France Invites Russia to be Involved in the Security of Europe

Bible students have long anticipated the involvement of the Russian military in the affairs of Europe. Ezekiel 38 prophecies of Gog the Prince of Rosh, or Russia that it will become the guard of the assembly of nations who will invade Israel:

“Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them” (Ezekiel 38:7)

The word “guard” in the Hebrew signifies to watch, observe, guard a jail or a prison, or to set a defensive watch around somebody. It was used in Nehemiah’s time of the soldiers who guarded the labourers building the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4:22-23).

The RIA Novosti news agency reported this week,

“France intends to make specific proposals on Russia's relations with the European Union, NATO and OSCE in September to secure stability in the Euro-Atlantic zone.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy made the announcement on Tuesday during theopening of the 18th Ambassadors' Conference held at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

"Our common interests with Russia, if Moscow of course so desires, are expected to foster an exceptional partnership reinforcing stability throughout the Euro-Atlantic region," said Sarkozy.

Sarkozy said the details of the specific proposals for Russia's relation with the EU, NATO and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe would be announced at the upcoming OSCE Summit in Astana slated for December.”

Russian Arms Sales to Syria

Russia has been stirring the pot in Israel’s back yard. Haaretz news agency reported the latest arms deal between Russia and Syria involving sale of advanced P-800 Yakhont supersonic cruise missile. The P-800 missiles now come in models that can be launched from land. The highly accurate missiles have a maximum range of 300 kilometers and carry a 200-kilogram warhead. The weapon's unique feature is its ability to cruise several meters above the surface, making it difficult to identify on radar and therefore intercept. The C-802 missiles currently in the Syrian arsenal have a range of 120 kilometers, carry a smaller warhead and lack the accuracy of the more advanced missiles. Netanyahu has been reported as asking Putin to stop the deal fearing the transfer of the missiles to the Hezbollah. Haaretz reported, “In a conversation with Putin, Netanyahu told the Russian leader that missiles his country had delivered to Syria were then transferred to Hezbollah and used against IDF troops during the Second Lebanon War.” Israel's defense analysts are concerned that these missiles in the hands of Hezbollah would pose a serious threat to Israel Navy ships operating out of the Haifa port, and possibly also out of Ashdod.

Iran Hopeful of Cruise Missile Deal with Russia

Ezekiel 38:8 speaks of “Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet”. As mentioned many times in the Bible in the News, Iran is to be with Russia during the great conflagration at the time of the end.  It is no surprise to see the military cooperation between the two countries, even in the face of international criticism.  The Xinhua news agency reported,

“After years of delay, Russians completed the construction of Bushehr nuclear plant, which began in 1975 by German companies but was halted after the United States imposed embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran following Iran's 1979 revolution. Russia signed a contract with Tehran in 1995 to complete the construction. Iran and Russia started on Saturday to load fuel rods to a reactor at Iran's first nuclear power plant.”

The same article stated that Iran is hopefull that Russia's next step would be the delivery of S-300 missile system to Iran, fulfilling a commitment signed in 2007, but delayed.

Togarmah With Thee: Russian Base in Armenia

Demitri Medvedev visited Armenia to secure a deal extending the russian military base operation until 2044. Yesterday, the Associated Press reported :

“Russia secured a long-term foothold in the energy-rich and unstable Caucasus region last week by signing a deal with Armenia that allows a Russian military baseto operate until 2044 in exchange for a promise of new weaponry and fresh security guarantees.

The 24-year extension will allow the base's fighter jets and thousands of troops to operate outside former Soviet territory, lifting a previous restriction. The agreement could raise tensions between Armenia and neighboring Azerbaijan, who have clashed over Nagorno-Karabakh.

"The protocol doesn't just allow the Russian military base to stay in Armenia for a longer period, it also extends the sphere of its geographic and strategic responsibility," Armenian President Serge Sarkisian said after talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.”

Armenia is situated to the North of Iran and Turkey, below Georgia, next to Azerbaijan, and is approximately 1,260 km from Jerusalem. Armenia is part of the geographical area described as Togarmah in Ezekiel 38 and is allied with the Gogian host when it invades Israel:

“Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee” (Ezekiel 38:6).

We are to expect the alliance of Russia and Armenia in the latterdays and the participation of both in the invasion of the land.

Just to the north of Armenia, in the north of Georgia is the breakaway territory of Abkhazia. The BBC reported this week,

“Russia says the S-300 missiles will "defend the territory of Abkhazia"

Russia says it has deployed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in the breakaway region of Abkhazia in Georgia.

In a statement released by the Russian government, air force commander-in-chief General Alexander Zelin said the role of the missiles would be "anti-aircraft defence of the territory of Abkhazia and South Ossetia".

