Russia, the Bear, will rise to power in the future and attack Israel twice, according to prophecy. Just as a bear reclaims its territory after hibernation, Russia is beginning to reclaim some of its former territory. As the Soviet Union, Russia controlled a vast amount of land.
As early as the 16th century, Russians have often been symbolized in pictures by the brown bear. Russians have often been made to look like big, brutal, and clumsy bears by artist all over the world. These bizarre bear pictures, like the first one in this article, have shown up in cartoons, articles, and portrayed in plays. Most people are fascinated with bears. We once went to a bear farm and some of the bears had climbed way up in trees. One friend went to the Redwood Forest in California where there were several bears. In his excitement to see one up close, he ran around a path to get to the other side of the field where they were. When he arrived at the other side of the field, the bears were not in sight. But, to his surprise, within about thirty seconds, a big, brown bear walked across the path ten feet in front of him. He said that the bear looked up at him and then it just walked on. Most of us have seen cartoons that say do not feed or poke at the bears. Then some mean kid climbs over the fence and is eaten up by one of the bears. The common cartoon scene shows the mean kid trying to pry the mouth of the bear open so that he can climb out to safety. Bears may be brutal, but they are under God’s control. Elisha the prophet was mocked by some wicked children. As a result of their mocking, God sent two she bears out of the woods and tore forty-two of these children apart, 2 Kings 2:22- 24. The lesson to be learned from that is, do not mock the Scriptures or God’s servants! Russia may seem like a bear to some, but we must never forget that Russia is a world superpower. Christians do not have to worry about Russia because God will control Russia, the Bear, in the future. Russia, the Bear, claimed the land of the Soviet Union from 1922 till 1991.The territory called the Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union before it collapsed. In December of 1991, the Soviet Union was considered to no longer exist. Ukraine was the final territory to pull out of the Soviet Union and become an independent state. The map below shows the land that was controlled by the Soviet Union. Everything above the red line was the former Soviet Union.
Crimea was a part of the Ukraine state that broke ties with the Soviet Union. Crimea is shown on the map above, in the Black Sea, at the bottom of Ukraine. Crimea is the peninsula that protrudes into the Black Sea. After much conflict, the citizens of Crimea of Ukraine voted to secede from the Ukraine state and join Russia. Russia officially accepted Crimea as part of Russia in March of 2014. By claiming Crimea, Russia, the Bear, reclaimed some of its former territory. Ukraine rebels helped fight off the Ukraine soldiers. Russian troops used brute force, like a bear, to take control of Crimea from Ukraine. Crimea can be seen enlarged on the map below protruding from Ukraine into the Black Sea.
It appears that Russia, the Bear, is gaining military strength. It was stated by the Russian Defense Minister that 72 Ukrainian military units in Crimea decided to join the Russian military. Russia, the Bear, is wide awake and on the move. Its strength is increasing as it devours its former territory. Russia, the Bear, is preparing for battle!
Controlling Crimea gives Russia a great naval advantage if they decide to rip into other countries. Empires of the past have sought control of the southern coast of Crimea because of its military tactical advantages. Crimea has seaports on the Black Sea that provide quick and easy access to the Balkans, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Middle East, including Israel.
When we were children, we got in our boat and paddled out to a big island on the lake. When we arrived on the island, we played war games. We imagined that we were on a tactical island fighting off all kinds of deadly enemies. We were only playing games. Russia, the Bear, is not playing games!
The city of Sevastopol in Crimea has an important naval base for Russia on the shores of the Black Sea. Russia had a treaty with Ukraine to use the naval base in Sevastopol. But, the government of Ukraine had continually threatened to stop Russia from using the naval base in Sevastopol. Russia did not allow Ukraine to stop them from using the base in Sevastopol. This naval base allows Russia to have naval power on a worldwide scale. There are currently around 15,000 Russian personnel stationed at the naval base of Sevastopol, Crimea. This is a military advantage that Russia is not willing to give up without a fight. It appears that Russia will hold onto this tactical seaport in Sevastopol just like a bear will hold onto a pink salmon.
It takes a lot of money to support a superpower military like Russia has. Crimea has at least 12 operating merchant seaports. With Russia in control of Crimea, they can increase their finances by using the merchant seaports of Crimea to trade with other nations.
Russia, the Bear, and Ukrainian rebels are continuing to claim territory in Eastern Ukraine in 2015. Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, demanded that Ukrainian forces holding Debaltseve, Ukraine to surrender. Basically, all of the armed forces of Ukraine were trying to defend Debaltseve against the Russian takeover, but they failed. Many of them fled for their lives, some were captured, and many Ukrainian soldiers were ripped to death by Russian weapons. One frightened Ukrainian soldier said that he and some others escaped in a jeep riding on a tire rim. Russia sees the city of Debaltseve as an important crossroads in the region. There is a railroad hub there that can be used for military uses and other things. The Russian Bear has not been slowed down by the United Nations’ financial sanctions against them. They just continue to step over these financial bear traps. In time, Russia may reclaim all of the Ukraine. It appears that Russia, the Bear, has an overwhelming hunger to reclaim the territory of the former Soviet Union.
