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Russian Sukhoi Su-25s in Syria (Mil.ru)

COGwriter

Russian military actions are affecting the situation in Syria:

February 11, 2016

The Russian military’s increasingly aggressive patrolling and exercises on the margins of Nato have raised genuine concerns – even in a country such as Sweden – that a conflict with Russia can no longer be regarded as impossible.

Reluctant Nato governments are slowly increasing defence spending, and the US is taking steps to reinforce its forward presence in Europe.

Russia, of course, puts the boot on the other foot and blames Nato’s expansion for its increased military readiness.

But this is a government widely believed to have sent its agents to poison an opponent in London, leaving a radioactive trail across the city.

Curiously then, the prevailing Western response to Russia’s engagement alongside President Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria has been to argue Russia and the West potentially share some common ground.

Russia – at least up to a week or so ago – was seen as a co-sponsor of the diplomatic effort to bring peace to Syria and a vital element in any solution.

Whether this view – in hindsight largely wishful thinking – will survive the onslaught by the Syrian Army and its allies on Aleppo remains to be seen.

It is Russian air power more than anything that has changed the fortunes of the Syrian government. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35539897

While the West, meaning mainly the USA, has claimed to be supporting ‘moderate’ rebels in Syria for years, the rebels feel abandoned by the West:

Syria conflict: Rebels ‘feel abandoned’ by Britain and US

10 February 2016 Last updated at 23:31 GMT

Backed by Russian airstrikes Syrian government forces are gaining ground near Aleppo with only a few towns remaining in rebel hands.

A senior rebel commander inside Aleppo says his fighters felt abandoned by countries such as Britain and the United States. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35546671

Notice something that happened today:

February 11, 2016

MUNICH — The United States, Russia and other powers have reached agreement on a “cessation of hostilities” in Syria’s civil war that allows for immediate humanitarian access to besieged areas, Secretary of State John F. Kerry announced here…

The end of hostilities, which Kerry avoided calling a cease-fire, is scheduled to go into effect “in one week’s time,” Kerry said. Humanitarian access to towns and cities in Syria where food and medical supplies have been blocked, sometimes for months, is to begin immediately.

“It was unanimous,” Kerry said. “Everybody today agreed on the urgency of humanitarian access. What we have here are words on paper. What we need to see in the next few days are actions on the ground.”

Agreement came after day-long consultations that lasted until early Friday here. Hours earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov huddled with his counterpart from Iran, Russia’s ally in backing the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, and Secretary of State John F. Kerry sat down with allies backing the Syrian opposition, before all parties gathered for a joint meeting at which the deal was struck.

Lavrov called cessation of hostilities the “first step” toward a full cease-fire. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/kerry-searches-for-common-ground-on-the-syrian-conflict/2016/02/11/1bc6482c-d042-11e5-90d3-34c2c42653ac_story.html

Many of the rebels still feel abandoned.  They have not been fighting for a cease fire, but they had hoped to topple Syria’s President Assad.

A few years ago, the rebels felt betrayed when the USA ended up NOT bombing Syria when rebels had been told the USA would.  Basically, US President Barack Obama stated that if chemical weapons were used, that would be a “red line,” that if Syria crossed, the USA would not tolerate.  Then because of something that Secretary of State John Kerry said at the time, plus impetus from Pope Francis, Russia picked up on John Kerry’s statement and was able to negotiate a chemical weapons deal that the USA accepted. The USA then, did not bomb as the rebels had been led to believe.  Many rebels then became disillusioned with the USA, setting the stage for the rise of the group now calling itself the Islamic State.

Now with Russia showing that it sticks closer to its allies than the USA does, it is little wonder that the rebels feel abandoned. The fact that many are disappointed with the USA and UK does not bode well for either of these lands.

Why?

Notice the following, for one example:

8 The Lord sent a word against Jacob, And it has fallen on Israel. 9 All the people will know — Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria — Who say in pride and arrogance of heart: 10 ‘The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, But we will replace them with cedars.” 11 Therefore the Lord shall set up The adversaries of Rezin against him, And spur his enemies on, 12 The Syrians before and the Philistines behind; And they shall devour Israel with an open mouth. (Isaiah 9:8-12)

Notice that the above prophecy involves Ephraim and Samaria, the UK and the USA respectively (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). Thus, the prophecy is indicative that the UK and USA will be attacked  by at least some from Syria.

