in Syria, which was facilitated by the Obama administration to counterbalance Turkey and aid Iran, Moscow has reinforced its naval presence there dramatically. Although the Russian forces in this area are still limited in comparison with their abilities in the Black Sea, experts from the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies believe that Russia already has enough forces to present a REAL potential challenge to longstanding U.S. and NATO naval dominance in the area.

As war clouds gathered over Ukraine, Israel became worried. Israel and Russia maintain tactical cooperation over Syria and run a deconfliction center in order to prevent Russian and Israeli forces from clashing. Since the beginning of Russia’s military involvement in Syria, Israel has been walking on thin ice, trying to balance its own security needs with the necessity of making nice with the Russians who now controlled the Syrian skies. A probable change in the Russian posture in Syria, particularly as America works to seal its reentry into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Iran, portends a far less favorable and more dangerous calculus than the one that Israel has grown used to since 2014.

For a time, the balancing act went well. While the Russians did not prevent Israel from hunting Iranian war targets in Syria (as was often reported in foreign media), Israel refrained from commenting on Russia’s aggressive demeanor—even when the United States publicly voiced opposition. In fact, this arrangement predates Russian involvement in Syria. In 2014—one year before Russia became Israel’s neighbor on its northern border—Israel blatantly refused to condemn Russia’s annexation of Crimea despite some pressure from the Obama administration to do so.

But 2022 isn’t 2014. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid first timidly condemned Russian behavior in a TV interview. He then announced that Israel will vote with the United States and EU countries against Russia in the U.N. General Assembly.

So what might be the repercussions for Israel of its public anti-Russian stance, however mild? There is no doubt that Russia is looking to flex its muscles in Syria, where it’s built an impressive military presence. As Russia slides into a pariah status in the international arena, it will want to upgrade ties with its closest allies in the region: Syria and Iran.

On the military front, signs of Russia’s new regional posture are already visible. During the last few weeks that preceded the war in Ukraine, Russia strongly rebuked Israeli activity in Syrian skies, while Israelis complained that Russia was jamming GPS signals in Israeli airspace. At the end of January, Russia and Syria started joint patrols along the Golan Heights and the Euphrates River. In Israel, this activity was interpreted as a sharp message to Jerusalem: Things in Syria might change soon, and very fast. Since other countries like the United States and Turkey also operate in Syrian skies, the Russian message might be addressed to all parties concerned to let them know that Russia is determined to force them out of Syrian airspace and help Damascus reclaim its sovereignty there.

Yet other Russian messages were clearly directed at Israel. Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when Israel was still mulling its reaction, busy Russian diplomats found the time to rebuke Israel over construction of new cities in the Golan Heights—possibly in reaction to timid Israeli attempts to support Ukraine without condemning Russia too strongly. While Moscow has since signaled that cooperation with Israel will go on as usual, many in Israel fear that Russia, emboldened by its violent move on Ukraine and furious about global sanctions, will become more aggressive and assertive in protecting its interests in Syria, and pay less attention to possible Israeli responses.

Until recently, some in Israel believed that Russia might work together with Israel and the United States to push Iran out of Syria—under the assumption that Russia and the United States shared this interest in common with Israel. Nowadays, this kind of scenario (however dubious it was in the past) is simply out of the question. Moscow will need Tehran and Damascus more than ever, perhaps even more than they need Moscow. This development might mean more intercooperation between all three parties and a significantly more aggressive tone toward Israel. In turn, if Israel is not able to freely operate in Syrian skies against Iranian military targets, an emboldened Iran seems likely to try to further grow its military presence near Israel’s borders, raising the stakes in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza.

Another possible target for Russia’s military is the Eastern Mediterranean. If until now the sea was mostly seen as EU and NATO playground, today’s Russian navy presence might pose a serious challenge to Europeans and Americans—and by extension Israel, whose economy depends in large part on open shipping from its ports. Turkey might soon see new developments in Syrian Idlib, where pro-Turkish militants still operate, and 3 million Syrians find their refuge, which may create wider instability in the region.

While Russian-Iranian rapprochement in Syria seems almost inevitable, the future of strategic relations between the two countries is still a puzzle.

Until recently, Russia saw Iran as a problematic neighbor, an occasional partner (for example, in Syria) and mostly as a country that was best held at arm’s length. When Iran demanded acceptance as a full member of the Eurasian Economic Treaty (a Russian-led block that also includes Belarus, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan), Russia took its time to “consider.” And when Iranians offered extensive cooperation in trade and industry, Russia generally ignored these requests. During the visit of the new Iranian president to Russia in January this year, no important treaty or memorandum of understanding was signed, to the disappointment of the Iranians.