Russia is not a toothless or clawless bear. When the Soviet Union was dissolved, Russia kept a big supply of nuclear weapons. Russia, the Bear, could be a deadly enemy of any nation in the world. Russia may use these weapons and others against their enemies in the future. Like Iran, they may have weapons of mass destruction that they have not revealed to the rest of the world.
When we were children, we went into the corn fields and threw corn cobs at each other in a pretend war. They hurt when they hit. But, being struck by a corn cob is nothing like being struck by a nuclear bomb. Nuclear bombs in the wrong hands could destroy the lives of millions of people. Many people will instantly die and then others will die in time, as a result of the nuclear radiation. In August of 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs in Japan. It is estimated that 129,000 people were killed. This is nothing compared to what Russia, the Bear, is capable of doing. They have enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world.
“According to the Federation of American Scientists, an organization that assesses nuclear weapon stockpiles, in 2013, Russia possessed an estimated 8,500 total nuclear warheads of which 1,800 were strategically operational. The organization also claims that the U.S. had an estimated total 7,700 nuclear warheads of which 1,950 were strategically operational.” (1)
Russia has been called a bear by many of the nations of the world because of the brute force that it uses. But, Russia is not insulted about being called a bear. In fact, it appears that they take it as a compliment. Russia used the teddy bear as a mascot in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. The Russian parliament almost used the bear in their coat of arms. The current ruling party in Russia uses the bear as their symbol.
It is prophesied in the Scriptures that Russia, the Bear, will form a military coalition with Iran, previously known as Persia. Many other countries will also be part of Russia’s brutal coalition, but Iran seems to play a major role in the Russian coalition. Iran’s leaders have stated many times that they would like to kill all of the Jews. This ungodly Russian coalition will attack Israel like a wild bear. It may be that God is allowing Russia to reclaim territory so that it can be strong enough to form a military coalition to rip at Israel. In the past, when the Persians (Iranians) were a part of the Mede and Persian Empire, Persia was not as powerful as the Medes. Likewise, Persia will take its place under the supreme power of Russia. Daniel saw the world empires, including the Mede and Persian Empire, represented by various beasts. Russia, the Bear, and its military coalition will have some similarities to the empire of the Medes and Persians.
The Bear, seen by Daniel in his vision, represents the Mede and Persian Empire, Daniel 7:5; Revelation 13:2. A bear is a powerful animal, but it is not as powerful as the king of the beasts, the lion. It moves a little slower than the lion. History shows that the Mede and Persian Empire was not as powerful as the Babylon Empire that was represented by the lion. Also, history shows us that the Medes were dominant in the Mede and Persian Empire. The Mede’s dominance was represented by the bear being raised up on one side. The bear had three ribs in its mouth to show that the Mede and Persian Empire had consumed some of the people and customs of the previous world empires. Those three previous empires were: Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. The Mede and Persian Empire, (bear), had the ribs of these three world empires in its teeth. Also, as the Mede and Persian Empire was rising to power it conquered three different groups. Lydia was conquered in 547 BC, Babylon was conquered in 539 BC, and Egypt was conquered in 525 BC. The three ribs in the bear’s mouth could represent these three major conquests.
Russia reclaiming former territory may be the beginning of a bigger military plan of attack. Russia, the Bear, will attack Israel two different times in the future, according to prophesies in the Scriptures. Gog and Magog represent Russia in the Scriptures.
Genesis 10:1-2 “Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.”
Japheth was one of the sons of Noah who was safely protected in the Ark when the world was destroyed by a flood. One of Japheth’s sons name is Magog. The descendents of Magog settled in the land that was named Magog. Magog is known as modern day Russia.
Magog (Russia) will lead its first attack on Israel before the thousand year reign of Jesus. Probably all of the Middle East nations will follow in the tracks of Russia, the Bear, in this brutal attack.
God will cause such confusion to come in the Russian coalition that they will even fight against each other.
Ezekiel 38:2-5 “Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, 3 And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: 4 And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: 5 Persia, …”.
God will be against Russia because they will be against Him and His chosen people, the Jews, Ezekiel 38:2, 3.
God will put a hook in the mouth of Russia, the Bear, and pull its soldiers to Israel for judgment, Ezekiel 38:4.
Persia, modern day Iran, is the first nation named in the Russian military coalition. The soldiers of Iran will probably believe that their desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth is finally going to come true, Ezekiel 38:5.
