Church of God News

NATO in Green, Russia in Orange (Crimea should also be orange)

COGwriter

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is moving forward with missile defense in Romania and Poland:

May 5, 2016

LONDON — NATO’s European missile defense system goes live on Thursday when a base in Romania becomes operational. The next day, Poland is scheduled to break ground on its NATO missile-defense base.

The decision by the United States and its allies in Eastern Europe to proceed with ballistic missile defense in the face of increasingly loud Russian criticism is an important stage in the alliance’s new stance toward Moscow.

Those deployments will be coupled this spring with major military exercises in Poland and the Baltics, with significant American participation and a beefed-up rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 troops.

Altogether, said Derek Chollet, a former United States assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, “There will be a quite robust display of military power in Europe and allied resolve, and hopefully Moscow will see it for what it is, an alliance improving its capabilities.”

At the biannual NATO summit meeting in Warsaw in early July, the main issues are expected to be east-west (read Russia) and north-south — how to deal with threats to members like Turkey and Greece from the chaos of Syria, Iraq, Libya and the Islamic State. The phrase “arc of instability” has re-emerged in NATO-speak.

There is confusion about what useful purpose NATO can serve in the south.

But there is more clarity on Russia, after its annexation of Crimea and armed involvement in eastern Ukraine, its threats to the Baltic region and intervention in Syria. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/europe/nato-russia-poland.html

Russia is not pleased with NATO’s steps here and elsewhere. Notice the headline of the following article makes a claim related to World War III (WWIII):

May 5, 2016

WW3 Alert! Russia To Retaliate Against NATO, US

After NATO and the United States bared its plan to augment its military deployments in parts of Europe, Russia warned of retaliatory measures and says it won’t just sit and see as things unfold in the region. …

In a separate report published by the Russian newspaper TASS, Russia Defense Minster Sergey Shoigu said the two military divisions will be set up in the Western Military District, while the other one division will be set up in the Southern Military District, to protect the country’s borders from NATO troops.

“The Defense Ministry is taking a number of measures to counteract the buildup of NATO forces in the immediate vicinity of Russian borders. Two new divisions will be set up in the Western Military District and one division in the Southern Military District until the end of the year,” Shoigu told the TASS newspaper. http://www.morningnewsusa.com/ww3-alert-russia-retaliate-nato-us-2376173.html

Now, I should mention that Russia, per se, is not the power that will start what could be called WWIII (though I believe that Russia will be involved).  That will be a European power (cf. Daniel 11:39; watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

But how might this NATO missile defense play into the future?

There are several possibilities, but one issue that I would like to briefly cover today is the reality that there will, after the elimination of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon descended allies (which could be called WWIII), a massive war between the final European Beast power and a power apparently led by Russia.

I believe that Europe will take steps to increase its influence and military strength and that technology will be part of its key to military success (see European Technology and the Beast of Revelation) against the USA (cf. Daniel 11:39). Europe’s other key is that its ‘ally’ relationship with the USA, combined with things like its Galileo ‘GPS’ system, will give it unique abilities to attack the USA and defend itself from counterattacks. This Galileo dependence is something Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama allowed to happen.

But Europe’s technological advantage may also be a weakness afterwards as Europe will probably feel that between that, and perhaps things like the NATO missile defense ‘shields’ that it can defend itself against all.

Yet the Bible shows that Europe’s Beast leader will basically be terrified by a power to its north and east:

40 …the king of the North… 44 But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. 45 And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him (Dan 11:40,43-45).

50:41 “Behold, a people shall come from the north,
And a great nation and many kings
Shall be raised up from the ends of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance;
They are cruel and shall not show mercy.
Their voice shall roar like the sea;
They shall ride on horses,
Set in array, like a man for the battle,
Against you, O daughter of Babylon.

43 “The king of Babylon has heard the report about them,
And his hands grow feeble;
Anguish has taken hold of him,
Pangs as of a woman in childbirth…”(Jeremiah 50:41-43).

The European Beast leader is referred to as the king of the North in Daniel 11 and king of Babylon in Jeremiah. This battle could be considered as WWIV (or WWV if the invasion in Daniel 11:39 is WWIII, and the one in Daniel 11:40-43 is WWIV–but since that one is more regional, it may not be considered as a world war).

We see that the Bible shows that the king of the North / king of Babylon are concerned about a northern power. This appears to be Russia, which also shows that Russia is not the King of the North (see also Is Russia the King of the North?).

Notice also that the Bible shows Babylon tied together with birth pains/pangs to a group from a far country:

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.
2 “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger–Those who rejoice in My exaltation.” 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle. 5 They come from a far country, From the end of heaven–The LORD and His weapons of indignation, To destroy the whole land. 6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames (Isaiah 13:1-8).

Thus, both the accounts in Jeremiah and Isaiah seem related to the same invaders. This is referring to an end time confederation that has a distance to travel–apparently a type of union of powers from the east including Russia, who is also the major power of the far north.