Now, Russia needs Iran and its markets more than ever before. For Moscow it might be the right time to expand the partnership, as the Iranians have been demanding. Yet if Iran signs the nuclear deal, brokered in large part by Russia, then the roles of Russia and Iran may be reversed, with Iran—if sanctions are lifted—having a stronger and even determining hand in that relationship.

There is a loud anti-Russian camp in Iran that remembers well how Moscow has ignored Iranian demands for a long time. Yet there is also no doubt that Tehran will be happy to receive the latest Russian weapons. It now seems very likely that Iran will get the weapons systems it demanded a long time ago even if for some reason the nuclear deal is not finalized. Russia has nothing more to lose and it will have to seize every opportunity to continue to sell its weapons to anyone who demands them.

What’s on the Iranian shopping list? According to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, Iran is interested in SU-30 fighters, Yak-130 trainers, T-90 tanks and—the cherry on top—S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems that Russia previously refrained from selling. Even if Russia fulfills only part of the Iranian shopping list, it will be very bad news for Israel. Until recently, advanced Russian missile systems inside Syria were under full Russian control. That might change as well.

The greatest threat that Russia poses to Israel may be in the expansion of its regional influence, especially in the absence of an effective U.S.-led security structure. With the exception of Lebanon and Kuwait, which denounced Russia, and Syria, a full Russian client that denounced the West, the Arab states are currently sitting on the fence, unwilling to put their neck on the line for either the United States or the Russians. During the last few years some of these countries, particularly the Gulf states, didn’t hide their frustration with American Middle East policy, which typically and usually were aimed under both the Obama and Trump administrations at diminishing the American presence in the region—and which under Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden put a U.S. nuclear deal with Iran at the top of American regional priorities. In response, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt all began purchasing Russian (and Chinese) weapons, and putting their relations with Moscow on display.

Russia has significantly expanded its web of relations in the Middle East, mostly due to the fear of some countries that they might be abandoned by the West. If the United States wants these countries to join an alliance against Moscow, it might have to rethink its regional policy—or else rethink its relations with Arab countries who might wish to continue with their current balancing act. Yet Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia heavily depend on wheat supplies from Russia and Ukraine. Rising prices on basic food staples and energy might disrupt stability in many countries in the region, creating more risks and insecurity in the Middle East. All of these developments might in turn have a negative influence on Israel and its more current attempt to build new alliances in the region—especially if Russia sees Israel as an American instrument, while the Americans see Iran as a partner.

There is little doubt that fateful events in Ukraine have turned over the chess board in the Middle East, as elsewhere. While risks for Israel are bound to increase, it will need—now more than ever—firm American support and a confident U.S. policy in the Middle East. A new American deal with Iran, which remains America’s regional priority even during the war in Ukraine, seems unlikely to provide those suitable and comforting assurances.

But according to a recent article I wrote on this subject titled: The AMAZING Power of DUALITY in Scripture and its Unique INCREDIBLE Prophetic Fullfillment in Our Days! Dated: March 17, 2022 you may see the correlation of prophetical events unfolding before our eyes soon! You see in this article I explained and revealed how according to Biblical prophecy the next step after the destruction of Ukraine and the end of the Russian invasion of it Putin will then turn his aim and direction to the land of Israel in the Middle East:

The prophetic events foretold

In Ezekiel 17 Verses 11-15 we read: "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Say now to the rebellious house (of the state of Israel), Know ye not what these things mean? Tell them, Behold, the king of Babylon (today being represented by Vladimir Putin since he represents the Babylonian system of this world) is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the kings thereof (Isaac Herzog and Naphtali Bennet), and the princes thereof (its Zionist leaders at the Knesset), and lead them with him to Babylon (history will repeat itself with a probable Russian invasion also on Israel aided by Syria and Iran); And hath taken of the king's seed (he'll probably take hostage one of Herzog's three sons), and made a covenant (or signed agreement) with him, and hath taken an oath with him: he hath also taken the mighty of the land (the Mossad): That the kingdom might be base, that it might not lift itself up (Putin will destroy the moral of Israel), but that by keeping of his covenant (or pact) it might stand. But he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into Egypt (symbolic of the US because of its Egyptian Masonic influence and symbols like the Washington Obelisk and it's also its greatest ally), that they might give him horses and much people (send in the military and weapons). Shall he prosper? Shall he escape that doeth such things? Or shall he break the covenant (with Putin), and be delivered (by the US forces)?