This would likely include future terrorist attacks.  Because the USA and UK have been taking in Syrian refugees and plan to take in more, the fact that many in Syria have felt betrayed and abandoned by those nations does not bode well for them.  Terrorism is prophesied:

25 The sword shall destroy outside; There shall be terror within (Deuteronomy 32:25)

12 “Cry and wail, son of man; For it will be against My people, Against all the princes of Israel. Terrors including the sword will be against My people; Therefore strike your thigh. (Ezekiel 21:12)

Many prophecy watchers are misunderstanding what is happening in Syria and Russia now.

Someone claimed to be an expert in the ‘Bible Code’ has been pointing to the Russian-Syria interventions as prophetically significant:

With Russia and Iran now undisputedly backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by sending troops and weapons into Syria, a newly-released Bible Codes video reveals that the partnership has Messianic implications for the Jewish people.

International Bible Codes expert Rabbi Mattiyahu Glazerson explains that the recent cooperation among Russia, Iran and Syria to boost the standing of Assad is one step in the final redemptive process.

In the Bible Codes table, which comes from the Book of Deuteronomy, Glazerson points out codes embedded in the Biblical text that describe the current situation, such as Rusiya (Russia) and b’Suria (in Syria), Iran and the Hebrew letters tav, shin, ayin and vav (תשעו), which have the numerical value of 776. This is a reference to 5776, the current Hebrew year.

Glazerson points out that the end of Deuteronomy 6:14 and Deuteronomy 6:15, which appear in the table, tells exactly what plans Iran has in store for Israel:

“ …of the peoples that are around you. For the Lord, your God, is a zealous God among you, lest the wrath of the Lord, your God, be kindled against you, and destroy you off the face of the earth.”

For Israel, Iran is “of the peoples that are around you.” Iranian leaders have repeatedly stated that their goal is to wipe Israel off the map, with the most recent public comments being made by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who vowed that Israel will cease to exist within 25 years.

Concluding his explanation regarding Iran, Glazerson points out the words aish (fire) and Iran, a reference to the weapons of Iran, as well as several places in the Bible Codes table where the words geula (redemption) and moshiach (Messiah) are found. …

“If you will follow most of my tables with Mashiach (Messiah),” Rabbi Glazerson told Breaking Israel News, “according to what our Rabbis say in the Talmud (Judaism’s most important compendium of rabbinic wisdom), [if] Jews not do teshuva (repent) willingly, God will appoint on them a cruel leader, like Haman in Persia (modern day Iran) and he will threaten to destroy them.” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/49215/new-bible-code-reveals-messianic-implications-of-iranian-russian-and-syrian-partnership-middle-east/#U1ZAzfYG60sXOs7L.99

Let’s deal with some of the issues above.

First of all, it is not actually year 5776. That count does NOT agree with the actual Bible, hence to imply that the ‘Bible Code’ interpretation is for this year is irrelevant. To determine the approximate year, with multiple scriptures, check out the article Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End?

Second, even if it were the year 5776, it makes no sense to add 5000 years to the number 776, which is what the Jewish Rabbi’s interpretation admittedly did.

Third, let’s look at the actual verses in the Bible partially cited by Rabbi Matityahu Glazerson:

14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you 15 (for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth. (Deuteronomy 6:14-15)

Since Rabbi Glazerson claims that ‘the peoples who are around you’ is Iran, perhaps we should consider if the nation of Israel is currently going after the Shi’ite Allah. There is no evidence that Israel has recently done this, thus that interpretation is wrong.

Fourth, I do not believe that Israel will be destroyed and put under Iran this 5776 year. While the Bible does allow for an attack from Iran (Isaiah 22:1-14), it also indicates that Iran will be broken militarily (Jeremiah 49:34-39), and it nowhere teaches that Israel will be under Iran. The cruel taskmaster that the Bible tells of rules over Egypt:

4 And the Egyptians I will give
Into the hand of a cruel master,
And a fierce king will rule over them,”
Says the Lord, the Lord of hosts. (Isaiah 19:4)

The above leader is either a reference to the King of the South who has ties to Egypt per Daniel 11:40-43 and Ezekiel 30:2-9 or is a reference to the King of the North who will takeover the King of the South and Egypt per Daniel 11:40-43. It matters not how the Talmud interprets this, the reality is that the only passage in the Bible that is direct about a ‘cruel master’ states he is over Egypt.

