May 2012

New President for Russia

Early in May, Vladimir Putin was inaugurated as President of Russia for the third time. The ceremony was held in one of the fabulous palaces belonging to the former Tsars. Putin has presided over the recovery of Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1989.

Bible prophecy reveals that Russia will be the dominant power of the area north of Israel, eventually to invade the Middle East (Ezekiel 38:8, 9) and occupy Egypt (Daniel 11:41,42). Russia is described in Ezekiel 38 as Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, the three great areas of modern Russia.

Today, post-Soviet era Russia has readopted the ancient symbol, the double headed eagle. This symbol was inherited from Constantinople when the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as Byzantium) was conquered by the Turkish Empire in 1453. As a result, the imperial succession (through the Byzantine princess Sophia) succeeded to Moscow who also eventually assumed leadership of the Orthodox Church.

What purpose then was the 70 years Communist rule?  Attempts by the Tsars to modernise Russia were unsuccessful. It took the brutal ambition of Lenin and Stalin to develop Russia into a modern industrial society.

There have been great Russians who have had the name ‘Vladimir’. Duke Vladimir of Kiev, Vladimir Lenin, and Vladimir Putin. In Russian Vladimir means “prince”. Bible prophecy says that it is the “prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal” who will prepare Russia for the invasion of Israel.