Russia & Iran at Israel's Door

The reports of the Russian military evacuating bases in Syrian initially appeared to be good news. Russia has backed and protected the rule of Bashir Al Assad in Syria. They’ve been the primary provider of arms to Iran, Hezbollah, and al Qaeda who regularly fire rockets into Israel and attempt border incursions. It was hoped that the pull back of Russians in Syria would signal a de-escalation of aggression towards Israel in the region, but things are turning worse. Iran has taken over each base the Russians have evacuated 24hrs after the Russians leave. Below is a map of the current location of Iranian bases in Iran (Note the number of bases near Damascus and the Israeli border).

Israel has been attacking the Iranian and Russian efforts to amass a large military force near the Israeli and Syrian border. Weapons convoys and storage facilities have been destroyed as recently as Feb. 2021. There has been an attempt by Iran, to replace the massive supply of ammonium nitrate that was destroyed in the Beirut blast August 4, 2020. Iranian persistence will cause an escalation which will eventually lead to the prophetic war of Gog and Magog. The Iranian government is in trouble

• US sanctions on Iran have devastated the Iranian Economy. • The sanctions have prevented Iran, one on the world largest oil producers, from selling its oil to China and the EU. • The Iranian economy is in an economic depression. The Iranian Rial is worth .000023795 US Dollars. • The quality of life in Iran is insufferable. There is a shortage of water and food in most of the country. The people in Iran have been protesting and rioting the Governments military aggression. The Iranian theocratic government is behaving like the countries the Ayatollahs criticize. • Iran is struggling to maintain its military. The Russian and Chinese militaries support Iran but can’t continue to arm them for free. The US sanctions on Iran are crucial to keeping the Iranian government from initiating a military conflict with Israel or Saudi Arabia. Vladimir Putin has been experiencing political upheaval at home with the people of Russia. His political promise of prosperity, an end to corruption, and an open government are haunting his position as Russian president. In any country or culture, the people will revolt when they are living in hardship while their leaders are wealthy and living in opulence. Vladimir Putin has become extremely wealthy from the Russian people and economy. It’s reported that he is worth approx. $60 billion dollars. The BBC and other international news agencies have been producing videos about Vladimir Putin’s numerous palaces and properties around the world. The following article is an example of the coverage Putin’s wealth has been getting in the media.

Inside Vladimir Putin’s $285 billion luxury life with secret palaces, yachts, girlfriends, and millionaires .Jon Lockett, The Sun

Vladimir Putin is believed to have boosted his £1 billion (A$1.78 billion) property empire with a new £200 million (A$356.6 million) palace – amid reports he is secretly one of the richest men in the world.

The imposing pile has been built in a highly secure “billionaire’s village” on the outskirts of Moscow and is surrounded in total secrecy, reports Russian newspaper Sobesednik.

Russia’s hardman leader is reported to be worth £160 billion (A$285 billion) and is said to live like a king on his extraordinary wealth.

His critics claim he has amassed a huge personal fortune and owns a fleet of yachts, cars, and secret presidential palaces.

Putin always talks down his wealth – claiming to enjoy a relatively modest state wage of around £100,000 (A$178,000)

However, experts say he is really 60 times richer than US President Donald Trump.

Political critic Boris Nemtsov compiled a dossier that alleged Putin even has four yachts secretly docked around Russia.

Russian Middle Eastern Presence is Diminishing • Russia has been losing lives in the Syrian conflict. Fighting to keep President Assad in power for the last 12 years has taken an increasingly heavy toll on the Russian Military. • Russia’s economy has been struggling. The shutdown of the natural gas pipeline to Germany was a huge loss of revenue to the Russian economy. The pressure by President Trump to halt the sale of natural gas to the EU hurt the largest source of income for the Russian economy. • The demand for Russian natural gas has been diminished by the new natural gas pipeline from Israel. • Vladimir Putin has political opposition in Russia. They are causing the Russian populous to become restless about the declining quality of life. The Russian economy was improving initially under Putin. The cost of keeping their military competitive with their rivals could lead them to a failed state as it did in the 1980s. Russia had to cancel the order of 30 Su-57. • Russia has lost revenue in the sales of military weapons. Their largest customers of military arms either cannot afford the weapons or have become failed states that no longer have an organized military. Syria and Libya are failed states. Iran, Egypt, and N. Korea can’t afford their weapons.

The attempts of the Russian to keep up with the US militarily in an arms race has been decimating the Russian economy. Losing resources from the Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and other countries that broke away from the USSR, have strained the Russian economy. More sources of natural gas globally have decreased the demand for Russian oil and natural gas. Israel’s recent natural gas surge from the Leviathan oil fields in southern Israel have hurt the Russian’s leverage of trade in the Middle East. All of the areas in the Middle East being vacated by the Russian military are being filled by Iran. Hillary Clinton had approved a deal to allow Russia to purchase control of over 20% which was blocked by President Trump cut off a large source of funding and influence from the US. Increased competition in global markets from India, Southern Asia, and China have sped up the downward spiral of the Russian economy. The economic woes are now hitting the Russian military. Russia has finally produced a 5th generation fighter to compete with the F-35 and Mirage fighters of NATO, but they could only afford 12 jets. Similar cuts have been seen around the Russian military. All of these factors are contributing to a decline in Russia’s global ability to intimidate and influence other countries. Russia admits defeat on its 'stealth' F-35 killer by canceling mass production of the Su-57 fighter jet

Alex Lockie

Jul 12, 2018, 3:30 PM

Russia's Su-57 fighter jet. Only 12 have been ordered, and no more orders are coming. Dmitry Terekhov/Flickr

• Russia announced earlier this month that the Su-57, its proposed entry into the world of fifth-generation stealth fighters, would not see mass production.

• The jet had some promising capabilities in combat, but design and production difficulties made it a challenging project with limited export potential.

• This move represents a failure of Russia to manage its huge defense budget and breadth of projects and to find buyers for its version of a jet meant to take on US stealth fighters.

These developments, along with other factors are leading to the fulfillment of prophecy. The motivation for Iran, Turkey, the EU, and Russia to attack Israel is for economic gain, unlike the Psalms 83 confederacy.

Ezekiel 38 11 And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, 12 To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.13 Sheba , and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?

It is amazing to watch bible prophecy fulfilled in real-time. I believe the current events will lead to the biblical prophecy of Isaiah 17, the destruction of Damascus. The Destruction of Damascus will be a pivotal point in the direction of the Middle East. This treaty will lead to the signing of the treaty with Israel and “many nations” as described in the book of Daniel:

Daniel 9

27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

This verse tells us the specific event that triggers the 7-year Tribulation Period. We’re living in a special time in bible prophecy that will precede the rapture. Jesus promises to return for His saints is certain to occur as all of all His promises. Christians should be encouraged we see the current events in the world happening. The days before Jesus’ return may be dark and difficult but eternity with Jesus is what follows.