Putin crosses a line – bans Russians from preaching the Gospel outside churches. Here’s the latest.

This comes with today’s news of Russia becoming the first world power outside the Middle-East to recognise and take military action against the trans-national Islamist peril (Debkafile Russian anti-Isis war from Syria to Caucasus).

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

Putin-doorway-Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin has just crossed a very dangerous line. He has just signed a law making it illegal for Russian followers of Jesus Christ to share or preach the Gospel anywhere outside the walls of their church, or even email their family and friends to invite them to church. What’s more, he has done so under the guise of preventing “terrorism.”

As I have been warning for a decade (see here, here, hereand in my 2006 book, Epicenter), Putin — who is fashioning himself as a rising Czar — is an increasingly dangerous despot. He continues to centralize government power and control to himself. He is trampling over human rights, the media, and NGOs. He is rebuilding the Russian military. He has invaded neighboring Georgia and Ukraine. He is arming and building alliances with Radical Islamic countries, particularly Iran.

Now, Putin is positioning himself as an enemy of Christ and His Church. If he doesn’t not…

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4 Signposts perspective: Russia’s withdrawal from Syria

Mark Davidson’s analysis of this in the light of Daniel 8 is noteworthy, keeping in mind the ‘Gog-Magog’ alliance of Ezekiel 38. Debkafile claims last month’s rift between Tehran and Moscow is because of the latter’s collaboration with USA to end the conflict whereas Iran wants hostilities to continue. Their report shows Russia wants to keep its paw in the door. Also, in view of Putin’s disingenuous claims to pull troops out of Ukraine, “which later turned out to be merely routine rotation of forces”, UK’s Foreign Secretary is sceptical, saying “Russia is completely un-transparent about its motives and its plans, (so) we can only speculate.” (Brietbart) UPDATE 16/3: Russia keeping its S-400 anti-aircraft missiles (withheld from Iran at Israel’s request) in Syria until Saudi warplane build-up in Turkey is reversed (Debka Exclusive). So keep watching…

Mark Davidson's avatarTHE FOUR SIGNPOSTS

The news came out today that Putin is withdrawing the main part of Russian forces from Syria. It will maintain the airbase and naval base, but most of the fighter aircraft used in airstrikes and the support forces for those fighters, are being withdrawn. Putin said that the mission is completed.

Russian fighters sit on the tarmac at Hmeimim Airbase near Latakia. Russian fighters sit on the tarmac at Hmeimim Airbase near Latakia.

For those who still cling to the idea that Russia will have a major role in the Middle East during the end times, this would seem like a reversal of what is “supposed to happen.” But for the Signposts, and particularly the Second Signpost, everything continues on course.

Iran needs Assad to stay in power, so that its Shia militants and IRGC can more easily flow men and materiel between the Mediterranean coast and Iran. Before the Russians arrived, Assad was almost on his way out. The…

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News alert: Israel extremely nervous over Russian ops in Golan area

Eschatological events continue to accelerate with this news just out from Debkafile.

Monday’s conspicuous goodwill between PM Netanyahu and President Putin at the Paris climate summit may possibly have soured by Tuesday because a meeting of senior military officers convened to discuss the two army commands’ cooperation wasn’t held. So far, this cooperation has averted clashes between Israeli air force and Russian warplanes over Syria.

The Special Report states,

‘Debkafile’s military sources report that this week, the show of optimism is giving way to an uneasy sensation in the offices of the prime minister, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and the IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gady. They suspect an ulterior motive behind Russia’s military movements in southern Syria, especially its air strikes against Syrian rebels, just across from Israel’s Golan border….’ (continue reading here).

Intercessors may wish to note the finer details of this informative Report. It concludes by noting,

‘Officials in Jerusalem point out that the threat to Golan peaked just hours after the Russian leader met the prime minister in Paris. Putin is conducting a hands-on policy on Syria and keeps close track of the slightest occurrence on the battlefield. He must have been perfectly aware of the state of play on the Golan when he met Netanyahu, but nonetheless kept it out of their conversation.’

The earlier reference to a possible ulterior motive made me recall Tony Puccio’s recent comment on my 2-part post on Paris regarding his dream of October 2014 about Betrayal, viz:

“I had a dream 10/21/2014 where I saw what I believe to be   leaders of nations gathered around a table. Putin stood out as a prominent figure in the dream and it seemed that a peace treaty was being signed by the various nations with Russia. I saw Putin sign with his right hand and then I saw that in his left hand, which was behind his back, he was holding a large dagger. A dagger from what I have come to know almost always indicates a betrayal, or, as the saying goes, a knife in the back. I did not get a sense of the nations that were involved, only Russia stood out.”

Is Obama complicit in the persecution of Christians?

The claims made by Lord George Weidenfeld about president Obama’s inept Middle-East policy only gloss the surface of what a multitude of highly informed experts have been continually saying – including Russian president Putin, as below!.