Now many Protestant prophecy watchers believe falsely that Russia is the biblical King of the North. Some believe that events in recent times is further evidence of this. Notice one example:

Russia is not going to let the Ukraine out of its grip, even though it has now obtained the Crimea, the home of its Black Sea fleet, the “many ships” spoken of by Daniel the prophet:

“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.” (Daniel 11:40)

When the Northern invader comes it is “like a whirlwind” and with “many ships”. Both of these require Russian control of the Black Sea and the Crimea, home of Russia’s Black Sea fleet. It cannot come “like a whirlwind” with “many ships” all the way from the Baltic. It needs a port close by. …

As Andrew Kuchins, director of the CSIS Russia and Eurasia program, stated in an interview with Bloomberg:

“There is no way Putin is going to win Crimea and lose Ukraine.”

Consequently, Russia is applying economic pressure. …

We watch with great anticipation as Russia continues to make its grand move for the building up of its image empire, as predicted by the prophets and written about extensively by Author John Thomas in Elpis Israel, and Anatolia (Jonathan Bowan. RUSSIA is fulfilling Bible Prophecy TODAY! http://www.truebibleteaching.com/bible-prophecy/336-russia-is-fulfilling-bible-prophecy-today.html accessed 10/17/15)

But despite trying to force Russia to be this power, other scriptures show that this is a reference to a European leader, not Vladimir Putin. Those who believe otherwise overlook the FACT that Vladimir Putin has NOT fulfilled the following about the individual who will be the last biblical King of the North:

31 And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 33 And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. 34 Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. 35 And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. (Daniel 11:31-38)

Russia and its top leader are not the biblical King of the North.

Although it is in the north, the Bible (when more specific) appears to refer to those in Russia as part of the “far north” (Ezekiel 38:3,6, 14-15). Russia is currently the most massive military power of the “far north.”

However, even as some who claim Russia is the King of the North have admitted, historically it has been Greek (and perhaps also Roman) emperors which have fulfilled past prophecies of the King of the North.

It would seem logical then, that the final King of the North would also be the ruler of some type of final Greco-Roman empire. And the seat of power for those empires was in Europe–not Russia.

Daniel 9:26-27 describes the rise of a prince who came from the people who destroyed Jerusalem, the European Romans.

Matthew Henry’s Commentary states the following concerning Daniel 9:

It is here foretold that the people of the prince that shall come shall be the instruments of this destruction, that is, the Roman armies, belonging to a monarchy yet to come…the sacrifice and oblation shall be made to cease…And when it is made desolate, it should seem, there is something more determined that is to be poured upon the desolate (v. 27).

These passages, according to many Bible writers, ties into the actions of the King of the North when his forces “shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31). Roman armies would be more closely tied to Europe than they would Russia. The Great Tribulation will also not start before there is an actual King of the South and an actual King of the North–and while the “prince” will apparently help make a deal with Israel, Daniel 11:27 requires two kings, which suggests that the “prince” will gain more and more importance after the deal in Daniel 9:27. Daniel 9:26-27 shows that this prince comes from the people of the old Roman Empire. This prince rules the final Beast power of Revelation 13:1, the beast of the sea. Russia is not the ‘beast of the sea’ (but it is trying to form a Eurasian Union, check out also The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy).

The Bible is clear that the “Great Sea,” where the Beasts of Daniel 7 come from, is the Mediterranean Sea (e.g. Joshua 9:1, 23:4; Ezekiel 47:15). The Beast power is not a nation like Russia, which does not border the Mediterranean Sea, but Europe which does (there is also a YouTube video on this you can watch titled Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).

Ezekiel 38 is something others have also misunderstood in the current situation (watch also Russia, Iran, Syria, & the Bible (Code)).

CBN, for example, reported:

Russia’s New Alliance: Biblical Prophecy Coming to Life?

Rosenberg refers to the book of Ezekiel and prophecies that involve an alliance of Russia, Syria, and Iran all alligned against Israel.

He told CBN News that for the first time in 2,500 years that scenario is a reality. He is quick, however, to downplay whether biblical prophecy is in fact being fulfilled with these recent developments. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/insideisrael/2015/October/Russias-New-Alliance-Biblical-Prophecy-Coming-to-Life/

Some Protestant prophecy watchers believe that the addition of Russian forces to the region will lead to the relatively near term fulfillment of prophecies in Ezekiel 38 and 39. As far as Ezekiel 38 and 39 go, they too, cannot be fulfilled for over a thousand years from now (see also Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day?).

