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Jesus warned of “wars and rumors of war” (Matthew 24:6). In that light, notice the following:

Moscow warns of ‘direct military confrontation’ with US

April 9, 2022

Western countries, by “pumping” weapons into Ukraine, risk leading the US and Russia “onto the path of direct military confrontation,” Moscow’s ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, said earlier this week.

Since the launch of Russia’s military attack on Ukraine, NATO countries and their allies have refrained from direct military involvement in the conflict, but have been actively providing Kiev with weapons and ammunition. By doing so, the ambassador said in an interview with Newsweek, the Western states are “directly involved in the current events” and are inciting “further bloodshed.” Antonov called these actions “dangerous” and “provocative.”

“They can lead the US and the Russian Federation onto the path of direct military confrontation. Any supply of weapons and military equipment from the West, performed by transport convoys through the territory of Ukraine, is a legitimate military target for our Armed Forces.” …

Antonov also said that “a military exploration” of Ukraine by NATO began long before the start of the Russian campaign in the neighboring country. In Antonov’s words, Ukraine “was flooded with Western weaponry while President Vladimir Zelensky announced Kiev’s plans to acquire nuclear weapons.”

The ambassador was apparently referring to Zelensky’s Munich Security Conference speech. On February 19, five days before the launch of Russia’s attack, … https://www.newswars.com/moscow-warns-of-direct-military-confrontation-with-us/

Ex-Deputy NATO Commander: West Must Be Ready for War With Russia

Sir Richard Shirreff, who served as NATO’s deputy supreme allied commander for Europe from 2011 to 2014, told Times Radio on Friday that the Atlantic alliance ”must be ready” for war with Russia as their invasion of Ukraine reaches a tipping point.

Shirreff suggested that the West quickly send ”heavy equipment” to Ukraine, including ”long-range artillery, precision fire missiles, anti-missile defense, and tanks and other vehicles.”

The former top NATO official said he does not believe that Russia distinguishes between the supplying of offensive and defensive weapons and that he doesn’t either.

”Weaponry is weaponry. The best form of defense is attack,” Sherriff said. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/russia-ukraine-nato-war/2022/04/08/id/1065000/

Russia is angry at the USA and others for sanctions as well as for sending arms to Ukraine.

Various ones in the USA and elsewhere fear the possibility of World War III with Russia.

Yet, Russia and the USA are not about to get into a war to try to militarily destroy each other because of Ukraine. There could be more sanctions, cyber matters, and skirmishes, but no, not a battle over Ukraine with each aggressively trying to destroy the other. The USA and Russia possess enough weapons of mass destruction that they could, in theory, destroy the whole world if they got in a large enough battle.

Despite the view of various Protestant prophecy watchers, the USA is not prophesied to be destroyed by Russia

However, I do feel that Russia will assist the coming Beast power, who will destroy the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39).

Notice something that the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Hebert Armstrong, wrote decades ago, during the time of the old Soviet Union, in an article titled Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States:

For decades now, the prospect of war between Russia and the United States has continually heightened and lessened.

Many who claim to be authorities on prophecy assure people a war involving Russia and the United States, Canada and England is prophesied in Ezekiel 38.

The United States, Britain and other democracies of north-western Europe, they recognize, are nations descended from the lost Ten Tribes. Therefore, they conclude, the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 foretells a military invasion of the North American continent from the Soviet Union. But this is not what prophecy says…

But this very fact – that this invasion will not come until after the Second Coming of Christ – will seem preposterous to many, at first thought.

That is because we have been accustomed merely to assume things that are not true. We have blindly assumed that when Christ comes, there will be no opposition. Every person and power on earth, we have thought, will simply submit meekly and instantly to him and his power. But that is not true!

Some gentile nations understandably shall not submit until forced to. The final restoration of the Roman Empire shall be subdued and conquered at a battle commonly called “Armageddon.” But the populous nations of Eurasia that the Almighty God up to this point has not dealt with shall still have to be brought to submission.

“Gog” Identified“Gog in the land of “Magog” is the vast regions of the U.S.S.R. in northern Eurasia extending from the Baltic to the Pacific. “Meshech” is Moscow, “Tubal” is Tobol’sk.

Notice the allies who come with them in this future battle. You will find “Gomer” “Togarmah,” “Magog,” “Meshech” “Tubal” identified in Genesis 10 as the sons of Japheth, father of the Eurasians. Ethiopia and Phut (mistranslated Libya) are descended from Ham.

Therefore, this prophecy of Ezekiel 38 shows who shall finally succeed in marshaling peoples of each major race into a gigantic invasion upon our people.

When God begins to rule the world, through Christ – with His chosen people restored to prosperity in the land of Israel, the very center of the land surface of the earth (verse 12, Moffatt translation) – this, great Eurasian union of nations shall finally be tempted to use their mighty air force. (Armstrong HW. Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States, article).

Some Bible scholars assert falsely that these prophecies of Ezekiel were fulfilled anciently. They never were. Others believe they are about to occur but some years before Armageddon. Both views are erroneous. The events of Ezekiel 38 and 39 are without question still future – for the “latter days” (38: 16) and “latter years” (38:8). Moreover, Ezekiel 38:14 describes the time setting as being “in that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely.” This is certainly not the situation in the State of Israel to- day! The Israel described by Ezekiel is a nation that dwells in security, in unwalled villages, totally unprepared for war (38:8, 11, 14). Read it for yourself! (Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States. WCG booklet)

Ezekiel 38 is for the distant future–after the millennium (cf. Revelation 20:7-9; see also Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?; a related video is also available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?).

