Apr 30
Putin: The Reluctant Caesar
Last fall I was going to write an article about my growing suspicion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was becoming an authoritative ruler, and how he may be a match to the Gog leader of Ezekiel 38 and 39. I decided to not do the article because of Putin's insistence that he planned to step down in 2008.
Putin has repeatedly pledged that he would not try to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.
Speaking to journalists in Moscow , he said Russia needed stability, and the best way to ensure that was by leaving the
constitution unchanged.
Some critics are comparing Putin to Julius Caesar, who, according to legend, pretended to turn down the crown three times before reluctantly surrendering to the will of the people. We may be witnessing the type of theatrical skill that would make William Shakespeare proud.
Mark Antony:
“... You all did see that at the Lupercal
I thrice presented him a kingly crown
Which he did thrice refuse: was this ambition? ...”
Julius Caesar Act 3 Scene II
Putin's hesitancy has certainly endeared him to the Russian people. Sixty-five per cent of his countrymen would like the incumbent President Vladimir Putin to serve a third term in office. Around a quarter of the population would be happy to
see him serve a life term.
It could be that the old boy has had his fill of public service, and he wants to retire to his dacha in the countryside. What
makes people question his sincerity about quietly riding off into the sunset is the tight control he has over the
government. The whole time Putin has been in office, he has greatly turned back the clock on nearly every democratic
reform.
His refusal to suggest a successor has only fueled speculation that he seeks to remain in power behind the scenes.
It seems odd that someone could be so ruthless in the consolidation of power, and then be so neglectful when the time comes
to choose a replacement for himself.
The wholesale takeover of nearly every major media outlet in Russia makes me very doubtful of Putin's commitment to democracy. One by one, television, radio, and print publications have come under state control. The three national television networks are all Kremlin directed. Many of the remaining so-called independent media outlets have been bought up by Gazprom, the state national gas company. The only evidence of free press that's left is the operation of a few small-circulation newspapers.
The desire to control all the media has even reached down to the level of the Internet. Parliament passed a measure banning
“extremism” in politics, and prosecutors have gone after individuals who post critical comments on web chat rooms.
The takeover of the Russian media has not been a slow and silent process. May people who stood in Putin's way have been
neutralized. The owners of many media companies who were foolish enough to resist Putin have been systematically charged with crimes and have had their assets taken from them.
Last week, the Kremlin really showed its hand when managers for the Russian News Service told journalists that from now on, at least 50 percent of the reports about Russia must be “positive.” In addition, opposition leaders could not be mentioned on the air and the United States was to be portrayed as an enemy.
It does seem sad that Russia has gone full circle, returning to its darker past. I think there was a divine reason for
this 20-year cycle. The brief period of freedom in Russia allowed for the departure of the Jews.
Prophecy-minded Christians have quickly forgotten about the great Jewish exodus that occurred right after the demise of the
Soviet Empire.
I believe the Bible even makes mention of this event: “Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no
more be said, the LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt ; but, the LORD liveth, that
brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north..." (Jer. 16:14-15).
Now that the predictions of the northern exodus have been fulfilled, we could be seeing the prophetic time line move towards the fulfillment of the Ezekiel 38 and 39--the Russian - Arab invasion of Israel. Only the Lord knows whether Putin will play an active role in end-time prophecy. It would be very interesting if Putin reluctantly decides to stay on for a third term, but even if he does decide to bow out, he already has done much to set the stage for the Gog invasion.
"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
End-of-Days Scenarios Part 9
Damascus lies in nuclear rubble, completely cut off from ever becoming a city again. The major jihadist terrorist heads were cut off in Israel’s pre-emptive
strike. But, the collective wrath of the rest of the world’s nations –led by the U.N. Israel-haters, surround the tiny Jewish state, figuratively, at least.
The Islamic hordes of every stripe are in full rage. The battle cries scream from every media and diplomatic venue, as well as in the streets of Europe
and other nations where Islam’s populations have grown exponentially.
Israel’s leadership --particularly the military leadership—know that it is fight or die as a nation, as a people.
