Prophetic Pulpit: Is Putin Gog?

                                                    Is Putin Gog?  

If he isn't, he is definitely Gog-esque!

Vladimir Putin is obsessed with one thing: making Russia great again! Before Donald Trump ever coined the phrase, Putin vowed to the Russian people to remove her shame and to once again raise her to be a Superpower.

In 2007, in his annual State of the Nation address to parliament, Putin said the Soviet collapse was the greatest tragedy for the Russian people.

"First and foremost it is worth acknowledging that the demise of the Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century," Putin said. (Really? What about WWII?) "As for the Russian people, it became a genuine tragedy. Tens of millions of our fellow citizens and countrymen found themselves beyond the fringes of Russian territory." 

So what does all this have to do with Israel? Israel's wealth!

Russia is a major player in the global energy markets. It is one of the world's top three crude producers, along with Saudi Arabia and the United States. Russia relies heavily on revenues from oil and natural gas, which makes up 45% of Russia's federal budget. 

Recently Israel has emerged as a gas exporter following major offshore discoveries.

It has two major gas fields off its coast with an estimated 690 billion cubic meters of natural gas combined and continues to explore for more. 

Right now the Israeli nation is taking a big bite out of Russia's economy. 

Europe is no longer buying gas from Russia, opting to buy from Israel instead.

My point is that in order to raise Russia to her former glory, Putin will have to take over Israel's gas fields. And to be quite honest, it is so much more than that. Putin envisions Russia one day being the greatest Superpower that has ever existed. This vision drives him. In order to do this, he will have to possess Israel's gas reserves. 

What does this have to do with Gog? 

Ezekiel 38:13 Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages will say to you, "Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, and to take away livestock and goods and to seize plunder?

Ezekiel 38 tells us that one day the Russian regime will lead a coalition of Islamic nations against Israel (See What is the Gog, Magog war?). Vs. 13 reveals to us Russia's motive is to take Israel's wealth. The Russian regime wants her gas fields, advanced technology, and the Dead Sea which contains billions of dollars of mineral wealth. 

So why specifically Israel? Isn't there other wealthy nations for Russia to attack? Is his sights on Israel because geographically she is such a tiny country? Is he targeting Israel because most the world hates the Israeli state anyway and won't come to her aid? Why does this wicked Russian regime have its evil eye dead set on Israel?

(Keep in mind the Russian people are not wicked; it's the people in government that are wicked.)

Ezekiel 38:10 This is what the sovereign Lord says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. 

God Himself is going to place Israel in Russia's sights. God Himself is going to put the thought of invading Israel into the mind of the Russian leader and he will not be able to get it out of his head. And what is this thought? It is not hard to see: Imagine what I could do with Israel's wealth! 

 

So Tim, are you saying Vladimir Putin is Gog?

He very well could be. However, if he isn't, he has prepared the way for Gog. The obsession to raise Israel from her former glory will be passed on from Russian President to President until it reaches Gog.

But, if you ask me, everything is in line for the Magog war.

Russia is strong. America is weak. The Islamic nations are aligned in their hatred for Israel. The Magog war is just waiting for the right circumstance to come along and ignite the whole thing.