VOA: Russia’s economy expected to disappoint in 2014

Russian Troops Parading in Moscow (Source: www.kremlin.ru)

Many economists believe that Russia’s economy will disappoint in 2014:

Russian Economy Set to Disappoint Again in 2014

MOSCOW — Russia’s economy is now forecast to have grown in 2013 at less than half the pace expected at start of the year and will perform only slightly better in 2014, weighed down by weak investment and tapering consumer demand.

A Reuters poll of 15 economists said that gross domestic product had risen just 1.4 percent this year, when last December they had predicted an expansion of 3.2 percent.

Economists are also more pessimistic about the economy’s wellbeing next year than the government, envisaging growth of 2.0 percent, against the Economy Ministry’s forecast of 2.5 percent.

Russia’s economy decelerated sharply this year, reflecting deep structural problems that analysts and officials say undercut its long-term growth potential.

Investment by firms disappointed and international money has been flowing out of Russia, in part due to companies’ concerns about political freedoms and the likely consistency of the legal backdrop in years ahead.

The fading of an economic success story that buoyed Vladimir Putin’s first decade in power are increasingly a challenge to the president as he seeks reelection in 2018.

Economists now say there has been no growth in investment in tangible assets, such as buildings and plants, this year. A year ago, they had expected such expenditures would grow by 6.0 percent in 2013. For next year, they now expect a small rebound to 2.0 percent growth…

The government’s budget strategy envisages an average price for Russia’s main export of $104 per barrel next year.

Olga Lapshina, an economist with Bank St. Petersburg, said expectations of higher crude production in the United States and production plans from Iran and Syria may threaten that price. http://www.voanews.com/content/reu-russia-economy-set-to-disappoint-again-in-2014/1816567.html

The price of oil is a major concern to Russia as that is one of its biggest (if not the biggest) exports. Russia also exports lumber and other minerals. Russian leaders have been working towards a Eurasian Union for some time that they hope will help the economies of the region (see The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy). And they may well assist.

But Russia itself is also is an exporter of arms.

One of the goals that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has is to increase Russian military power. Which, in turn, would tend to increase its exports of military equipment.

While many in the West see Russia as technological and socially challenged, the reality is that the Bible tells of a time when it will rise up militarily.

The Bible appears to refer to those in Russia as part of the “far north” (Ezekiel 38:3,6, 14-15) or give other northern indications when sometimes referring to Russia. Russia is currently the most massive military power of the “far north.”

However, as various writers have admitted, historically it has been Greek (and perhaps also Roman) emperors which have fulfilled past prophecies of the King of the North, thus it is not yet time for Russia to truly dominate the world militarily. But a Russian confederation will arise and be a threat to the end-time European Babylonian power.

Here are a couple of passages in the Book of Jeremiah that support my assertions on this:

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).

Thus, the European empire (the “daughter of Babylon”) is to be destroyed by a northern (apparently Russian led) force. This force that has “kings” from “the ends of the earth” will apparently be those from the far north and the far east. This is consistent with Daniel 11:44. And the “many kings” is consistent with the “kings of the sunrise” of Revelation 16:12 (literal translation).

But that is not to happen for a while. The European power must rise up first and Russia may well have economic issues and other struggles before it rises up as prophesied.

Notice that the “king of Babylon” the “daughter of Babylon” heard repo

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Is Russia the King of the North? Some claim it is. But what does the Bible teach? Here is a link to a video, also titled Is Russia the King of the North?
Russia: Its Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end?
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Is There an Islamic Antichrist? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out.
Can the Great Tribulation begin in 2014? When will the Great Tribulation begin? Can it begin in 2014 as some have indicated? What are the biblical requirements that precede the Great Tribulation? What did Jesus teach would happen prior to the Great Tribulation. Are there definite clues in the Book of Daniel that Christians should look out for? Is there a King of the North or a King of the South yet? Where does the ‘prince’ of Daniel 9:26-27 come from? What about ‘blood moons’? Dr. Thiel videoed this on the Mount of Olives where Jesus specifically discussed events leading up to the Great Tribulation in Matthew 24.
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White.
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is a link to a video titled: Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.