Notice the answer to these questions given by God ALMIGHTY: "As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he brake, even with him in the midst of Babylon (The Russian Federation) he shall die. Neither shall Pharaoh (Joe Biden) with his mighty army and force and GREAT company (of soldiers) make for him in the war (the third world war coming), by casting out mounts, and building forts, to cut off (or kill) many persons: Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant (the deal with Putin), when lo, he had given his hand, and hath done ALL these things, he shall not escape." Verses 16-18.

God's Judgment on Modern Day Israel

"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken (speaking of Biden now), even it will I recompense upon his own head. And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon (again the Russian Federation to face Putin), and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me (the many sinful laws that he has created over America as a Jesuit president). And ALL his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword (Americans will lose the war against the powers of Russia and China combined with perhaps North Korea aiding them as well), and they that remain shall be scattered (around the world) towards all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it." Verses 19-21.

Russia identified and revealed in the Bible

After the Flood, God told Noah and his family to go and replenish the Earth (Genesis 8:15-18). Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Each son was the beginning of a separate race. Shem was the father of the white race; Ham the father of the black; and Japheth, the yellow or oriental race. Renowned educator Herbert W. Armstrong explained in his book: Mystery of the Ages that Japheth evidently married an oriental woman, and Ham a black one.

Genesis 10:2-3 list the sons of Japheth: “… Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and also Togarmah.”

In his book: Compendium of World History, Dr. Herman Hoeh correctly identified Meshech and Tubal as fathers of those who comprise greater Russia today. Magog fathered the people of China and Mongolia. Gomer fathered the Japanese people as well as the Cambodians, Thais, Burmese, Laos and Vietnamese. Togarmah also factored into the ancestry of Japan and some of these other nations.

Greek historian Herodotus wrote that the descendants of Noah’s grandson Cush split into two branches: a dark-skinned, curly-haired branch that migrated to Africa and another dark-skinned, straight-haired branch that migrated to India (and also possibly Australia and the islands of the Pacific like Tonga and Papua New Guinea). This group of people later intermarried with Aryan settlers from Persia, producing the brown coloration of the Indian peoples today (Herman Hoeh, “The Truth About the Race Question,” The Plain Truth, July 1957).

Mr. Armstrong concurred with Dr. Hoeh’s research. Referring to Ezekiel 38:2, he said, “There is general agreement among students of prophecy that ‘Gog’ in the land of ‘Magog’ is the vast regions of northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. ‘Meshech’ is Moscow, ‘Tubal’ is Tobolsk. The Bible margin says ‘Prince of Rosh,’ which is Russia” (The Plain Truth, April 1981).

This passage in Ezekiel goes on to list “Ethiopia, and Libya … and many people” being allied with Russia and China (verses 5-6). Ethiopia and Libya should be translated “Cush” and “Phut.” Although portions of the tribes of Cush and Phut migrated to African nations, the rest settled in areas of India. The context of this passage shows that it refers to modern-day Indians (and perhaps Pakistanis) rather than to the African peoples.

These identities are critical for us to understand where modern nations fit in the light of biblical prophecy.

At the same time, understanding the history of these peoples will help us identify certain character traits that resurface even in modern times.

End-time events

The Bible reveals that at the time of the end, during the Great Tribulation which we are about to face soon, the world will be dominated by a commercial, political and military union of 10 kings that combine power with the "beast" system that is headed now seemingly by Gog (the Russian Federation with the “Prince of Rosh”:Vladimir Putin at the head) for a short period of time (Revelation 17:12-14). See world map below:

