Feb 25
Growing Tension with Russia
The West's relationship with Russia has been steadily declining for the past several years. The brief respite both sides had from the Cold War has been replaced with a new competition that has Russia as the envious brother who is constantly trying to show up his
more accomplished sibling.
The two main sources of tension are Russia 's military saber-rattling and the Kremlin turning back the clock on political reforms.
Just this past week, Russia said it would have to adjust its military strategies if the United States deploys missile defense systems in eastern Europe. Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov said the strategic balance was at risk and it's important for Russia's national defense ministry to beef up military readiness and develop strategic nuclear forces. The General also noted that Russia did not intend to threaten other countries by sending its strategic bombers to resume long-range patrol over the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans.
I reported several times on a mountain of evidence showing how democracy in Russia is on the ropes. In recent days, Russia has clamped down on Human Rights Watch, refusing its executive director, Kenneth Roth, a visa to travel to Moscow following a 72-page report
on Russia 's suppression of free speech.
Kosovo was another source of conflict with the West. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, which is a traditional ally of Russia. Moscow 's envoy to NATO warned that Russia may have to rely on "brute military force" to earn respect on the world scene if all EU nations recognize Kosovo's independence and NATO oversteps its authority in Kosovo.
There is even tension in space. A successful missile strike on a rogue US spy satellite has been labeled by Russia as an attempt to militarize space and test an anti-satellite weapon. When I saw the satellite vaporize on CNN, I knew there would be the gritting of teeth in Moscow.
Not all the conflict has been with the U.S. and Europe. Russia even has strife with North Korea. This weekend, a Russian cargo ship was detained and boarded by armed coast guard agents in North Korean waters. The Lida Demesh, carrying a consignment of cars from Japan, was heading for the Russian port of Vladivostok when it was stopped by patrol near Cape Musudan. No reason was given for the search, but Russian sources said the ship may have gone too close to a missile test site.
Even the seemingly peaceful world of computer nerds has been unsettled by Russia. For the second time in a week, Russia has been named and shamed for its rising profile as a global malware hub. According to PC Tools, Russia now occupies the top spot as the source of viruses, Trojans and spyware. Most experts don't see Russia as actively trying to infect the rest of the world with malware. If there is a sin here, it is from a disregard of international responsibility.
All this tension that Moscow has with the rest of the world plays right into the end-time scenario. Russia wants to prove that it’s still a major world power, and the prophecy of Ezekiel 38 and 39 seems to point to a national leader who seeks to gain glory for the land of the far north.
In the past few years, Rapture Ready has been closely tracking the career of Vladimir Putin. He seems to be a perfect match for the Gog leader. One of the biggest factors that makes him stand out is how demonic delusion has blinded most people from realizing how much of a dictatorial ruler Putin has become.
Shortly before parliamentary elections, foremen fanned out across factories, pulling aside assembly-line workers and giving them an order: vote for President Vladimir Putin’s party or else. They were instructed to phone in after they left their polling places. Names would be tallied, defiance punished. Children were pressed into service. At schools, teachers handed out pamphlets promoting “Putin’s Plan” and told kids to lobby their parents. Some were threatened with bad grades if they failed to ensure that their parents would show up and vote for the ruling party. I don’t think Soviet communist leaders ever tried any stunts this bold.
Right now, the only thing needed is a crisis that will spark the Gog invasion. With most of the Arab land that surrounds Israel identified in some ways as an ally of Russia, I doubt it will be long before the Great Bear gets the call to come hither.
"And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel , as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes" (Ezek. 38:15-16).
-- Todd
Revelation 13 On Track
Global elitists continue their drive to bring all nation-states together into a one-world economy. National sovereignty must go by the wayside so that economic equity can be achieved. Stability can thus be brought to pass so peace will reign supreme throughout Planet Earth.
All of this, of course, is--from our pre-trib prophecy perspective--the constructing of the beast regime of Revelation, chapter 13.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) has weighed in on the need for moving away from national sovereignty and autonomy in monetary matters.
“The director of international economics at the Council on Foreign Relations has launched a scathing attack on sovereignty and national currencies. Benn Steil, writing in the current issue of CFR's influential Foreign Affairs magazine, says ‘the world needs to abandon unwanted currencies, replacing them with dollars, euros, and multinational currencies as yet unborn.’
In the article, ‘The End of National Currency,’ Steil clearly asserts the dollar and the euro are temporary currencies, perhaps necessary today. He argues ‘economic development outside the process of globalization is no longer possible.’…” (The New World Disorder, Goodbye U.S. dollar, hello global currency. CFR chief: Monetary nationalism, sovereignty should be abandoned, Posted: May 09, 2007, By Jerome R. Corsi, © 2008 WorldNetDaily.com).
It is more than merely interesting that the model for preparing for the transnational exchanges that will, the global elitists hope, eventuate in one-world economic order, recently was instituted in the area of the reviving Roman Empire.
I received an article, parts of which are excerpted here, that was clipped and sent to prophecy watchers by Alan Franklin. He is a British journalist and author/lecturer on the European Union and how that governing authority looks to be the heart of the beast system prophesied in the 13th chapter of Revelation.
Franklin said: “…this is a huge step towards a cashless society with a one world currency to follow - the SEPA programme launched by the European Central Bank…”.
He pasted the following article:
“[It is] A single currency--with a single set of payment instruments--in a single euro payments area. With SEPA, this becomes a reality. And we, as euro area citizens, will be able to make euro payments as cheaply, as easily and as safely as we do national payments. All euro payments will be ‘domestic’; finally, there will be no difference between sending a payment from Rome to Dublin or from Brussels to Antwerp. We can now make payments not only with euro notes and coins, but harmonised electronic payments by European credit transfer, direct debit and payment card as well.
An important milestone has been reached today with the launch of ‘SEPA Credit Transfer’. We are now able to send euro payments quickly, and in the same way, to any beneficiary in Europe.
This will be followed by 'SEPA Direct Debit' before the end of 2009. As a result, we will be able to make direct debit payments across Europe, as if no borders existed” (Speech by Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell, Member of the Executive Board of the ECB Launch event organised by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the European Payments Council Brussels, 28 January 2008, http://www.ecb.eu/press/key/date/2008/html/sp080128.en.html).
Considering developments involved with the North American Union (NAU), it is prudent to look at the EU implementation of this system of electronic funds transfer as a prototype for such a system lurking in wait for the North American continent. Such a system in its most virulent form will control all commerce on earth during the tribulation:
“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Rev. 13:16-18).
There seems, at only a cursory glance at news, that there is nothing to be concerned about with regard to Bible prophecy on the brink of bringing on tribulation. It is a strange, almost tranquil time, while all eyes seem to be on the presidential race and fascinated with the charismatic politician Barak Hussein Obama. It is as if nothing else of significance is going on that involves things to come.
In actuality, the circumstance couldn’t be more diametrically opposite than that perceived.
The peace process, with America and others pressuring Israel to give up even parts of Jerusalem; the Russian/Iranian axis forming; China growing and exerting economic, if not yet military, hegemony; the Church in an almost mesmerized state of euphoria with its stadium-sized congregations’ inward-turning, feel-good doctrines of devils –the stage is set for apocalypse.
It is just at a time like this, Jesus forewarned, He will come for believers: “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt. 24:44).
--Terry
