END TIMES PROPHECY

(Written by Todd Strandberg)
Russian anti-terror troops are now on the ground in Syria. Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged that the navy's Iman oil tanker arrived at the Syrian port of Tartus. Their official mission is to assist Russian navy ships on anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden and “for demonstrating the Russian presence in the turbulent region and possible evacuation of Russian citizens."

Russia has supported many of Israel's enemies with weapons, but it has never directly involved its soldiers on the ground. "This is the first time in modern history that Russia directly intervenes on the ground in the Middle East,” said Abdul Rahman, manager of the Al-Arabiya news channel. “With its forces, Russia truly threatens security and stability in the region. This could be the start of a Russian invasion."

Moscow has always had a strange fixation with supplying armaments to the Middle East. It's not because the Russian people are dedicated arms merchants. Their efforts have always conflicted with logic and good business sense. I remember when Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, it found a massive trove of weapons. There were only about 15,000 Palestinian fighters in Southern Lebanon, but the Russians had sent enough weapons to outfit an army of over 1 million. It took the Israeli military several months to transport all the weapons back to Israel.

Putin's willingness to stand by President Bashar al-Assad continues Russia's history of always backing the wrong horse. He has repeatedly blocked the United Nations Security Council's attempts to halt the violence, accusing the U.S. and its allies of trying to start another war.

Assad is a brutal dictator who has murdered thousands of his own people. While most nations have condemned Assad and implemented sanctions to put economic pressure on him, Russia has stepped in to supply the bullets and shells used to kill civilians in Syria.

There is little chance of America becoming involved in an effort to help the Syrian freedom fighters. A Fox News poll shows that 78 percent of voters oppose sending troops to Syria. With all the trouble in Afghanistan, there is a general belief that opening another military front would be a bad idea. The reason Assad is still in power is probably because Western powers have finally realized that every time they help to kick out a dictator, an Islamic authoritarian state takes his place.

I have long suspected that Vladimir Putin might be the Gog leader of Ezekiel 38 and 39. Putin's choice of Middle East friends has put him on a collision course with the state of Israel. I can just imagine Putin’s reaction if the nuclear reactor his nation just built for Iran were suddenly destroyed by an Israeli air raid. Of course, students of Bible prophecy know that the city of Damascus has a dire fate. Putin would certain fly into fit a rage if his buddy Assad suddenly vanished in a fireball, along with several of his elite military forces.

“The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap” (Isaiah 17:1).

Putin obviously doesn't realize the danger he faces by becoming involved with Israel's Arab foes. The sons of Ishmael are driven by a demonic sibling rivalry and will stop at nothing to kill the children of Isaac. Since the actions of the Arabs reflect back on Putin, he has obligated himself to follow their lead.

There is nothing innocent about Putin's intentions. He is a very vain man, and I'm sure he has already considered the thought, "If I destroy Israel, the Arabs will praise me as the greatest leader of all time." The Word of God says that Gog will have a far different role. His purpose is to sanctify the Lord's name among the nations -- by having his army obliterated.

"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" (Ezekiel 38:15-16).

"Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured" (Ezekiel 39:4).