Cold War II is springing to life as Russia and the United States have spent the better part of a month trading barbs and quasi-threats. Russia even has a pair of top-of-the-line nuclear subs patrolling the east coast of the US for what is believed to be the first time in 15 years. This comes less than two weeks after VP Joe Biden assured the former Soviet republic of Georgia that the US would stand behind the nation in any further conflicts with Russia, who briefly invaded Georgia last year.
Tensions are further raised over missile defense plans. The US wants to put missile defense facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, a move that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev promises will result in Russian missiles being pointed at Europe. Further, Russia has vowed to counteract any US moves by placing weapons in space, a move long predicted by some prophecy scholars. (Note that these predictions are generally based on Revelation 12. While it is possible this could be a “double prophecy” and reference two events, I am of the opinion that one must take these verses out of context to conclude it is talking about “war in space” between human nations.)
Vladimir Putin, the insanely popular once and future President of Russia, is regarded by many to be a strong candidate to be Gog of Magog, or the prince of Rosh who launches World War III in Ezekiel 38-39. We know that these chapters are specific to Russia because actually cities in the country are named. For instance, Rosh is Hebrew for Russia, Meshech for Moscow, and Tubal of Tubalsk.
Russia will lead a Middle East confederation of nations against Israel (Ezekiel 38:15; Psalm 83:4-5), with Iran being its key sidekick (Ezekiel 38:5). The partnership between Russia and Iran is growing stronger, and the two nations are even holding joint military exercises, and Russia is refusing to back any sanctions against Iran for attempting to acquire nuclear technology.
As part of the opening salvo that begins World War III, this Russian led group will almost certainly attack the United States (Jeremiah 50-51) using missiles (Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:3, 11) launched during a sneak attack (Jeremiah 50:24; 51:12).
It is time once again to play, Does this mixture of headlines make any sense? As you read the following news items, remember that the embracing of sin (Jeremiah 50:14) coupled with the systematic removal of God (Jeremiah 50:29) will lead to catastrophic judgment upon the Western world (Jeremiah 50:28), including the United States (read Isaiah 18, Jeremiah 50-51, & Revelation 18 for an in-depth picture).
Group one–pro sin:
Group two–anti-God:
Group three–just to think about:
A quick look at some news from the realm of state-sponsored and promoted “alternative lifestyles” in the United States and UK:
This last story provides a good jumping off point to see how Christianity is being treated by these same governments. In addition to the aforementioned snub in the so-called “hate crimes” laws, these stories also come from the UK and USA:
- Doctors in the UK face disciplinary sanctions for praying with patients, even when done at the patients request.
- The US Navy has ordered a support group for moms of sailors to drop “Christian” from its official title.
- The government run BBC is under fire for supporting and promoting Islam while attacking Christianity.
- A Judge has barred Christians from passing out tracts on public land in Dearborn, Michigan, a city with over 30,000 Muslim residents.
- The New York City Council has passed a resolution calling for Muslim holidays to be observed by government schools. This would include days off from school and teaching on what the holidays represent to the Muslim community. Of course, it is “illegal” to teach what Christian holidays mean.
- In California, administrators from government run schools have banned pro-life T-shirts that depict growing fetuses in the womb. The same pictures on the shirt appear in the textbooks, just not linked to life.
- For the first time in 40 years, the Air Force has denied a flyover request by the God and Country Family Festival, held in Nampa, Idaho. It is now deemed “too religious.”
The government promotion of sin (Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:24) and removal of Christianity (Jeremiah 50:11, 24, 29-32) are the two reasons given by Scripture for the coming catastrophic judgment against the West (Jeremiah 50:13, 26, 32; 51:8, 9, 29, 43; Revelation 18:8-10, 15-19).
In response to the United States tracking of the suspected North Korean weapons-transporting ship, North Korea now threatens to wipe the United States off the map.
North Korea threatened Wednesday to wipe the United States off the map as Washington and its allies watched for signs the regime will launch a series of missiles in the coming days.
Off China’s coast, a U.S. destroyer was tailing a North Korean ship suspected of transporting illicit weapons to Myanmar in what could be the first test of U.N. sanctions passed to punish the nation for an underground nuclear test last month.
The Kang Nam left the North Korean port of Nampo a week ago with the USS John S. McCain close behind. The ship, accused of transporting banned goods in the past, is believed bound for Myanmar, according to South Korean and U.S. officials.
The new U.N. Security Council resolution requires member states to seek permission to inspect suspicious cargo. North Korea has said it would consider interception a declaration of war and on Wednesday accused the U.S. of seeking to provoke another Korean War.
“If the U.S. imperialists start another war, the army and people of Korea will … wipe out the aggressors on the globe once and for all,” the official Korean Central News Agency said.
Like Iran’s declarations against Israel, North Korea’s threats to the United States are not idle. They fully intend to partake in the utter destruction of the United States. Sadly, I believe America will be judged and it might be outlined in Scripture. The Bible shows a political power that will be destroyed by missiles (Jeremiah 50:14, 29; 51:3, 11) launched during a sneak attack (Jeremiah 51:11, 28) by the Russian-led coalition (Jeremiah 50:9, 41; 51:48). While North Korea will take part in the second-half of the Middle East invasion (Revelation 16:12), it is unknown if they will launch nuclear weapons toward the United States, since the Bible appears to indicate such arrows will come over the North Pole (shot by Russia, Jeremiah 50:14).
I do not talk about this topic too much because most of the “real” persecution of believers does not begin until after the start of the Tribulation, when saints will be beheaded for converting to Christianity (Revelation 20:4). And while we have it easy in the United States, facing only the occasional discrimination, Christians in other parts of the world face death on a daily basis for their faith. Just so we don’t lose sight of what is starting to take place, here is a sampling of headlines from the past week. All except for the first one comes from the United States:
There will come a time when all the Christians and Jews from around the world will face death at the hands of the Antichrist (Daniel 7:21; Matthew 24:9; Revelation 13:7, 20:4; Mark 13:9, plus many others). Stunningly, many will die after being reported to the authorities by their own spouses, parents, children, and siblings (Mark 13:12-13; Luke 21:16). That notion becomes very believable when one reads the headlines and realizes that the natural love among families is eroding away. In the past few days we have seen a slew of horrific stories to this affect, such as the mother who broadcast the sexual assault of her 5-year old daughter live on the Internet, and the mom who set her daughter on fire in a voodoo ritual.
Specifically to the United States, America will continue to remove God from society (Isaiah 18:2, 7; Jeremiah 50:11, 24, 29, 31, 32). As with every nation that follows a like path, this will cause God to reign holy judgment upon the land (Jeremiah 50:14, 28, 29; 51:24).