It’s notable, for example, that on the very same day that interview was broadcast one expert (who warned of the likelihood of the 9/11 atrocity) published his ‘One-Minute Guide’ on POTUS’ foreign policy.

That and this peer’s preference to assist Iraqi and Syrian Christians escape barbarity, deserve deeper consideration in the light of recent events.

Without writing in depth on this I’d refer anyone who’s interested to read the following by Raymond Ibrahim, a few of whose writings I’ve reposted here on this blog. The last of these is on the US’ policy of preventing Christian testimony of persecution. So let me direct you to some of his latest on our matter-in-hand:

Putin admonishes Obama Continue reading

Update on the ‘Ezekiel Alliance’

World Watch Daily has a couple of leading headlines that could have been taken from 38th chapter of the prophetical book of Ezekiel. Quoting from Jerusalem Post, the lead headline says it all:

Netanyahu, Putin sharply divided over Iran nuclear deal

The article opens: ‘Significant divisions over Iran were on clear display in the Kremlin on Wednesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin issued statements after nearly two hours of meetings…’ (Photo below June 2012)

The second headline from William Koenig’s team in The White House quotes The Tmes of Israel and opens as shown below:

France says Iran comments on Israel complicate nuke talks

‘Ayatollah calls Israel ‘rabid dog,’ drawing harsh response from Paris as new round of negotiations begin. The French government spokeswoman says President Francois Hollande believes comments by Iran’s supreme leader about Israel are “unacceptable” and complicate talks between world powers and the Islamic regime over its nuclear program…’

Developments

Further to last Thursday’s post about US  appeasement of Iran in Geneva (here), the following links bring detailed news and opinion on developments:

Special Report Tuesday states four new Iranian conditions may block nuclear accord and reveals (emphases added),

…That the radicals are calling the shots in Tehran was obvious to every Iranian from the large blow-ups of the intransigent ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad adorning Tehran newspapers in the last couple of days. President Hassan Rouhani may be elected president, but his campaign of smiles to the West has been superseded by the radical nuclear line espoused by the man he defeated at the polls.  Ahmadinejad is riding high again in Tehran.

According to Debkafile there’s, ‘a strange paradox of two leaders, Ayatollah Khamenei and Prime Minister Netanyahu, who are implacable adversaries in all else, maneuvering (sic) with all their might for the same object of taking the wind out of the sails of a potential nuclear deal between the six powers and Iran.
Khamenei is confident he can bring President Obama to heel and force him to live with key elements of Iran’s nuclear bomb program. Israel wants that program brought a lot closer to its dismantlement by tougher sanctions. He is seconded in this demand by France in public statements by its president Francois Hollande, and Saudi Arabia, which prefers not to admit to supporting the Israeli campaign….’

Their latest Exclusive Report claims that today,

The Iranian negotiators face the delegations of six world powers in Geneva Thursday, Nov. 21, with strict orders not to give ground on the two major sticking points holding up a first-step deal on their nuclear program: The heavy water reactor under construction at Arak for producing plutonium and Iran’s “right” to uranium enrichment. If Iran gains those two points, whatever concessions its negotiators may come up with are worthless, because they will leave Tehran in possession of two optional nuclear weaponizing tracks instead of one – plutonium as well as enriched uranium.

Debka states Tehran is fighting tooth and nail for Six-Power acknowledgement of its “right to enrich uranium” so Iran can come away with a “historic feat”. This will show the Iranian people that economic hardship suffered under economic sanctions was worth while.

BUT, existing infrastructure would enable Iran to top-up enriched uranium stockpiles to the amount needed for five nuclear bombs in less than 4 weeks! AND a second option of plutonium would also be available when the Arak reactor is finished! Can the Iranians be trusted? Debka then asks,

…what compromise can be expected when Washington failed to challenge Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s avowal on Day One of the Geneva talks that Iran will not step back “one iota” from its nuclear rights, and his grotesquely barbaric rant against Israel as “the roguish, filthy, rabid dog of the region,” whose regime is “doomed to extinction?”

This degraded language, not heard since the Nazi German era, informed the Obama administration in the harshest terms that for the sake of a deal, Iran will not give an inch under pressure, whether from economic sanctions or from Israel and parts of the American Jewish leadership.

Debka states, ‘Khamenei also blasted US government as unworthy of trust. If…Obama was serious in his often repeated commitment to Israel’s security, he ought to have protested in some way against Khamenei’s unspeakable rhetoric, possibly even delaying the proceedings before they started their second day in Geneva. But the Iranian leader apparently got away with it, judging from the Obama administration’s mild response…’

How peculiar that not only Iran’s tip leader, but also those of Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt (and more) are all in agreement about the superpower that was, for decades, top-dog in the Middle East?  What’s the reason for this change? Could it be because America’s leaders have rejected the God and Jesus Christ, as their president did in his first inauguration by declaring the USA has never been a Christian nation (as here).