"We have deployed the S-300 system on Abkhaz territory, which, alongside other aircraft defence systems of the ground forces, will solve the problems of air defence of the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," he was quoted as saying.

Russia is seen this week as strengthening its “guard” relationship with Europe, Syria, Iran, Abkhazia, and Armenia – all willing participants in the Gogian invasion of the latter days.  

With Many Ships

The scriptures noted earlier describe Russia making preparations leading up to the invasion of Israel in the latter days. Daniel 11:40 describes the King of the North, the other title of the Russian invader, as coming with “like a whirlwind… with many ships.” The Interfax news agency reported under a headline, “Russia revives Caspian Sea Monster” reported this week:

“The Russian government has commissioned the renewal of the “Caspian Sea Monster,” the legendary ground effect vehicle (GEV)…. It will spend two years making the new design with the first tests to be launched in 2012…. GEVs are high-speed naval vehicles that fly just over the surface thanks to a high-pressure air cushion created by its wings. The first prototype with a wingspan of 37.6 meters and a hull length of about 100 meters could travel at 250 knots and had a maximum take-off weigh of 544 tons. The Soviet Union produced several models, including one for amphibian troops transportation and a cruise missile carrier. There was also a project for a strategic GEV armed with ballistic missiles.

The Cold War era Soviet Ground Effect Vehicle (GEV) travelled at more than 500 km/hour, with a top speed of 750 km/hour. If this revived troop transport craft could maintain the speeds of its Soviet predecessor it would take approximately 5 hours to travel from the Black Sea to Israel. Germany, America and China are working on similar technologies.

Russia Flexes its Military Muscles

The provocative character of Russia was witnessed again this week, just outside of Canada. The Ottawa citizen reported Wednesday that a pair of Russian Cold War-era TU-95 Bear strategic bombers flying over the Beaufort Sea came within 30 nautical miles of the Canadian border, causing Canada to scramble two Canadian CF-18 jet fighters. The incident occurred during the Canadian Prime Minister’s visit Canada’s North West Territories. Russia is flexing its muscles in the north, warning the world it is a power to be reckoned with and testing the metal of its traditional adversaries. The Ottawa Citizen stated,

“An Arctic defence expert said he believed the flight by the TU-95s was timed to get catch the allies' attention because Canadian, American and Danish troops are for the first time taking part in a joint northern exercise — Operation Nanook 10 — on Canadian soil.”

The Associated press reported,

“Canada has linked recent Russian flights in the area to the competition between Canada, Russia, the U.S. and other countries to secure Arctic resources. With polar ice melting there are new opportunities to exploit the region's oil, gas and mineral reserves.”

Canada recently purchased 65 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets from U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin Corp. The $8.5 billion purchase, one of the biggest military equipment purchases in the country's history.

Possible Israeli Strike on Iran

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the political pot is also coming to the boil. The Middle East news agency Al Bawaba reported this week:

“There are growing fears in the Gulf region of an imminent clash with Iran followingthe launch of Bushehr nuclear facility. Although Western circles downplay the importance of the facility to Iran's efforts to develop atomic bombs, the Arab states in the Gulf region believe the potential of military action against Iran exists.

The ongoing threats towards Iran by Tel Aviv and Washington come with practical preparations for a possible war such as the deployment of Patriot missiles in Kuwait.

A senior commander in Iran's Revolutionary Guards told Kuwait's Al Rai newspaper that his country has prepared a plan for an all-out war, adding that "if Israel or the United States or both countries strike military facilities or economic sites in Iran, Iran will respond by bombing targets in all countries it will consider as "hostile." According to him, all the countries who will allow to use their territory to attack Iran, will be targeted.

He revealed that the Revolutionary Guards would consider the entire Gulf region, Iraq, Jordan and Israel as part of the war, pointing out that "there are more than 100 U.S. military bases in the Gulf countries and all of them are within the range of our weapons." He revealed that Iran will launch massive rocket attacks against Israel in the first stage. "Whatever the source of fire" Israel will be attacked first, he said. "All Israeli cities will be our target and we will not exclude the Dimona reactor," he noted.”

The strengthening of defense in the nations surrounding the Gulf is being reported. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency reported on the sale of US Patriot Missiles to Kuwait. The Agency stated:

“This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-Nato ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East…. Kuwait needs these missiles to meet current and future threats of enemy air-to-ground weapons. Kuwait will use the increasedcapability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defence."

Israel appears to be making preparation too with the appointment of Major General Yoav Galant as the new Army Chief of Staff. The Jerusalem Post defines him as tough and confident stating, “Gallant is expected to be much more assertive. During the run-up to Cast Lead, he pushed for the operation to be mounted on a larger scan than the one decided upon.”