But, just as the Samson Option is about to be invoked (bringing the house of Israel and all of its enemies down with nuclear holocaust), a man from
the EU steps from among his fellows, speaking great things of the diplomatic sort.
“And of the ten horns that [were] in his head, and [of] the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even [of] that horn that had eyes, and a mouth
that spake very great things, whose look [was] more stout than his fellows” (Dan. 7:20).
This European leader tells Israel that he is their friend. Almost the only friend they have among the voices of the U.N. and the newly developed superstate,
thanks to the rapture of the Church, and America coming under the European umbrella, bringing with it the most powerful and sophisticated nuclear weapons
arsenal on the planet.
He may be but one voice, but what a voice! No one would dare to make war with this man, who commands such awesome might. As a matter of fact, this man will one day be worshipped as a god. But not quite yet.
"And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who [is] like unto the beast? who is able to make
war with him?” (Rev. 13:4).
This leader promises Israel that he, personally, will guarantee they are not attacked, and that they are accepted by other leaders of the nations now threatening
an all-out assault on the Jewish state.
He will begin with his wondrous works of convincing all the mesmerized world that he is the man of the hour. He is the ultimate negotiator –the great,
longed-for peacemaker.
He even promises Israel they can build a Temple on the most sacred spot to religious Jews–atop Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount.
But, in exchange, Israel must agree to put down all of its defense, especially its great nuclear arsenal. Israel must agree to rely totally on him to be
their national protector, their savior. They once rejected their true Messiah, but will readily accept this great leader’s overtures of peace. Jesus prophesied about this: “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive” (Jn. 5:43).
Although Israel and the world have been forewarned, this proud, arrogant, nefariously ambitious man will invoke his peace. It will–ultimately-- produce
catastrophic results.
However, he will appear at first to be a miracle worker of unprecedented magnitude: "And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify [himself] in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many…” (Dan. 8:25).
He is called the man of sin, the son of perdition, Antichrist, the beast, the king of fierce countenance, the prince that shall come, and other names. But,
interestingly, he is called “the Assyrian.”
I recommend that you get a book by my great friend, Phillip Goodman, The Assyrian Connection, to read about the Bible’s reference to this man. He and Antichrist seem to be one and the same in terms of considering the future tyrant that is referred to as the beast most prominently in Revelation, chapter 13.
Antichrist, though coming out of the geographic area of the ancient Roman Empire, based upon Daniel 9:26-27, will nonetheless be of Middle Eastern extraction.
I will let you read Phillip’s much-studied thoughts on the whys and wherefores surrounding this postulation, but suffice it to say that –in my view, at
least—the following prophecy seems to reference, to some extent, the beast’s ethnic origin: "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all" (Dan. 11:37).
Who is this “God of his fathers?” If this most terrible tyrant of history is Assyrian, based upon ethnic and/or religious history considerations, the “god” referred to might be the “god” of Islam. However, the “God of his fathers” could refer to God Jehovah, Abraham, and Abraham’s predecessors. The God of Heaven. The use of the capital G in God makes it almost certain that this refers to the one, true God.
He rejects the true God of Heaven. (And, I don’t mean that he will be a Jew. Abraham –and Abraham’s fathers before that great patriarch—sired many, many people who are not Jewish. The whole of the Arab nations, for example, have Abraham as their Gentile father-progenitor.
This man, the son of perdition, who stands above all others of like mind –to rule the world, by hook or by crook— is out of the geographical area that comprised the old Roman Empire. While he is a prince who comes forth out of territories encompassed by the ancient Roman Empire, his ethnic origin is from people (his fathers) of Middle Eastern extraction.
He honors the “god of forces.” This is a most interesting proposition. And, there are other fascinating factors and considerations in pursuing this line of conjecture.
But, that will have to await next week’s space allowances in the Nearing Midnight commentary section.
--Terry
To get a copy of The Assyrian Connection by Phillip Goodman, call toll-free 1-888-835-1922.
Or go to:
http://www.prophecywatch.com/ProphecyWatchBooks.htm