Furthermore, a “far country” also seems to be tied to the powers of the east elsewhere in Isaiah:

11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:11)

Those called Medes (some of which are in Russia and elsewhere) are also shown to destroy the final Babylon according to both Isaiah and Jeremiah:

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw…

17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them,
Who will not regard silver;
And as for gold, they will not delight in it.
18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces,
And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb;
Their eye will not spare children.
19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms,
The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride,
Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. (Isaiah 13:1, 17-19)

11 Make the arrows bright!
Gather the shields!
The Lord has raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes.
For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it,
Because it is the vengeance of the Lord,
The vengeance for His temple. (Jeremiah 51:11)

The fact that there are multiple kings of the Medes indicates that multiple powers involved in this end time confederation represent multiple governments. Perhaps, such as Russia, Belarus, Crimea, etc.

Catholics may find it of interest to note that even among their scholars, it is taught that the “Babylon” of Jeremiah 51:11 is referring to a European power: “the Roman Empire” (Kurz W. What Does the Bible Say About End Time? A Catholic View. Nihil Obstat: Hilarion Kistner, Imprimatur: +Carl Moeddel, July 19, 2004. Servant Books, 2004, pp. 48-49)

Notice that the Bible clearly states there is a group from the far north:

3 O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal…6 from the far north and all its troops–many people are with you (Ezekiel 38:3,6).

14 Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog…15…you will come from your place out of the far north… (Ezekiel 38:14-15).

1 O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; 2 and I will turn you around and lead you on, bringing you up from the far north (Ezekiel 39:1-2).

A Russian confederation is that only place on the planet that is in the far north and currently has massive military power. A northern confederation (that appears to be led by Russia and probably includes the far north and far east/Pacific coast portion of Asia) will destroy the European Babylon. The following passage may also apply:

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 50:9)

Notice the following about a Russian-led military confederation:

Russia wants CSTO to be as strong as NATO

RIA Novosti – May 29, 2009

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – Russia is planning to build a strong military contingent in Central Asia within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) comparable to NATO forces in Europe, a Russian business daily said on Friday.

The CSTO, a post-Soviet regional security bloc comprising Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, has already agreed to create a joint rapid-reaction force, but Russia is preparing a new, larger-scale project.

“The work is being conducted in all areas, and a number of documents have been adopted,” the Kommersant newspaper quoted an unidentified source in the Foreign Ministry as saying.

“It will be a purely military structure, built to ensure security in Central Asia in case of an act of aggression,” the source said.

Russia already has joint military contingents with Belarus and Armenia in the CSTO framework.

The new force will comprise large military units from five countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

“It will include armored and artillery units, and a naval flotilla in the Caspian Sea,” CSTO press secretary Vitaly Strugovets said earlier.

The creation of a powerful military contingent in Central Asia reflects Moscow’s drive to make the CSTO a pro-Russian military bloc, rivaling NATO forces in Europe. http://en.rian.ru/russia/20090529/155118377.html

Thus, there is currently a growing Russian-led military confederation. And more are likely to support Russia in the future.

It may be of interest to note that Armenia is part of CSTO. Armenia (called Ararat below) and others are also referred to below as part of the confederation, including the Medes, that goes against end time Babylon:

27 Set up a banner in the land, Blow the trumpet among the nations! Prepare the nations against her, Call the kingdoms together against her: Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a general against her; Cause the horses to come up like the bristling locusts. 28 Prepare against her the nations, With the kings of the Medes, Its governors and all its rulers, All the land of his dominion. 29 And the land will tremble and sorrow; For every purpose of the Lord shall be performed against Babylon, To make the land of Babylon a desolation without inhabitant. (Jeremiah 51:27-29)

Herbert Armstrong commented that the confederation is associated with the 200 million-man army–which means also that it will include nations not currently confederate with Russia (like apparenly the Chinese and other Asians):

The second woe, with its symbols of horses and horsemen…and is also referred to as an event in the Day OF THE Eternal in Joel 2:4. This refers to a tremendous military power–also to the NORTH–due north! They come with an army of two hundred million! Think of it–an army of two hundred million! (Armstrong HW. The Book of Revelation Unveiled at Last! 1972 edition. p. 38-39).

Notice something else from Joel that is related to this:

6 Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces are drained of color. (Joel 2:6)

20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done monstrous things.” (Joel 2:20)

This is related because the northern, King of the North army of Europe, will be facing forces from the east–these would be forces most likely led by Russia.

Also the Hebrew word translated “writhe in pain” in Joel 2:6 is the same basic word used in Jeremiah 51:29 and translated as “and sorrow.” This also seems to tie all this together.

Anyway, the stage for perhaps what could be called WWIV is being set.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 5th, 2016 at 2:30 pm and is filed under Prophecy.

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