We have been speculating over whether Russia’s worrying military manoeuvres could be a dress rehearsal for Armageddon (Rev 16:16).
Without wishing to exaggerate the threat, we do need to brace ourselves for the possibility of a wider conflict as reports come in of shells terrifying the residents of Kyiv.
Russia is evidently seeking to restore the ‘glory’ of her former empire, with Putin seeing himself as a potential emperor, which is as dangerous for him as for the rest of us, because “the ruler of God’s creation” – our Lord Jesus (Rev 3:14) – “brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing” (Isa 40:23). They are here today and gone tomorrow – uprooted while still young saplings (see the very next verse of the Isaiah passage just quoted).
Russia’s other interests
The horrendous invasion of Ukraine, complicated by the fact that Russian-backed rebels have been involved in a civil war there, means that few will notice Russia’s operations in the Middle East where, the Bible tells us, the final great battle between good and evil forces will take place.
Reports have emerged of a massive array of Russian land, sea and air weaponry being deployed in Syria and off its coastline, ostensibly for the launching of a Russian ‘naval exercise’ – the biggest by far since the end of the Cold War.1
Russia meanwhile continues to back Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, who is allowing the Iranian military to establish a foothold in a country bordering Israel. I also read that MI6 are “actively focused” on Iran, noting that the Iranian leadership has “embraced an explicit doctrine of conflict with both Israel and the West”.2
For all his protestations of being a Christian, almost alone among national leaders in his opposition to wokery, Vladimir Putin is a staunch ally of a fundamentalist Islamic state, ruled by fanatical ayatollahs.
Well, we have known that for some time, but the West has yet to take the Iranian threat seriously, continuing to soft-pedal with a rogue regime, set on producing a nuclear weapon, in ways that recall efforts to appease Hitler in the run-up to World War II. How many of us are aware of the collaboration of Islamic mullahs with the Nazi leader?
Putin an ally of Iran
What we do need to seriously embrace is the reality that, for all his protestations of being a Christian, almost alone among national leaders in his opposition to wokery, Vladimir Putin is a staunch ally of a fundamentalist Islamic state, ruled by fanatical ayatollahs, who, along with persecuting Christians, have repeatedly threatened to wipe Israel off the map. (It is also worth noting, in this respect, that Ukraine has a significant Jewish population, including Messianic believers).
Understandably, the Israeli Defence Force has launched several successful strikes on Syrian-based Iranian military targets. Only days ago, Moscow warned Israel that further action of this kind would lead to a ‘sharp escalation’ of conflict in the region.
Although aware of the need to maintain their current reasonably friendly relations with Russia, Israel also knows that they can’t afford to allow sworn enemies to continue building up a presence on their northern border.
As for the final great battle we have been discussing, where does the Bible say it will be fought? Armageddon. Centred on the town of Megiddo, it’s a vast plain in the north of Israel where many previous battles have taken place.
Lessons from past world wars
As we have noted, the present crisis could widen into a major armed conflict. But remember how the two World Wars of the last century, involving the rise and fall of empires amidst efforts to hold or gain fresh territory, were ultimately about Israel.
World War I paved the way for the return of the Jewish people to their ancient land in fulfilment of a raft of Old Testament prophecies. I have recently referred to the miraculous way in which Jerusalem was taken by the Allies on December 9th 1917, signalling the collapse after 400 years of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and in the process ending “the times of the Gentiles” to which Jesus referred (Luke 21:24).
World War II, which included the satanic mass slaughter of European Jews, also paved the way for the miraculous rebirth of Israel just three years after the conflict ended, fulfilling Ezekiel’s prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezek 37).
God is on the throne, and his ways are perfect. As my South African compatriot and Israel Today colleague Stan Goodenough put it, Israel and the Jews are as central to current events as the eye of a hurricane is to the storm.3
Jesus’ reign is coming
We need to see the bigger picture or, more importantly, heaven’s perspective which, for Bible believers, is seen from the vantage-point of Jerusalem, the mountain of the Lord (Ps 48:1).
Put your trust in Jesus, not in the swaggering princes who boastfully strut the global stage.
Jesus is coming to reign on earth, but his ultimate enemy will gather armies together in a desperate, but vain, attempt to stop that happening.
Efforts to seek world domination will in the end come to naught, because it will mean contending with Jesus himself, “the ruler of God’s creation”, and Israel, the “apple of his eye” (Zech 2:8).
Put your trust in Jesus, not in the swaggering princes who boastfully strut the global stage. He’s got the whole world in his hands – including you. So do not fear; the Lord is near.
1Ukraine, and why it is always about Israel, Israel Today, February 18th 2022
Also Russia sends warplanes to Syria for huge naval drills in Med - ABC News (go.com)
2Ibid
3Ibid