Ezekiel 38:8 “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.”
Israel was scattered all over the world. But, they have begun to come back to the Promised Land. Before 1948, the land of Israel was like a desert waste land. Presently, Israel is not safe, but the Anti-Christ will make a seven-year peace agreement with them guaranteeing their safety. Of course, we know that this is only a temporary safety that falls apart after three and one-half years, Ezekiel 38:8.
Ezekiel 38:11-12 “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.”
It appears that Israel will feel so safe under the protection of the false Messiah, the Anti-Christ, that they will allow their walls to be taken down. Russia and its coalition will decide that Israel is an easy target, Ezekiel 38:11.
1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”
Jesus, the Messiah will come back and surprise all of the nations of the world that are attacking Israel, 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
The Anti-Christ will guarantee Israel peace and safety for seven years, but it will be short lived. The Anti-Christ will break the agreement after three and one-half years. Israel will no longer be at peace and safe under his protection. The nations of the world will be allowed to enter Israel and bring destruction. But, just as it looks like the Jews are going to be wiped off the face of the Earth, Jesus the Messiah will come to their rescue. The destruction that the wicked soldiers of the world intend on bringing to Israel will fall on them. Jesus will slaughter these people who will try to harm His chosen people, the Jews. Those attacking Israel will not escape judgment, 1 Thessalonians 5:3.
Russian and its wicked allies will rejoice thinking that they will rob Israel of all of her treasures, and take the Jewish women as captives, Ezekiel 38:12.
Ezekiel 38:19-20 “For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.”
This clearly shows us that this attack by the Russian coalition will take place before the thousand year reign of Jesus, the Messiah. There will be a great earthquake in Israel. This same earthquake is described in other places in the Scriptures, Zechariah 14:1-5; Revelation 16:17-20; Ezekiel 38:19.
The earthquake that starts in Israel will be spread to the rest of the world. Every living creature and all of mankind will shake at the presence of God. They will know that our God is more powerful than all of the false gods of this world. But, sadly, many will still reject Jesus as their Saviour, Ezekiel 38:20.
All of the preceding Scriptures describe the first attack by Russia (Magog) on Israel. It can be seen by the studious reader of God’s Word that this takes place before the thousand year reign of Jesus.
Russia (Magog) will attack Israel again at the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus. Jesus will rule as the King of the Earth from Jerusalem in Israel.
Revelation 20:6-10 “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
After the prophesied seven-year Tribulation, everyone who has a resurrected, glorified body will reign with Jesus Christ for a thousand years, Revelation 20:6.
During the thousand year reign of Jesus, the Devil will be bound in prison. But, after the thousand year reign of Jesus on Earth, Satan, the Devil, will be let loose from prison, Revelation 20:7.
Satan will once again be free to deceive the lost people of the world. Satan will persuade people from all over the world to follow Him. The armies that will follow Satan are called Gog and Magog. Again, this is a reference to Russia. Apparently, Russia will form a world coalition that will agree to follow Satan. There will be a great number of these wicked people who follow Russia, the Bear, Revelation 20:8.
Satan and the Russian coalition will surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, Jerusalem. But, this time there will not be any earthquake like there was before the thousand year reign of Jesus. This time, God will send fire down from Heaven to devour all of His enemies and the enemies of Israel, Revelation 20:9.
The Devil will be cast into the Lake of Fire where the Beast, (Anti-Christ) and the False Prophet will already be in torments for a thousand years, Revelation 20:10.
Clearly, this attack on Israel by Gog and Magog (Russia) is different than the one described in Ezekiel 38, 39 and in other Scriptures. Russia is prophesied to attack Israel two times. Like a territorial bear, they will try to make a claim on the land of Israel. But, they will fall into the trap laid by God. Many Russians may be saved throughout time. But, as a nation, Russia, the Bear, will never learn the lesson of avoiding traps. Repentance and believing on Jesus as Saviour will prevent individual Russians and others from getting caught in the trap of Hell.
Please share this post with everyone that you can! Especially share it with lost people! Thanks!
HIBM Editorial by Avi Goldstein * Russia Prophesied To Attack Israel! – Dr. K. Daniel Fried, Editor in Chief – copyright © 2015 hopeofisrael.net
Short Link: https://hopeofisrael.net/news/?p=2972
Bibliography:
Russia And Weapons Of Mass Destruction!
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org
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Russia, The Bear, Will Rise To Power!
Soviet Union Map!
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Ukraine Map!
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Russian Naval Warships!
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Russia, The Bear, Nuclear Weapons!
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Russian 1980 Olympic Pins!
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Russian Political Party Symbol!
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Mede And Persian Empire Represented By A Bear !
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Russia Will Attack Israel!
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