Russia fires warning shot for Turkish vessel and Jewish prophecies of a Russia-Turkey war to be followed by Messianic age

Russia shown in green with Turkey shown in orange

Russia fired a warning shot to prevent a collision with a Turkish fishing vessel:

December 13, 2015

A Russian warship fired a warning shot to prevent a collision with a Turkish fishing vessel in the Aegean sea, further straining ties between the two nations after last month’s downing of a Russian bomber near the Syrian border.

Russia’s Smetliviy patrol boat, which was anchored, issued visual warnings and tried without success to reach the Turkish ship by radio when it came within 1,000 meters, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said Sunday in a statement. When the vessel didn’t respond and closed to within 600 meters, the Russian warship fired, prompting the Turkish boat to change course, the ministry said.

Turkey’s military attache at the embassy in Moscow has been “urgently” summoned over the incident, the Defense Ministry said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-13/russia-warship-fires-warning-to-stop-collision-with-turkish-boat

December 13, 2015

Russia on Sunday warned Turkey to stop staging what it called provocations against its forces in or near Syria after one of its warships fired warning shots at a Turkish vessel in the Aegean to avoid a collision.

The Russian Defence Ministry said one of its warships, the destroyer Smetlivy, had been forced to fire the warning shots on Sunday morning and that it had summoned the Turkish military attache over the incident.

“The Turkish military diplomat was given a tough explanation about the potentially disastrous consequences from Ankara’s reckless actions towards Russia’s military contingent fighting against international terrorism in Syria,” the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

“In particular, our deep concerns about more Turkish provocations towards the Russian destroyer Smetlivy were conveyed.” http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-russia-turkey-idUSKBN0TW0EU20151213

Turkey shot down a Russian military plane on November 24, 2015. Some have wondered if war between Turkey and Russia is about to come.

A reader sent me a link to the following:

200 Years Ago, War Between Turkey and Russia Prophesied as Sign of Redemption

“If the prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, and the thing does not occur and does not come about, that is the thing the Lord did not speak. The prophet has spoken it wantonly; you shall not be afraid of him.” (Deuteronomy 18:22)

With tensions escalating between Russia and Turkey, many are wondering if the world is being witness to a divine act of messianic intervention.

Just before his death in 1797, an exceedingly well-respected Jewish sage known as the Vilna Gaon (the genius of Vilna) left his followers with a prophetic statement about two specific events that would happen just before the appearance of the Messiah.

After being held as “a closely guarded secret” for over 200 years, Rabbi Moshe Shternbuch, a great-grandson of the Vilna Gaon, shared the full prophecy publically for the first time in 2014. The text of the Vilna Gaon’s prophecy was reported by Rabbi Lazer Brody, an American-born Hasidic rabbi and teacher from Ashdod, Israel in March, 2014.

“When you hear that the Russians have captured the city of Crimea, you should know that the times of the Messiah have started, that his steps are being heard. And when you hear that the Russians have reached the city of Constantinople, you should put on your Shabbat (Sabbath) clothes and don’t take them off, because it means that the Messiah is about to come any minute.”

In this prophecy, the Vilna Gaon mentioned two signs of the imminent arrival of the Messiah – Russia capturing Crimea and Russia invading the Turkish city of Constantinople (now Istanbul). The first prophecy was fulfilled in 2014 when Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.

Current tensions between Russia and Turkey, including Turkey shooting down a Russian fighter jet on November 24, are setting the stage for the second sign, the Russian invasion of Istanbul, to occur soon.

The prophecy of the Vilna Gaon is strengthened by the existence of a similar prophecy, this one from the Jewish sage known as the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic Judaism. Like the Vilna Gaon, the Ba’al Shem Tov lived in the 18th century.

The Kloisenberger Rebbe, a 20th century Hasidic rabbi, echoed the Vilna Gaon’s second sign when he wrote “in the name of the Ba’al Shem Tov, when you see the Russian horse in Constantinople, a city in Turkey, you should know Moshiach (Messiah) is about to arrive.” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/54943/200-years-ago-war-between-turkey-russia-prophesied-sign-redemption-jewish-world/#lRuDmyfFPtLuosV4.99

There are some parts of this to discuss.

First, yes, Russia annexed Crimea last year. But that does not mean the rest of the predictions are accurate.

Second, while it is certainly possible that Russia could invade and/or be in Constantinople/Istanbul some day (cf. Jeremiah 50:41-43; Isaiah 13:1-8), it certainly will not happen now or in the very near future.

Third, Vladimir Putin has stated in the past that he does not intend to attack NATO (see Russia’s Putin dimisses possibility of attacking NATO), and since Turkey has long been part of NATO, I do not believe that Vladimir Putin will launch any major military attack against Turkey. However, once NATO is gone (and that will not happen immediately), that could be another matter all together.

Fourth, the Bible indicates that Turkey will, after being associated with the King of the South, align with the biblical King of the North in the end times (cf. Daniel 11:41; cf. 11:25-26). The Bible tells of a power led by Russia that will eliminate that end time “daughter of Babylon” (Jeremiah 50:41-43–for more on Russia watch Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code)). This may quite possibly involve militarily taking over/passing through Istanbul (cf. Psalm 137:7-9), but Turkey’s destruction is prophesied to come through a power OTHER THAN Russia (Ezekiel 25:12-14).

Fifth, Jesus cannot possibly come until seven years after the deal in Daniel 9:27 has been confirmed (see The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27). This deal has not been made, let alone confirmed.

Sixth, it is speculative to conclude that Russia will enter Istanbul/Constantinople shortly before Jesus comes, though it is certainly not out of the realm of possibilities.

Seventh, what is NOT speculation is for me to declare that according to what Jesus taught in Matthew 24 as well as passages in the Book of Daniel that Jesus is NOT going to return before 2023 and the ‘Messianic era,’ which some would consider to be the millennium, cannot possibly start until 2023 or later.

As far as prophetic teachings go, we in the Continuing Church of God “have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19, KJV).”

Why?

Because we really do rely on what the Bible teaches.

Russia is not about to engage in a massive war against Turkey. But, relatively soon, Jesus will return and the millennial Kingdom of God will be established on the earth.

This matter of Russia and Turkey is also discussed in the new video Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2023 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives. A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind? There is also a YouTube video with information Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?
Did The Early Church Teach Millenarianism? Was the millennium (sometimes called chiliasm) taught by early Christians? Who condemned it? Will Jesus literally reign for 1000 years on the earth? Is this time near? Two related sermons are available Millennial Utopia and The Millennium.
Dreams, the Bible, the Radio Church of God, and the Continuing Church of God How has God used dreams in the past? Does God still use dreams? Did He use any involving those in the Continuing Church of God? A related sermon is also available: Dreams, COGs, and One Man Rule.
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
Continuing Church of God The group striving to be most faithful amongst all real Christian groups to the word of God.