Russian Rumblings

In 1949, four years following the end of the second world war, the “North Atlantic Treaty Organization” NATO, was implemented. The military alliance was formed to discourage future aggression against war-torn Europe. Any encroachment against a member state was an encroachment against all members. There were two winners when the war ended; on the west was the allies led by the United States and on the east was the “Soviet Socialist Republic” led by communist Russia. By the end of the war, the Soviet Union had swallowed up satellite states from eastern Europe to northern Asia as the fortunes of war. The “Union of the Soviet Socialist Republic” USSR, was formed. By the early 1980s, the socialist government of the USSR started to fragment on all fronts leaving the union unable to sustain itself economically. Many republic states of the old Soviet Union began to seek the autonomy they held before the war. By the time the collapse had run its course, Russia was reduced to its present boundary. Fast forward to 2022. The Republic of Ukraine once a member of the USSR now serves as a buffer zone between NATO powers and Russia. Ukraine has sought admission into the NATO alliance creating a major threat to Russian security. Russia has countered by deploying 178 thousand troops to the Ukraine border. One wrong move and we could be facing a third world war.

The implications of this recent aggression could spark the beginning of a future nation realignment that will help to resurrect a part of the old Roman Empire. The prophet Daniel predicted that such an event would take place in the latter years of this age. The outcome would be shaped by war but create a new and powerful ten-nation confederacy from out of the old Roman occupation. Whether or not this latest Russian crisis has anything to do with the end of the age remains to be seen, but in one way or the other Russia will continue to play a major role in the conclusion of the last days. Russia will eventually meet its waterloo on the mountains of Israel. “Son of man, face northward toward the land of Magog and prophesy against Gog. The Lord God says to Gog: “When my people are living in peace in their land, then you will rouse yourself.  You will come from all over the north with your vast host of cavalry and cover the land like a cloud. This will happen in the distant future—in the latter years of history. I will bring you against my land, and my holiness will be vindicated in your terrible destruction before their eyes so that all the nations will know that I am God.”(Ezk. 38:1-16) This prophecy could not come to pass until Israel was back in the land God promised Abraham. In 1948 the miracle of modern-day Israel was completed.

The Bible is a book of past, present and future events. Today’s events are being aired across the world in real-time thanks to digital technology. In the past, the bands of Magog, grandson of Noah settled in the area currently occupied by Russia. There can be no doubt that the world is rapidly changing. Future events are preparing for the greatest event in human history, the second coming of Jesus Christ. God knows the end from the beginning and promises to show the future to those who will believe.“Everything I prophesied came true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens.”(Isa. 42:9) As the unseen world prepares for future events shouldn’t we prepare as well. For more about the future read “Study More” third lesson, it's free!