We have recently seen that the Russians are firing artillery across the border from Russia into Ukraine. It looks like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is no longer being hidden.  Mr. Putin plainly has great, and I believe, global ambitions. Today, Ukraine, tomorrow, Israel and the world.

God knows the future. This is why Bible prophecy needs to be considered when evaluating current world issues and events.  In recent articles I have explained how Russia will have Israel in their sights for conquest. Israel is the prize! But God will see to it that His people, the Jews, and His nation, Israel will never be destroyed. For over a century, and especially since the re-establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, God has been restoring the Jews to their land.  God has been calling the Jews back from foreign countries where they have been scattered for centuries. This is definitely a sign that the end times are upon us!

Vladimir Putin does not realize that he is being directed by demonic forces! He will never stop his advance into Ukraine. From there he (or a future Russian leader) will eventually head south, along with Iran and other Islamic nations who are hateful toward Israel with the hopes of destroying God’s covenant people. This is all part of the behind the scenes planning on the part of nations that plot against Israel! In the public eye, they may seem cordial or helpful toward the Jews, yet covertly, they have other designs for God’s covenant nation. (See Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39)

Psalm 2 is a prophecy as to the continual plotting of Israel’s enemies for their destruction.  It shows that they themselves will be destroyed by God’s judgment because, as they fight against Israel and God’s people, they fight against God and His Son, Jesus Christ as well.  Jesus Christ, will return and establish His throne in Zion.  That is:  Jerusalem!  He will rule the entire earth from there after He returns visibly to the earth.  Read what Psalm 2 says:

Why are the nations in an uproar
            And the peoples devising a vain thing?

      The kings of the earth take their stand
            And the rulers take counsel together
            Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,

      “Let us tear their fetters apart
            And cast away their cords from us!”

      He who sits in the heavens laughs,
            The Lord scoffs at them.

      Then He will speak to them in His anger
            And terrify them in His fury, saying,

      “But as for Me, I have installed My King
            Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

      “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
            He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
            Today I have begotten You.

      ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
            And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.

      ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
            You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

      Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
            Take warning, O judges of the earth.

      Worship the LORD with reverence
            And rejoice with trembling.

      Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
            For His wrath may soon be kindled. (NASB)

As Putin’s  forces fire upon military positions within Ukraine from Russia, and as persecution of Jews continues in Ukraine, God sees this and God will act! Psalm 94:9-11 says:

He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?

He that chastiseth (disciplines) the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?

The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, THAT THEY ARE VANITY. (NASB)

Growing numbers of Jews are seeking to flee Ukraine and fly to Israel.  We see, however, that through this very persecution and threatening of the Jews will come a real strengthening of Israel!  In fact, the more rockets Hamas fires into Israel, the greater their resolve and desire to defend themselves at any cost.  The demonic spirit of Adolf Hitler, and the Nazis is very much alive through organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah today.  But the Holy Spirit of the God of Israel is far greater, and He will not be defeated!

 Putin’s persecution of Jews in Ukraine, and those of the followers of Muhammad in lands that have declared themselves to be the enemies of the Jews,  have actually declared war against the God of the Bible!  But the Lord has declared His verdict: The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity!”  (Psalm 98:11)

I believe that we are right at the time when the world will witness the sudden disappearance of millions who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their crucified and resurrected Savior.  The Bible does not tells us the day this will occur, but it is clear that Jesus Christ will return in the air to snatch away all believers off of the earth suddenly and to the surprise of the entire world!  The Bible clearly predicts this magnificent and epochal  event of the rapture:

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain SHALL BE CAUGHT UP together with them in the clouds, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words (1Thessalonians 4;13-18)

No wonder so many religions and religious leaders fear the Bible!  It is no surprise that ISIS wants to get rid of churches and Christians in Iraq.  They, and leaders of other false religions and cults, fear the truth of the God of the Bible who loves the world and sent His only Son to die on the cross for us. (John 3:16)  They know that to simply and thoroughly read and study the Bible will result in people placing their faith in Jesus Christ and hurriedly departing their old false religions.  They are afraid that they will find new life and new hope by the millions from among those who are now in bondage to false gods and false works for salvation.

Yet the Bible clearly shows that God is righteous and He will strike at any nation that strikes against, or plots against His people, whether Israel or the Church.  The ISIS terrorists in Iraq, who now purpose to bring more horrors upon the poor women of that desecrated and neglected country, are so blinded with hatred and lust for blood and power that they do not even know that their activities will bring horrible future and eternal judgment upon them. The God of the Bible does see and He does know, and He will judge.

But God, through Jesus Christ, His Son still wants to save!  God says through the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isaiah 59:1)  Paul said in Romans 12:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Vain leaders like Putin, Hamas, ISIS, al-Qaeda and others today, should not distract us from the truth that the God of the Bible will win the victory!  He will completely rout the enemies of His people! Rest assured,  Second Coming of Jesus Christ is at hand! (Read Matthew 24-25)