The prophet Daniel refers to this power as the king of the North (Daniel 11:40). He will sweep down with major military force, occupying Jerusalem and much of the Middle East in response to aggressive actions by the king of the South (verses 40-43). "But news from the east and the north [of Jerusalem] shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many" (verse 44, emphasis added throughout). Jeremiah also shows us a different yet very similar depiction and description: "Declare ye in Judah (The State of Israel today), and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities (of the Golan Heights). Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north (Russia), and a GREAT destruction. The lion (Putin) is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles (the Masonic king of the Heathen) is on his way; he is gone forth from his place (in the Kremlin) to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant (just like he did in Ukraine). For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us. And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king (the Prime Minister of Israel) shall perish, and the heart of the princes (those who are part of the Knesset); and the (Levite) priests shall be astonished, and the (false) prophets shall wonder." Jeremiah 4:5-9. And also notice this scripture also in the book of Jeremiah: "Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say. Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are ALL mighty men. And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thine vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities (the walled cities around the Golan Heights), wherein thou trusted, with the sword (with your laser weapons, etc.)." Jeremiah 5:15-17. And again notice this scripture also describing this: "Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the north country (Russia), and a GREAT nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. They shall lay hold on bow and spear (or as it is today, modern day weapons of mass destruction); they are cruel (can anyone be more cruel than the Russians?), and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses (and tanks), set in array as man for war (in military uniform) against thee, O daughter of Zion (Jerusalem). We have heard their fame thereof (how they have destroyed Ukraine): our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side." Jeremiah 6:22-25.

On Monday morning May 9th as Putin was celebrating Russia's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945, I was earnestly praying as part of the “Morning Sacrifce” that I offer God each and every day as His Servant and Priest and when I asked God for a Word, my Bible opened in the book of Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39 and this is very significant and extremely revealing to me because it tells me that Putin is planning to invade and “take over” the state of Israel very soon! As God spoke to me through His prophetic Word in Ezekiel 38 beginning in verse 14:

God's Judgment against Gog (Russia)

“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely (supposedly), shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place (from the Kremlin) out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them upon horses (or rather upon tanks), a GREAT company, and a mighty army (Please compare with Daniel 11:40-45): And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days (the days we are living in now), and I will bring thee against my land (the State of Israel), that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified (or set apart as the ONLY TRUE GOD) in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord GOD; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel (Daniel, Ezekiel, etc.), which prophesied in those days many years (about 3,000 years or more ago) that I would bring thee against them? And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a GREAT shaking (or a GREAT earthquake) in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea (of Galilee, the Red Sea, etc.), and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and ALL creeping things that creep upon the earth, and ALL the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence (when He returns suddenly with POWER and GREAT GLORY!), and the mountains shall be thrown down (Please compare with Revelation 6:15-17), and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground (like the walls of Jericho did). And I will call for a sword (that is WAR) against him throughout ALL my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword (or weapon of war) shall be against his brother (they will fight each other). And I will plead against him with pestilence (with another powerful Covid strain perhaps or even a deadlier NEW strain of "Chicken Pox") and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him (possibly some forces from China also and North Korea), an overflowing rain, and GREAT hailstones, fire, and brimstone (Please compare also with Revelation 20: 7-9 as another proof of DUALITY in Scripture). Thus 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.” Ezekiel 38:14-23. So as you can see God (in the person of His Son Jesus Christ) will lure Gog (Putin) into attacking and invading the glorious HOLY land and then He will return swiftly and with full FURY and WRATH will destroy this Russian DESTROYER who has been used by Satan to “destroy” many people very recently in Ukraine.

Gog Shall Be Destroyed

Therefore, thou son of man, prohesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold I AM against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech (Moscow) and Tubal: And I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee (and ALL his forces combined), and will cause thee to come up from the north parts (of Eurasia), and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: And I will smite thy bow (and ALL powerful weapons you possess) out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows (or ICBMs) to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and ALL thy bands (or forces), and the people that is with thee (at the time): I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured (Please compare also with verses 17-20 and Revelation 19:17-18). Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. And I will send a fire on Magog (China), and among then that dwell carelessly in the isles (of the Pacific and around the South China Sea): and they shall know that I AM the LORD. So will I make my holy name in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I AM the LORD, the Holy One of Israel.” Ezekiel 39:1-7. Verses 8-24 describe more in full detail the end of this great Russian tyrant known as Gog and how God himself will take vengeance for His people and the rest of those who were killed and destroyed by this “Prince of Meshech or Moscow” known as Vladimir Putin.

In Conclusion

Please be advised and in “high alert” for some kind of NEW development in the geopolitical scene in regards to tensions and a possible confrontation in the Middle East soon between Putin and the State of Israel or with Israel against Iran and then the scripture found in Luke 21:20: “And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.” shall be fulfilled and the soon return of Jesus Christ will immediately take place before World War 3 erupts into a “Nuclear Confrontation” as I have pointed out too many a time before. We are very close to that point and time in history NOW!

Update

Russia recently attacked Israel last Friday while defending Syria!