What does the Bible actually teach? Notice the first 6 verses from Ezekiel 38:

1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. 4 I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. 5 Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; 6 Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops — many people are with you.

7 “Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them.

Verses 1-7 talk about a group getting ready to battle. Various nations such as Russia, Iran, Asians, and others are included here.

What does the Bible actually teach about when? Notice the next two verses from Ezekiel 38:

8 After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. 9 You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”

Verses 8-9 refer to a regathering of Israel in the latter days.

Why do certain prophecy watchers say that it is for now?

Because certain Protestants believe that the creation of the nation of Israel in 1948 fulfills verse 8. Notice one example:

GOD warns Iran (Persia), with Russia (Magog), and a coalition of allies (including Turkey, Libya, Sudan) will go to war and will invade Israel. In Ezekiel 38-39 the Bible warns this coming war between Iran (Persia) and Israel will take place sometime after Israel has been re-gathered into Her land as a nation (which was fulfilled on May 14, 1948) http://www.alphanewsdaily.com/Warning%206%20Russia%20Iran%20Invasion.html accessed 10/17/15

Yet, this is not really the fulfillment for several reasons.

One is that even today most Jews do not live in the nation of Israel. The Jewish diaspora is scattered throughout the world. But the other problem is that many do not realize that there are multiple millions of the descendants of Israel that are not of the tribe of Judah. The Bible shows that Israel split into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel after the reign of Solomon and that later the ten tribes that were part of Israel (cf. 1 Kings 11:31,35; 12:16-17; 12:20-23) were carried into captivity (2 Kings 17:21-23). Those tribes represent hundreds of millions of people currently alive, and as there are less than 6,000,000 Jews in Israel, most simply have not been regathered (more information on the tribes of Israel is in the article Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel).  As far as 1948 goes, check out the video Israel, 1948, and Prophecy.

Furthermore, pay close attention to the part of verse 8 of Ezekiel 38 about people dwelling safely. That is NOT the case in Israel today.

Additionally, notice verses 10-13:

10 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “On that day it shall come to pass that thoughts will arise in your mind, and you will make an evil plan: 11 You will say, ‘I will go up against a land of unwalled villages; I will go to a peaceful people, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates’ — 12 to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. 13 Sheba, Dedan, the merchants of Tarshish, and all their young lions will say to you, ‘Have you come to take plunder? Have you gathered your army to take booty, to carry away silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods, to take great plunder?’”‘

Israel has its walls and “iron dome” and military weaponry. Notice that it is against a ‘peaceful people’ in unarmed villages that the prince of Rosh is going against. This cannot happen until AFTER the return of Jesus.

Furthermore, there simply is not a plan to take a lot of gold and silver out of Israel right now by the power of the far north, nor does the current nation of Israel have enough of it to likely justify an attack for that purpose (unless perhaps some hidden gold/silver mines or remaining treasure of David).

Notice the following:

Israel holds no gold reserves at all, according to a Bank of Israel spokesman. (Kopf S. Jerusalem of Gold. Jerusalem Post, February 16, 2011. http://www.jpost.com/Jerusalem-Report/Israel/Jerusalem-of-Gold viewed 07/21/14)

According to Index Mundi, the nation of Israel was not amongst the top 48 producers of silver in the world, so its supply of this would also seem to be limited–it also confirmed that Israel does not have gold reserves (though there is some gold and silver in coins, etc. in Israel). Israel in the early 21st century is NOT the target of Ezekiel 38.

As far as Syria goes, the Bible shows that its capital Damascus will be destroyed:

1 The burden against Damascus.

“Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city,
And it will be a ruinous heap. (Isaiah 17:1)

The above has not yet happened but will.

Expect a regional war to escalate.

Eventually a temporary peace deal involving Israel will happen per Daniel 9:27, but it will also be broken:

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)

That is where much of what is happening is leading to according to biblical prophecy (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27).

There are, however, many Jewish, Protestant (see Dangerous Protestant Prophetic Errors), Catholic (e.g. Do Certain Catholic Prophecies About Antichrist Warn Against Jesus?), and even COG (watch Laodicean Errors in Prophecy) errors in prophecy. Believe what the Bible says above false traditions and interpretations of men.

While few wish to believe it, the West or Russia will not solve the problems in that region of the world.

It will take the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God to truly solve all of the conflicts in the world, including those in Syria. And more conflict is coming first.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, February 11th, 2016 at 4:00 pm and is filed under Prophecy.

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