West condemns Donetsk and Luhansk elections; USA holds its own election that some wonder where it will lead to

Aleksandr Zakharchenko (newsanna) and Igor Plotnitsky (Че Гевара)

As the USA has its own elections, the West and the United Nations has condemned the elections in Donetsk and Luhansk/Lugansk:

November 4, 2014

NATO has observed Russian troops moving closer to the Ukraine border.

Speaking in a news conference with EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has seen the recent troop movements as Moscow continues to support separatists with equipment and special forces in eastern Ukraine.

Stoltenberg called for Russia “to make genuine efforts towards a peaceful solution … to the difficult situation in Ukraine.”

Mogherini said the European Union would assess the situation and decide to strengthen or ease sanctions imposed on Russia.

Western condemnation

Earlier Tuesday, a pro-Russian rebel leader was sworn in as the head of a self-declared “people’s republic” in eastern Ukraine, following elections condemned by the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Kyiv as illegal and destabilizing.

The swearing-in of Alexander Zakharchenko as prime minister of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic is set to worsen a standoff with Ukraine that has already killed 4,000 people since April.

In a meeting with his security chiefs Tuesday, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko said that his country “remains a firm supporter of the peace plan … but other participants” of the Russian-supported truce accord, are not meeting their obligations.

On Monday, Poroshenko also called the vote a farce that violated a September cease-fire with the rebels.

“The pseudo-elections are a brutal violation of the Minsk Protocol of September 5,” he said. “The Minsk Protocol provides for the holding of early local elections in the area of Donbass solely under the laws of Ukraine. We provided them with the given opportunity. The farce of November 2 jeopardizes the entire peace process, the beginning of which has been achieved at the coast of outstanding efforts.”

Poroshenko said he plans to cancel parts of the peace plan that would have offered a degree of autonomy to the areas held by the rebels. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukraine-holds-crisis-talks-following-disputed-rebel-election/2507112.html

November 4, 2014

The Ukrainian Government is holding crisis meetings after voters in the regions of Donetsk and Luhansk elected separatist leaders in unrecognised ballots. …

The White House also condemned the “sham” vote, threatening financial penalties on Russia.

Under the Minsk Protocol, Kiev claims only elections for local officials were permitted and not those aimed to create a separate state or form a union with Russia. …

Alexander Zakharchenko, a 38-year-old former mining electrician, reportedly won the election as head of the self-titled Donetsk People’s Republic, which was proclaimed by armed rebels in April, with 79 per cent of the vote.

In a similar vote in Luhansk, Igor Plotnisky won more than 63 per cent of the vote, according to a rebel representative.

A Russian deputy foreign minister, Grigory Karasin, made no mention of formal recognition but said the newly elected leadership in eastern Ukraine had a mandate to negotiate with Kiev.

Ukrainian leaders have so far refused to hold direct talks with the separatists, calling them “terrorists” and “bandits”. …

In Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her displeasure about Russia’s role in the conflict and said there is no reason yet to lift EU sanctions against Moscow.

Although Russia has not recognized the independence of restive eastern Ukraine, its endorsement of the elections’ validity exacerbated even further Moscow’s relations with the West.

In Washington, meanwhile, NATO’s top general painted a bleak picture of Western ties with Russia.

U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove, in a briefing with reporters, said Moscow’s interference in the Ukraine crisis threatens to create what he called “a frozen conflict.”

Breedlove said he believes there are as many as 300 Russian troops inside Ukraine training and equipping rebels, and said about seven Russian battalions remain poised on the Russian side of the Ukraine border. He also warned that Moscow is effectively working to shift that border westward into Ukraine territory.

Meanwhile, NATO has observed Russian troops moving closer to the Ukraine border. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-separatist-leaders-elected-in-donetsk-and-luhansk-in-sham-vote-9837474.html

Russia is pleased with the results of the elections in eastern Ukraine. Russia is attempting to figure out how to best handle this. In my view, while Russia does have some concerns about the West and sanctions, it really is trying to figure out how to get the public in eastern Ukraine and Moldova on its side.

Part of the reason for that is because Russia wants more and more nations to support its upcoming Eurasian Union. The Bible itself tells of a type of Eurasian confederation (Jeremiah 50:41-42; Revelation 16:12-14) as well as a confederation of the “kings of the Medes” (Jeremiah 51:11,28). Russia wants both to form.

Here is one view of the recent history of the Donetsk movement:

The Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR or LNR) (Russian: Луганская народная республика, Luganskaya narodnaya respublika) is a self-proclaimed state in eastern Ukraine, bordering the Russian Federation, the (also self-proclaimed) Donetsk People’s Republic, and Ukraine itself. Following the Euromaidan protest movement and the impeachment of President Viktor Yanukovich in the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, local Antimaidan and pro-Russian protests intensified, culminating in the proclamation of the Lugansk People’s Republic on 27 April 2014. The authorities of the Republic later held a referendum on 11 May to seek legitimacy for the proclamation, and subsequently declared independence on 12 May 2014. On 24 May 2014, the self-proclaimed government agreed to a merger with the Donetsk People’s Republic into an unrecognized confederation known as the Federal State of Novorossiya. The Republic is recognised only by South Ossetia, which itself only has limited international recognition. Ukraine classifies the Republic as a terrorist organisation.