I recommend my readers use the above links to learn the rationale behind these claims. It reminds me of the great heavenly conflict with the demonic ‘Prince of Persia’, of which the prophet Daniel was informed by angelic messenger during deep intercession. (See Daniel 10:12, courtesy BibleGateway.com)

Conclusion

These serious matters are simply one demonstration of the Bible’s complete relevance for today. That is, it accurately forewarns of this dangerous situation for the Middle East and world peace.

Putin to visit Iran for first time in six years. Historic trip will raise renewed interest in the “Gog & Magog” prophecies.

RJBI’d like to draw your attention to Joel’s analysis of the meaning of this historic visit. Read also what former British Ambassador Charles Crawford writes about ‘the mother of all messes’ President Obama has caused over Syria. You may wish to check my previous posts about the Ezekiel 38 Alliance and remarks covering Joel’s recent post on Yom Kippur.

joelcrosenberg's avatarJoel C. Rosenberg's Blog

(Dallas, Texas) — “Vladimir Putin has accepted an Iranian invitation to visit the country and meet with newly elected President Hasan Rouhani, a spokesman for the Russian president confirmed,” reports the Times of Israel.

“Putin has been invited to Iran, and he will certainly take advantage of this kind invitation,” the Interfax news agency quoted spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday. “The dates of the visit will be agreed upon through diplomatic channels.”

“The announcement came on the heels of a report that Russia had agreed to sell to Iran the advanced S-300 air defense system and construct a new nuclear reactor at the Bushehr site,” the Times noted. “Putin met with Rouhani on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on Friday. During the meeting, Rouhani extended an invitation to Putin, who accepted, the Iranian semi-official Fars news agency reported. In July, there were reports

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Breaking news on Ezekiel 38 alliance

EXTRACT from two pre-blog emails (as in ‘About’):

FASCINATING how the Bible continues to be relevant for today!

If you’re familiar with Ezekiel 38 then maybe you’ve wondered if it relates to current events and what would come out of the melting pot – maybe the outcome would be different to what the holy prophet wrote? This could be inferred from the recent change in Turkey’s position regarding Israel, but there’s a good likelihood that’s only a temporary expedient in view of the existing close ties to Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s been secretly beavering away to produce nuclear weapons, as you may recall from William Hague’s announcement a fortnight ago. Here’s what DebkaFile wrote about Russian involvement, and gave our gov’t some credit:

Conspiracy Of Silence Over Four Iranian Nuclear-Capable Missile Tests

In early October 2010, Russian intelligence learned that Iran was about to begin test launches of missiles for carrying nuclear warheads. They reported this to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. He then took three steps: He conveyed the information to US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and bound them to secrecy. With their pledges in hand, he used backdoor intelligence channels to persuade Tehran to refrain from bragging about its dramatic progress and keep the tests of the nuclear-capable missiles quiet in order to avert a world outcry against the violation of all their international commitments.

The Iranians bought the deal. In this way, the Russian leader raised a wall of silence around Iran’s advances towards ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and pre-empted condemnations, Security Council action, and other forms of American, European and Israeli action for keeping a nuclear bomb out of Iranian hands. This was the last straw – at least for the British government. Hague, in consultation with Prime Minister David Cameron, went public about what Iran was really up to with a statement to parliament.

[My emphases; 30 June report archived at http://www.debka.com/article/21076/ ]

Also, this morning’s on-line Jerusalem Post reports –

Russia Lays Out ‘Step-By-Step’ Approach On Iran – WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) – Russia on Wednesday laid out a “step-by-step” approach under which Iran could address questions about its nuclear program and be rewarded with a gradual easing of sanctions…The target is to hold the talks in Moscow the week of July 25, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Isn’t it fascinating that all four participants of the Ezekiel 38 alliance are intimately and concurrently involved in scripturally significant events?

Are the prophesied pieces of an ‘invisible jigsaw’ beginning to fall into place?

YET far better is the wonderful news of the Lord appearing to many in these areas, particularly in Turkey AND IRAN…more on this another time.

May He continue to bless you and keep you

Richard

Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2011 6:24 PM Subject: Re: Rewind re. Turkey

Hold on, back to square one? Well not quite…

Despite relatively welcome news in last weeks’ update, whilst tapping out its close I had reservations over the long-term likelihood of matters improving between Turkey and Israel. This is because the Ezekiel 38 alliance is not ancient but modern, as may be inferred from activities between Russia, Iran, Libya and Turkey. The last, with Syria, embraces the region of the ancient peoples of Meshech, Tubal, Gomer and Togmarah….

Now, Turkey’s PM Erdogan has stopped the reconciliation because the UN inquiry into those events has ruled favourably upon the legality of Israel’s blockade…Recriminations ensued but Western diplomats believe this won’t stop the two countries working together. Perhaps because Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama are hoping to pull off an Israeli-Palestinian summit in Paris for 2nd Sept? However, this important development depends upon concluding the Libyan war! (…archived report at http://www.debka.com/article/21091/) …