Yet, none of this means that there cannot be military conflict between the USA and Russia now (and there may be some).

Furthermore, what Russia is doing is leading to WWIII, but just in a way many have not realized.

Over 42 years ago, the Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, the late Herbert W. Armstrong, wrote:

What Russia is doing will be the spark to bring the heads of nations in Europe together with the Vatican to form a “United Nations of Europe.” The politicians cannot do this by themselves. Only with the collaboration of the Pope can they do it.

Russia will move slowly—but will keep moving! Other nations and events will move FASTER! (Armstrong HW. Co-worker Letter, January 23, 1980)

Russia has been planning to make moves related to Ukraine for years.

What has been happening in Ukraine has been a wake-up call for the Europeans.

What will happen?

Europe will spend more on its military.

Europe will become a militarily successful power (cf. Revelation 13:3-4), with a great army (Daniel 11:25), and  many ships (Daniel 11:40).

The Bible, Revelation 13, tells of the Beast power having seven heads and ten horns:

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (Revelation 13:1-2)

The sea that this is referring to is the Mediterranean sea as passages in the Old Testament demonstrate (Daniel 7:2-3; Numbers 34:6-7; Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 23:4; Ezekiel 47:13-16; watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

The Beast power to come will be European.

We recently uploaded the following related video:

18:27

Is the European Beast Growing Horns?

Does the conflict between Russia and Ukraine have prophetic ramifications? What about Ezekiel 38? Are we seeing a ‘historic shift’ in Europe to move towards more unity? What about non-EU nations like Sweden and Switzerland? Is Germany’s announcement to double its military spending to 100 million euros a big deal? Does the Bible tell of changes coming to Europe for it to rise up as a Babylonian unity successful military power? What about the United States of America and its British-descended allies? Could USA sanctions against Russia, including SWIFT restrictions, decrease international demand for USA dollars and cause inflation? Dr. Thiel addresses these issues and more in this video.

Here is a link to our video: Is the European Beast Growing Horns?

This arming by the Europeans will lead to WWIII!

This will be the end of the USA and its British-descended allies consistent with Daniel 11:39.

Though Europe will triumph for a time (Revelation 13:3-4; Daniel 11:39-43), prophecies also show matters will not end well for Europe itself (cf. Daniel 11:44-45; Revelation 17:14)–and Russia will be involved (watch also Russia, Ukraine, Babylonian Europe, and Prophecy).

Europe will one day be destroyed by a Russian led force.

Russia has already made threats against Finland:

Finland will be asking for ‘the destruction of their country’ if they join NATO and make themselves a Russian ‘target’, Moscow lawmaker warns

A Russian lawmaker has warned Finland it faces serious repercussions if it joins NATO, saying it would make it a valid ‘target’ and secure the ‘destruction of their country’.

The Nordic country has been flirting with becoming a member of the transatlantic military alliance, with foreign minister Pekka Haavisto today saying its position will be clarified in the coming weeks.

But lawmaker Vladimir Dzhabarov from Russia’s upper house said joining the pact would be ‘a terrible tragedy’, in a threat of similar aggression seen in Ukraine. 04/07/22 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10696145/Finland-asking-destruction-country-join-NATO-Russia-warns.html

Despite the Russian threat, Finland, as well as Sweden, are looking to possibly join NATO:

Finland and Sweden could soon join NATO, moves that would likely infuriate Moscow and that officials say would further underscore Russia’s strategic error in invading Ukraine.

NATO officials told CNN that discussions about Sweden and Finland joining the bloc have gotten extremely serious since Russia’s invasion, and US senior State Department officials said the matter came up at this week’s NATO foreign ministerial, which was attended by the foreign ministers from Stockholm and Helsinki. Officials said the discussions underline the extent to which Vladimir Putin’s invasion has only served to reinvigorate and unify the NATO alliance — the exact opposite of Putin’s stated goals before the war began. The Russian President had demanded that NATO cease expanding east and admitting new members, accusing the bloc of threatening Russian security. Instead, NATO has increased its support to Ukraine and is preparing to welcome new members. https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/08/politics/finland-sweden-nato-membership/index.html

If Finland and Sweden believe that joining NATO will save their nations of future destruction with a decade or so, they are mistaken.

The old Worldwide Church of God published the following about the fate of a coming European power:

This European power will eventually establish its capital and religious headquarters at Jerusalem (Dan. 11 :45)Daniel says that this European conqueror will become troubled by “tidings out of the east and out of the north” (11 :44) . There can be little doubt about the source of the beast‘s trouble. East and north of Palestine are Russia, China and other nations of the vast Asian con-continent. (Why Russia Will Not Attack the United States. WCG booklet)

Although there is not about to be a devastating nuclear attack from Russia on the USA, Europe one day, is prophesied to be destroyed by a Russian-led force:

8 “Move from the midst of Babylon,
Go out of the land of the Chaldeans;
And be like the rams before the flocks.

9 For behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon
An assembly of great nations from the north country,
And they shall array themselves against her;
From there she shall be captured.
Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior;
None shall return in vain. (Jeremiah 50:8-9)

Lasting safety is not to found in military alliances, but in God:

3 Do not put your trust in princes,
Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
4 His spirit departs, he returns to his earth;
In that very day his plans perish.

5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the Lord his God,
6 Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever,
7 Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.  (Psalms 146:3-7)

In this time of wars and rumors of war, put your total trust in God.

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This entry was posted on Saturday, April 9th, 2022 at 8:00 am and is filed under Prophecy.

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