The northern part of Luhansk Oblast, which is predominantly Ukrainian-speaking, has remained under Ukrainian control. Although the LPR lost control of much of the Oblast, and currently control less than half of their territorial claim, the Ukrainian government estimates that 64.4% of the population of the Oblast (about a million and a half) live under separatist rule. (Lugansk People’s Republic, Wikipedia, viewed 11/03/14)

It appears that the DPR wants to basically be independent, wants Kiev-related troops to go away, wants to make its own economic deals, and probably will want to either officially join Russia or at least join its upcoming Eurasian Union.

(As I have mentioned before, biblically, because of prophecies involving the Medes (Jeremiah 51:11-32), some of which are in Ukraine, and those in the “north and east” in Daniel 11:44, it would seem that Russia would be closer to at least parts of Ukraine (like some of the eastern portions of it) in the end than many realize. There is also a YouTube video available related to this titled Ukraine in Prophecy?)

Over in the USA, pundits are discussing their preliminary assessments of today’s midterm elections. Some hope that this means that the USA will turn more towards Republican positions, while others believe the election will likely lead to additional ‘gridlock.’ Notice two observations:

November 4, 2014

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the political landscape for this midterm election tilts against Senate Democrats. He compares the states Democrats are defending to the 1958 Republican losses during the presidency of Dwight Eisenhower.

“This is probably the worst possible group of states for Democrats since Dwight Eisenhower,” Obama told WNPR radio in Connecticut Tuesday, according to CNN.

“There are a lot of states that are being contested where they just tend to tilt Republican,” Obama said…

Obama’s assessment came on the same day Vice President Joe Biden predicted Democrats would lose seats but retain control of the Senate.

Of 10 contests considered toss-ups, seven are in states that Obama lost in 2012. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/04/obama-midterms-2014_n_6102728.html

November 4, 2014

The question of the day is, What difference will it make if Republicans take the Senate?

The backdrop is a highly polarized political environment. Regardless of whether it’s preferable for Congress to enact bipartisan laws, the moderates who produce them are so rare that only partisan legislation is likely to be considered. Getting such laws passed, though, requires that one party control not just the House and the Senate but also the White House. In a world where you need all three, having two as opposed to one doesn’t matter much.

The need for greater control is especially the case in the Senate, where at least 60 votes are generally required to get anything done. The Republicans, to be sure, could use a process called reconciliation to pass budget-related bills with just 51 votes, but even then the legislation is subject to a presidential veto, which takes 67 votes to overturn. And while it’s true that a noticeable number of Senate Democrats are moderates (and their ranks may swell a bit after today), their votes will not be so easy for Republicans to obtain and are probably not sufficient to assemble a veto-proof majority.

So anyone who expects a Senate shift to produce broad tax reform or immigration reform over the next two years is likely to be disappointed. Tax reform is easy to say and hard to do; immigration reform is slightly more plausible but still very unlikely in the polarized environment. So what might happen?

One bad scenario is another outbreak of fiscal drama. The U.S. economy seems to be recovering, despite headwinds from abroad, in part because, for the past year, lawmakers in Washington have not created needless uncertainty. Next spring, however, the debt limit, the doc fix and other fiscal cliffs will rear their ugly heads. …

Even without cliffs, fiscal issues will create tensions. The temporary budget deal that Democratic Senator Patty Murray and Republican Representative Paul Ryan shepherded through Congress last year alleviated pressure on the discretionary budget, but that pressure will come back in force in 2015 and 2016. The caps on both defense and non-defense spending will become increasingly difficult to meet as time marches on, especially since the Barack Obama administration and Congress have different spending priorities. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-11-04/a-new-do-nothing-congress

The elections will NOT fix the real problems in the USA (see also Voting and Christianity). The USA will have moral, budget, and financial problems. Eventually, they will be unmanageable and will lead into the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

Russia and Ukraine: 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? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian p
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? You can also see a YouTube video sermon The Gospel of the Kingdom.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2014, 2015, or 2016? 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 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fufilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Bible News Prophecy July-Sept. 2014: The Coming Eurasian Union Here is the latest magazine from the Continuing Church of God. The cover of which shows Vladimir Putin and features an article about the coming Eurasian Union.
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?
European Technology and the Beast of Revelation Will the coming European Beast power would use and develop technology that will result in the taking over of the USA and its Anglo-Saxon allies? Is this possible? What does the Bible teach? Here is a related YouTube video: Military Technology and the Beast of Revelation.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
World War III: Steps in Progress Are there surprising actions going on now that are leading to WWIII? Might a nuclear attack be expected? Does the Bible promise protection to all or only some Christians? How can you be part of those that will be protected? A related video would be Is World War III About to Begin? Can You Escape?
Wars, rumors of wars, and the Apocalypse Jesus foretold a time before the end where there would be wars and rumors of wars. The Apocalypse (the Book of Revelation) warns of the red horseman of war. Now, even secular writers, like Larry Edelson, are worried that wars and rumors of war are the most menacing problem that now haunts the earth? Are they right? What is the solution? This is a sermonette-length video.
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?
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?
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? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.